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: $663 in Duhok versus $1,124 in Baghdad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,064 in Duhok versus $1,692 in Baghdad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,466 in Duhok versus $2,259 in Baghdad.

Living in Duhok costs roughly 41% less than in Baghdad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duhok 52% lower, Baghdad 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.84 IQD 5,024

$4.74 IQD 6,209

-18.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.93 IQD 24.8K

$33.69 IQD 44.1K

-43.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.62 IQD 11.3K

$7.75 IQD 10.1K

11.23%

Cappuccino

$2.81 IQD 3,684

$3.07 IQD 4,024

-8.47%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.40 IQD 521

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

$0.24 IQD 313

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 IQD 2,464

$3.87 IQD 5,071

-51.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 IQD 3,074

$3.75 IQD 4,911

-37.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,611

$1.09 IQD 1,423

12.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.80 IQD 1,042

-2.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 IQD 2,311

$1.51 IQD 1,982

16.56%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$1.82 IQD 2,386

1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.91 IQD 6,436

$3.90 IQD 5,106

25.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.09 IQD 4,041

$4.70 IQD 6,149

-34.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.88 IQD 16.9K

$14.34 IQD 18.8K

-10.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,408

$1.12 IQD 1,465

-3.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 IQD 1,450

$1.06 IQD 1,389

4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,065

$1.07 IQD 1,400

-24.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 904

$0.74 IQD 967

-6.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.66 IQD 860

13.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.70 IQD 915

-1.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.62 IQD 813

29.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.65 IQD 845

-9.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 IQD 2,517

$1.78 IQD 2,333

7.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

$13.68 IQD 17.9K

-8.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 IQD 2,147

$2.14 IQD 2,798

-23.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 IQD 2,686

$2.27 IQD 2,971

-9.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 466

$0.64 IQD 838

-43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.53 IQD 20.3K

$22.99 IQD 30.1K

-32.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 IQD 2,436

$2.25 IQD 2,941

-17.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 IQD 1,875

$1.48 IQD 1,944

-3.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 IQD 7,629

$7.77 IQD 10.2K

-24.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.67 IQD 876

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-5.49%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$19.1K IQD 25.0M

5.56%

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

$92.3 IQD 120.8K

$214 IQD 280.5K

-56.93%

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

$9.76 IQD 12.8K

$21.41 IQD 28.0K

-54.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.23 IQD 37.0K

$42.10 IQD 55.1K

-32.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.3 IQD 69.8K

$47.30 IQD 61.9K

12.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$22.04 IQD 28.9K

40.11%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 9,883

$10.76 IQD 14.1K

-29.83%

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

$111 IQD 145.6K

$165 IQD 215.5K

-32.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,151 IQD 4.1M

$3,445 IQD 4.5M

-8.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.17 IQD 13.3K

$29.79 IQD 39.0K

-65.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.16 IQD 26.4K

$38.31 IQD 50.2K

-47.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.16 IQD 39.5K

$74.4 IQD 97.5K

-59.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$20.11 IQD 26.3K

$47.59 IQD 62.3K

-57.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.5K

$566 IQD 741.7K

-68.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$125 IQD 163.7K

$346 IQD 453.5K

-63.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 IQD 479.6K

$959 IQD 1.3M

-61.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 IQD 442.9K

$679 IQD 889.1K

-50.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$477 IQD 625.2K

$4,665 IQD 6.1M

-89.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$391 IQD 512.6K

$1,599 IQD 2.1M

-75.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$455 IQD 595.5K

$615 IQD 805.6K

-26.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

4.12

-38.59%

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

Last update for Duhok: September 7, 2026

Last update for Baghdad: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $179 in Duhok and $566 in Baghdad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baghdad pays 35% 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 $34.00 in Baghdad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $186 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 70% 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 35% 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: $179 in Duhok versus $566 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 48% less than in Baghdad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $111 in Duhok versus $165 in Baghdad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $663 in Duhok versus $1,124 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 70% less than in Baghdad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.