Cost of Living Comparison Between Duhok and Baghdad Cost of Living Comparison Between Duhok and Baghdad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $646 in Duhok versus $1,072 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,042 in Duhok versus $1,607 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,437 in Duhok versus $2,141 in Baghdad.

Living in Duhok costs roughly 40% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duhok 52% lower, Baghdad 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.82 IQD 4,994

$5.26 IQD 6,884

-27.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.86 IQD 24.7K

$36.67 IQD 48.0K

-48.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 IQD 9,392

$7.43 IQD 9,724

-3.36%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,452

$3.01 IQD 3,942

-12.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.37 IQD 478

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.21 IQD 278

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 IQD 1,482

$3.40 IQD 4,451

-66.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,449

$2.90 IQD 3,789

-35.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,786

$1.36 IQD 1,778

0.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,067

$0.85 IQD 1,106

-3.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,050

$1.65 IQD 2,162

-4.85%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,462

$1.79 IQD 2,346

5.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.22 IQD 6,825

$4.46 IQD 5,831

17.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.94 IQD 3,840

$4.93 IQD 6,443

-40.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

$14.23 IQD 18.6K

-11.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,460

$1.21 IQD 1,589

-7.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$1.21 IQD 1,584

-5.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,071

$1.04 IQD 1,363

-21.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 977

$0.73 IQD 959

2.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 939

$0.69 IQD 904

4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 924

$0.63 IQD 826

12.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,011

$0.66 IQD 867

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 726

$0.62 IQD 815

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$2.04 IQD 2,668

-8.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.22 IQD 16.0K

$13.33 IQD 17.4K

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,802

$1.78 IQD 2,325

-22.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,610

$2.18 IQD 2,852

-8.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 IQD 460

$0.79 IQD 1,030

-55.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.87 IQD 20.8K

$28.68 IQD 37.5K

-44.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,079

$3.80 IQD 4,977

-38.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 IQD 1,979

$1.48 IQD 1,939

2.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 IQD 7,901

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-22.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.56 IQD 735

14.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

$20.1K IQD 26.2M

-5.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.7K IQD 25.7M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

-0.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$93.3 IQD 122.0K

$178 IQD 232.9K

-47.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.99 IQD 13.1K

$25.40 IQD 33.2K

-60.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.31 IQD 39.6K

$40.59 IQD 53.1K

-25.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 IQD 68.1K

$41.76 IQD 54.6K

24.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.82 IQD 22.0K

$18.55 IQD 24.3K

-9.33%

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 IQD 10.0K

$7.82 IQD 10.2K

-1.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$112 IQD 146.9K

$169 IQD 221.1K

-33.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,223 IQD 4.2M

$3,646 IQD 4.8M

-11.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.90 IQD 12.9K

$27.95 IQD 36.6K

-64.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.68 IQD 25.7K

$30.28 IQD 39.6K

-35.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.75 IQD 38.9K

$63.6 IQD 83.2K

-53.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$20.14 IQD 26.3K

$43.49 IQD 56.9K

-53.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.5K

$545 IQD 713.3K

-66.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 IQD 160.4K

$316 IQD 412.9K

-61.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$374 IQD 489.8K

$816 IQD 1.1M

-54.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 450.6K

$588 IQD 769.7K

-41.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$460 IQD 601.6K

$4,709 IQD 6.2M

-90.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$385 IQD 503.8K

$1,569 IQD 2.1M

-75.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$431 IQD 564.3K

$625 IQD 817.6K

-30.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

5.67

152.73%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Duhok: July 21, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Duhok and $545 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 45% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Duhok vs $37.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $191 per month, with Duhok cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Duhok vs Baghdad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duhok wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Baghdad. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Duhok the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 45% lower in Baghdad. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $181 in Duhok versus $545 in Baghdad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Duhok runs roughly 81% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $112 in Duhok versus $169 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $646 in Duhok versus $1,072 in Baghdad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Duhok but tight or insufficient in Baghdad. The gap between the two cities makes Duhok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Duhok and Baghdad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Duhok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.