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 $1,074 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,057 in Duhok versus $1,573 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,468 in Duhok versus $2,073 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

$3.93 IQD 5,146

$5.27 IQD 6,887

-25.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.45 IQD 25.4K

$36.86 IQD 48.2K

-47.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,081

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-10.80%

Cappuccino

$2.53 IQD 3,311

$2.98 IQD 3,904

-15.10%

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

$0.42 IQD 555

$0.39 IQD 511

7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 237

$0.17 IQD 216

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$3.38 IQD 4,424

-65.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,524

$2.89 IQD 3,780

-33.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,783

$1.30 IQD 1,700

4.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 IQD 1,124

$0.83 IQD 1,085

3.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,060

$1.67 IQD 2,178

-5.99%

Eggs

$1.87 IQD 2,449

$1.79 IQD 2,341

4.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.24 IQD 6,857

$4.52 IQD 5,911

15.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 IQD 3,826

$4.84 IQD 6,334

-39.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.92 IQD 16.9K

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

-7.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,469

$1.28 IQD 1,678

-12.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,565

$1.15 IQD 1,503

4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,070

$1.04 IQD 1,362

-21.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.70 IQD 913

1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.69 IQD 896

1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 910

$0.62 IQD 812

12.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.67 IQD 882

8.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.63 IQD 823

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$2.13 IQD 2,782

-12.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

$13.64 IQD 17.8K

-7.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,884

$1.79 IQD 2,345

-19.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$2.15 IQD 2,809

-8.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 IQD 431

$0.76 IQD 992

-56.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.86 IQD 20.7K

$28.16 IQD 36.8K

-43.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,919

$3.78 IQD 4,948

-41.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,017

$1.53 IQD 1,997

0.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 IQD 7,949

$7.54 IQD 9,857

-19.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.57 IQD 749

15.79%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$20.0K IQD 26.1M

-4.62%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

-2.50%

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

$93.8 IQD 122.7K

$181 IQD 236.5K

-48.10%

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

$9.64 IQD 12.6K

$25.64 IQD 33.5K

-62.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.60 IQD 38.7K

$40.76 IQD 53.3K

-27.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.8 IQD 67.8K

$41.00 IQD 53.6K

26.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.86 IQD 22.1K

$18.56 IQD 24.3K

-9.16%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,737

$7.81 IQD 10.2K

-4.74%

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

$115 IQD 150.0K

$166 IQD 217.6K

-31.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,332 IQD 4.4M

$3,523 IQD 4.6M

-5.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.15 IQD 13.3K

$28.27 IQD 37.0K

-64.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

$30.19 IQD 39.5K

-34.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.07 IQD 39.3K

$63.3 IQD 82.9K

-52.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.79 IQD 25.9K

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

-54.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 235.3K

$553 IQD 723.8K

-67.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$124 IQD 162.5K

$320 IQD 418.0K

-61.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$367 IQD 479.6K

$818 IQD 1.1M

-55.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 452.3K

$583 IQD 762.7K

-40.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$471 IQD 615.6K

$4,017 IQD 5.3M

-88.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$394 IQD 515.0K

$1,614 IQD 2.1M

-75.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$430 IQD 562.4K

$648 IQD 847.7K

-33.65%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $180 in Duhok and $553 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 51% 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 $174 vs $190 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, Baghdad earns 51% less. 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: $180 in Duhok versus $553 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 78% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $115 in Duhok versus $166 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $646 in Duhok versus $1,074 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.