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: $663 in Duhok versus $965 in Basra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,064 in Duhok versus $1,480 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,466 in Duhok versus $1,995 in Basra.

Living in Duhok costs roughly 31% less than in Basra, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duhok 52% lower, Basra 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.84 IQD 5,024

$4.66 IQD 6,109

-17.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.93 IQD 24.8K

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

-39.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.62 IQD 11.3K

$7.83 IQD 10.3K

10.09%

Cappuccino

$2.81 IQD 3,684

$2.67 IQD 3,499

5.24%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$0.47 IQD 609

-14.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

$0.34 IQD 448

-38.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 IQD 2,464

$3.81 IQD 4,987

-50.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 IQD 3,074

$4.29 IQD 5,619

-45.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,611

$1.12 IQD 1,467

9.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.65 IQD 851

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 IQD 2,311

$1.40 IQD 1,830

25.71%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$1.87 IQD 2,448

-1.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.91 IQD 6,436

$7.61 IQD 9,962

-35.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.09 IQD 4,041

$6.18 IQD 8,093

-50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.88 IQD 16.9K

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

-6.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,408

$0.97 IQD 1,277

11.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 IQD 1,450

$1.36 IQD 1,776

-18.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,065

$1.02 IQD 1,339

-20.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 904

$0.65 IQD 856

6.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.74 IQD 975

1.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.66 IQD 858

4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.88 IQD 1,156

-9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.38 IQD 499

55.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 IQD 2,517

$2.13 IQD 2,789

-9.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

$6.99 IQD 9,160

79.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 IQD 2,147

$2.98 IQD 3,903

-44.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 IQD 2,686

$3.71 IQD 4,853

-44.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 466

$0.55 IQD 720

-34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.53 IQD 20.3K

$19.15 IQD 25.1K

-18.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 IQD 2,436

$2.24 IQD 2,932

-16.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 IQD 1,875

$2.33 IQD 3,056

-38.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 IQD 7,629

$7.16 IQD 9,383

-18.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.55 IQD 726

21.82%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$13.3K IQD 17.4M

38.16%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

-12.04%

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

$92.3 IQD 120.8K

$51.2 IQD 67.1K

80.16%

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

$9.76 IQD 12.8K

$25.63 IQD 33.6K

-61.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.23 IQD 37.0K

$38.53 IQD 50.5K

-26.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.3 IQD 69.8K

$36.13 IQD 47.3K

47.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$13.80 IQD 18.1K

123.77%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 9,883

$7.51 IQD 9,836

0.53%

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

$111 IQD 145.6K

$124 IQD 162.5K

-10.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,151 IQD 4.1M

$3,768 IQD 4.9M

-16.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.17 IQD 13.3K

$50.0 IQD 65.5K

-79.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.16 IQD 26.4K

$20.42 IQD 26.7K

-1.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.16 IQD 39.5K

$78.5 IQD 102.8K

-61.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$20.11 IQD 26.3K

$41.85 IQD 54.8K

-51.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.5K

$463 IQD 605.8K

-61.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$125 IQD 163.7K

$348 IQD 455.2K

-64.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 IQD 479.6K

$843 IQD 1.1M

-56.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 IQD 442.9K

$632 IQD 827.8K

-46.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$477 IQD 625.2K

$1,566 IQD 2.1M

-69.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$391 IQD 512.6K

$778 IQD 1.0M

-49.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$455 IQD 595.5K

$769 IQD 1.0M

-40.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

5.67

-55.38%

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

Last update for Duhok: September 7, 2026

Last update for Basra: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $179 in Duhok and $463 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 69% 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 $31.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $194 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 46% in total monthly costs ($663 vs $965 including rent). Duhok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 69% 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: $179 in Duhok versus $463 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% 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 $31.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $663 in Duhok versus $965 in Basra, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Duhok but tight or insufficient in Basra. 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 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 46% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.