Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Duhok and Basra

For one person, living is cheaper in Duhok: $608 a month against $656 in Basra, rent and utilities included – about $580 less a year. The total is higher in Basra despite lower rent and utilities.

29

Cost of Living Index in Duhok
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Duhok Living Index
32

Cost of Living Index in Basra
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Basra Living Index

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Duhok

🇮🇶 Iraq

$608

/mo nomad

Basra

🇮🇶 Iraq

$656

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Duhok and in Basra

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Duhok and in Basra actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $608 in Duhok versus $656 in Basra.

Duhok $608
Basra $656

Estimated couple costs with rent: $978 in Duhok versus $1,184 in Basra.

Duhok $978
Basra $1,184

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,349 in Duhok versus $1,713 in Basra.

Duhok $1,349
Basra $1,713

Living in Duhok costs roughly 7% less than in Basra, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duhok 55% lower, Basra 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.38 IQD 5,111

$4.00 IQD 6,043

-15.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.59 IQD 25.1K

$26.57 IQD 40.1K

-37.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.40 IQD 11.2K

$6.71 IQD 10.1K

10.28%

Cappuccino

$2.43 IQD 3,665

$2.25 IQD 3,405

8.00%

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

$0.32 IQD 481

$0.38 IQD 572

-15.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 IQD 294

$0.30 IQD 455

-36.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 IQD 2,550

$3.26 IQD 4,933

-48.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,932

$3.61 IQD 5,461

-46.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 IQD 1,680

$0.99 IQD 1,501

12.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 IQD 1,016

$0.60 IQD 905

11.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 IQD 2,232

$1.27 IQD 1,919

16.54%

Eggs

$1.58 IQD 2,391

$1.55 IQD 2,346

1.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.87 IQD 7,359

$6.54 IQD 9,882

-25.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.96 IQD 4,478

$5.57 IQD 8,424

-46.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.95 IQD 16.6K

$12.07 IQD 18.2K

-9.28%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 IQD 1,489

$0.90 IQD 1,366

10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,461

$1.17 IQD 1,773

-17.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 1,136

$0.83 IQD 1,256

-9.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 959

$0.61 IQD 916

3.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 IQD 919

$0.67 IQD 1,019

-8.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 940

$0.54 IQD 813

14.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 IQD 926

$0.76 IQD 1,145

-19.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 IQD 787

$0.36 IQD 550

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 IQD 2,609

$1.78 IQD 2,693

-2.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.97 IQD 16.6K

$10.66 IQD 16.1K

2.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 IQD 2,121

$1.48 IQD 2,232

-5.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,700

$1.73 IQD 2,610

3.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 IQD 459

$0.49 IQD 734

-38.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.64 IQD 23.6K

$16.57 IQD 25.0K

-5.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 IQD 2,420

$2.01 IQD 3,042

-20.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 IQD 1,945

$2.02 IQD 3,059

-36.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.52 IQD 8,343

$6.45 IQD 9,741

-14.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 IQD 819

$0.56 IQD 850

-3.57%

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

$16.6K IQD 25.1M

$11.5K IQD 17.4M

44.27%

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

$17.1K IQD 25.9M

$19.9K IQD 30.1M

-14.07%

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

$87.3 IQD 131.8K

$44.45 IQD 67.2K

96.29%

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

$8.86 IQD 13.4K

$21.94 IQD 33.1K

-59.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.83 IQD 36.0K

$33.88 IQD 51.2K

-29.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.1 IQD 75.7K

$31.22 IQD 47.2K

60.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 IQD 40.1K

$12.14 IQD 18.3K

118.70%

Cinema Ticket

$7.52 IQD 11.4K

$6.53 IQD 9,867

15.16%

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

$106 IQD 160.6K

$109 IQD 164.9K

-2.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,727 IQD 4.1M

$3,340 IQD 5.0M

-18.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.02 IQD 15.1K

$42.59 IQD 64.4K

-76.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.32 IQD 30.7K

$17.63 IQD 26.6K

15.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.27 IQD 45.7K

$66.9 IQD 101.1K

-54.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.60 IQD 29.6K

$35.71 IQD 54.0K

-45.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$157 IQD 237.0K

$413 IQD 624.6K

-62.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 IQD 174.7K

$131 IQD 197.8K

-11.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 IQD 496.7K

$741 IQD 1.1M

-55.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 IQD 489.1K

$537 IQD 811.7K

-39.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$445 IQD 671.8K

$1,392 IQD 2.1M

-68.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$362 IQD 547.1K

$712 IQD 1.1M

-49.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$415 IQD 627.4K

$665 IQD 1.0M

-37.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

3.33

-24.02%

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

Last update for Duhok: October 18, 2026

Last update for Basra: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Duhok

$154 25.3%

Basra

$171 26.1% 11.6% $18

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Duhok

$120 19.7%

Basra

$100 15.3% 16.4% $20

Accommodation & Living

Duhok

$116 19%

Basra

$131 20% 13.2% $15

Eating Out

Duhok

$93 15.3%

Basra

$105 16.1% 13.7% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Duhok

$65 10.7%

Basra

$44 6.8% 32.1% $21

Clothing & Footwear

Duhok

$36 5.9%

Basra

$73 11.2% 103% $37

Getting Around

Duhok

$25 4.1%

Basra

$31 4.7% 23.1% $5.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $157 in Duhok and $413 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 60% 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: $17.00 in Duhok vs $27.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $154 vs $171 per month, with Duhok cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇮🇶 Duhok

🇮🇶 Basra

🕒 Local time

20:41 8:41 PM

Same time as Duhok

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,900

2,150,000

💱 Currency

Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD

10,000 IQD = 5.89 EUR

10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD

10,000 IQD = 5.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Duhok Basra 840 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Duhok
Basra

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 8% in total monthly costs ($608 vs $656 including rent). Duhok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 60% 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: $157 in Duhok versus $413 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 $17.00 versus $27.00 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 8% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.