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: $1,057 in Duhok versus $1,351 in Basra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,468 in Duhok versus $1,969 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

$3.93 IQD 5,146

$3.85 IQD 5,032

2.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.45 IQD 25.4K

$24.88 IQD 32.5K

-21.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,081

$7.03 IQD 9,195

-1.28%

Cappuccino

$2.53 IQD 3,311

$2.06 IQD 2,693

22.82%

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

$0.42 IQD 555

$0.44 IQD 573

-4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 237

$0.32 IQD 413

-43.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$3.80 IQD 4,976

-69.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,524

$2.71 IQD 3,546

-28.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,783

$1.19 IQD 1,556

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 IQD 1,124

$0.70 IQD 919

22.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,060

$1.47 IQD 1,925

6.80%

Eggs

$1.87 IQD 2,449

$1.83 IQD 2,399

2.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.24 IQD 6,857

$7.95 IQD 10.4K

-34.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 IQD 3,826

$7.05 IQD 9,228

-58.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.92 IQD 16.9K

$13.29 IQD 17.4K

-2.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,469

$1.01 IQD 1,324

10.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,565

$1.40 IQD 1,835

-14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,070

$1.04 IQD 1,362

-21.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.59 IQD 773

20.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.69 IQD 899

1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 910

$0.57 IQD 745

22.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.78 IQD 1,020

-6.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.38 IQD 500

47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$1.88 IQD 2,465

-1.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

$13.04 IQD 17.1K

-3.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,884

$2.99 IQD 3,912

-51.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$3.77 IQD 4,928

-47.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 IQD 431

$0.37 IQD 480

-10.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.86 IQD 20.7K

$22.77 IQD 29.8K

-30.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,919

$2.33 IQD 3,047

-4.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,017

$2.30 IQD 3,014

-33.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 IQD 7,949

$6.83 IQD 8,932

-10.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.59 IQD 777

11.86%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

41.03%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$22.5K IQD 29.5M

-12.20%

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

$93.8 IQD 122.7K

$57.8 IQD 75.6K

62.40%

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

$9.64 IQD 12.6K

$25.61 IQD 33.5K

-62.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.60 IQD 38.7K

$38.89 IQD 50.9K

-23.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.8 IQD 67.8K

$36.10 IQD 47.2K

43.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.86 IQD 22.1K

$15.35 IQD 20.1K

9.84%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,737

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

-3.50%

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

$115 IQD 150.0K

$95.9 IQD 125.5K

19.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,332 IQD 4.4M

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

-14.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.15 IQD 13.3K

$42.37 IQD 55.4K

-76.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

$20.39 IQD 26.7K

-3.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.07 IQD 39.3K

$71.5 IQD 93.5K

-57.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.79 IQD 25.9K

$40.65 IQD 53.2K

-51.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 235.3K

$443 IQD 579.5K

-59.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$124 IQD 162.5K

$136 IQD 177.6K

-8.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$367 IQD 479.6K

$929 IQD 1.2M

-60.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 452.3K

$668 IQD 874.3K

-48.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$471 IQD 615.6K

$1,604 IQD 2.1M

-70.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$394 IQD 515.0K

$780 IQD 1.0M

-49.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$430 IQD 562.4K

$772 IQD 1.0M

-44.33%

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 Basra: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $180 in Duhok and $443 in Basra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 80% 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 $25.00 in Basra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $211 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, Basra earns 80% 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 $443 in Basra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% 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 $25.00 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.