Cost of Living Comparison Between Duhok and Basra Cost of Living Comparison Between Duhok and Basra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $646 in Duhok versus $732 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,042 in Duhok versus $1,352 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,437 in Duhok versus $1,972 in Basra.

Living in Duhok costs roughly 12% less than in Basra, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duhok 52% lower, Basra 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.82 IQD 4,994

$3.85 IQD 5,030

-0.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.86 IQD 24.7K

$24.43 IQD 32.0K

-22.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 IQD 9,392

$6.79 IQD 8,881

5.74%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,452

$2.11 IQD 2,756

25.12%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.46 IQD 605

-13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.31 IQD 411

-41.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 IQD 1,482

$3.84 IQD 5,028

-70.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,449

$2.71 IQD 3,544

-31.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,786

$1.22 IQD 1,595

12.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,067

$0.66 IQD 861

24.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,050

$1.41 IQD 1,839

11.35%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,462

$1.91 IQD 2,498

-1.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.22 IQD 6,825

$8.22 IQD 10.7K

-36.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.94 IQD 3,840

$7.29 IQD 9,537

-59.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

$13.24 IQD 17.3K

-4.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,460

$1.00 IQD 1,310

12.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$1.36 IQD 1,781

-16.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,071

$1.02 IQD 1,330

-19.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 977

$0.63 IQD 827

19.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 939

$0.69 IQD 897

4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 924

$0.61 IQD 797

16.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,011

$0.77 IQD 1,009

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 726

$0.38 IQD 502

47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$1.90 IQD 2,485

-1.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.22 IQD 16.0K

$13.05 IQD 17.1K

-6.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,802

$3.15 IQD 4,121

-56.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,610

$3.88 IQD 5,078

-48.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 IQD 460

$0.37 IQD 479

-5.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.87 IQD 20.8K

$23.40 IQD 30.6K

-32.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,079

$2.35 IQD 3,078

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 IQD 1,979

$2.24 IQD 2,925

-32.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 IQD 7,901

$6.79 IQD 8,886

-11.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.55 IQD 723

16.36%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

39.67%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.7M

$22.7K IQD 29.7M

-13.16%

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

$93.3 IQD 122.0K

$58.7 IQD 76.8K

58.80%

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

$9.99 IQD 13.1K

$25.26 IQD 33.0K

-60.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.31 IQD 39.6K

$38.13 IQD 49.9K

-20.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 IQD 68.1K

$37.41 IQD 48.9K

39.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.82 IQD 22.0K

$15.24 IQD 19.9K

10.37%

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 IQD 10.0K

$7.79 IQD 10.2K

-1.41%

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

$112 IQD 146.9K

$99.0 IQD 129.5K

13.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,223 IQD 4.2M

$3,894 IQD 5.1M

-17.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.90 IQD 12.9K

$42.63 IQD 55.8K

-76.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.68 IQD 25.7K

$20.09 IQD 26.3K

-2.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.75 IQD 38.9K

$72.7 IQD 95.1K

-59.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$20.14 IQD 26.3K

$41.56 IQD 54.4K

-51.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.5K

$454 IQD 593.4K

-60.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 IQD 160.4K

$134 IQD 175.3K

-8.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$374 IQD 489.8K

$918 IQD 1.2M

-59.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 450.6K

$656 IQD 857.6K

-47.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$460 IQD 601.6K

$1,602 IQD 2.1M

-71.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$385 IQD 503.8K

$789 IQD 1.0M

-51.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$431 IQD 564.3K

$760 IQD 994.4K

-43.26%

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 Basra: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Duhok and $454 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 76% 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 $24.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $214 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 Basra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duhok and Basra differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($646 vs $732 including rent). Duhok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 76% lower in Basra. 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 $454 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Basra. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Duhok – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $24.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Duhok gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Basra 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 13% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.