Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Duhok and Budapest

For one person, living is cheaper in Duhok: $602 a month against $1,619 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $12,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

29

Cost of Living Index in Duhok
Learn more

Duhok Living Index
79

Cost of Living Index in Budapest
Learn more

Budapest Living Index

Jump to prices

Duhok

🇮🇶 Iraq

$602

/mo nomad

Budapest

🇭🇺 Hungary

$1,619

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Duhok and in Budapest

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 Budapest actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $602 per month in Duhok vs $1,619 in Budapest, rent included.

Duhok $602
Budapest $1,619

A couple spends around $968 per month in Duhok vs $2,524 in Budapest, rent included.

Duhok $968
Budapest $2,524

A family of three spends $1,334 per month in Duhok vs $3,429 in Budapest, rent included.

Duhok $1,334
Budapest $3,429

Duhok is about 63% cheaper than Budapest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Duhok sits 55% below the global median, while Budapest is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.35 IQD 5,069

$13.94 Ft 4,503

-75.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.55 IQD 25.0K

$61.2 Ft 19.8K

-72.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.04 IQD 10.6K

$10.19 Ft 3,291

-30.91%

Cappuccino

$2.32 IQD 3,511

$3.26 Ft 1,055

-28.83%

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

$0.34 IQD 517

$2.14 Ft 690

-84.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 IQD 229

$1.78 Ft 577

-91.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.61 IQD 2,430

$3.71 Ft 1,198

-56.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 IQD 2,930

$3.77 Ft 1,217

-48.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 IQD 1,680

$1.15 Ft 371

-3.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 IQD 1,017

$1.79 Ft 578

-62.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 IQD 2,262

$2.49 Ft 804

-39.76%

Eggs

$1.58 IQD 2,385

$3.90 Ft 1,261

-59.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.03 IQD 7,594

$11.10 Ft 3,587

-54.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 IQD 4,460

$6.62 Ft 2,139

-55.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 IQD 16.4K

$14.69 Ft 4,745

-26.28%

Apples (1kg)

$0.96 IQD 1,453

$1.83 Ft 591

-47.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 IQD 1,506

$2.05 Ft 661

-51.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 IQD 1,109

$2.37 Ft 765

-69.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 IQD 1,028

$3.90 Ft 1,260

-82.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 IQD 894

$0.99 Ft 320

-40.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 IQD 948

$1.00 Ft 322

-37.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 IQD 926

$1.58 Ft 511

-61.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 IQD 719

$0.67 Ft 216

-28.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.74 IQD 2,630

$7.96 Ft 2,572

-78.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.58 IQD 16.0K

$6.22 Ft 2,009

70.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 IQD 2,200

$1.27 Ft 411

14.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 IQD 2,749

$2.03 Ft 654

-10.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 IQD 486

$1.52 Ft 490

-78.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.69 IQD 23.7K

$28.02 Ft 9,053

-44.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 IQD 2,555

$3.31 Ft 1,070

-48.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 IQD 1,930

$1.37 Ft 442

-6.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.62 IQD 8,491

$19.83 Ft 6,406

-71.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 884

$1.82 Ft 589

-67.58%

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

$16.5K IQD 24.9M

$29.8K Ft 9.6M

-44.63%

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

$17.0K IQD 25.7M

$33.8K Ft 10.9M

-49.76%

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

$85.5 IQD 129.1K

$171 Ft 55.3K

-50.05%

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

$8.81 IQD 13.3K

$23.51 Ft 7,596

-62.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.12 IQD 36.4K

$23.29 Ft 7,526

3.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.83 IQD 75.3K

$67.5 Ft 21.8K

-26.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.66 IQD 40.3K

$18.89 Ft 6,104

41.13%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 11.4K

$9.30 Ft 3,004

-18.82%

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

$108 IQD 163.9K

$533 Ft 172.3K

-79.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,793 IQD 4.2M

$16.8K Ft 5.4M

-83.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.25 IQD 15.5K

$99.6 Ft 32.2K

-89.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.62 IQD 29.6K

$43.49 Ft 14.0K

-54.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.73 IQD 44.9K

$110 Ft 35.7K

-73.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.93 IQD 30.1K

$119 Ft 38.4K

-83.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$161 IQD 243.5K

$830 Ft 268.3K

-80.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 IQD 174.0K

$622 Ft 200.9K

-81.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 IQD 497.2K

$1,594 Ft 514.9K

-79.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$318 IQD 480.4K

$1,170 Ft 378.1K

-72.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$430 IQD 649.7K

$5,832 Ft 1.9M

-92.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$362 IQD 547.5K

$3,889 Ft 1.3M

-90.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$421 IQD 635.5K

$1,651 Ft 533.4K

-74.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

6.45

-60.78%

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

Last update for Duhok: October 13, 2026

Last update for Budapest: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Duhok

$153 25.4%

Budapest

$258 15.9% 68.7% $105

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Duhok

$118 19.7%

Budapest

$218 13.5% 84.1% $100

Accommodation & Living

Duhok

$115 19.1%

Budapest

$622 38.4% 440% $507

Eating Out

Duhok

$90 14.9%

Budapest

$223 13.8% 149% $133

Sport & Entertainment

Duhok

$65 10.8%

Budapest

$86 5.3% 32.6% $21

Clothing & Footwear

Duhok

$36 6%

Budapest

$168 10.4% 368% $132

Getting Around

Duhok

$25 4.2%

Budapest

$44 2.7% 76.6% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $161 in Duhok versus $830 in Budapest. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 293% higher in Budapest, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Duhok versus $61.0 in Budapest. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $258 – making Duhok the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇮🇶 Duhok

🇭🇺 Budapest

🕒 Local time

21:05 9:05 PM

20:05 8:05 PM

1 h behind Duhok

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,900

1,686,222 Capital

💱 Currency

Iraqi Dinar IQD ع.د

Hungarian Forint HUF Ft

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD

10,000 IQD = 5.89 EUR

1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD

1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to IQD – Iraqi Dinar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇮🇶 Iraqi Dinar (ع.د)

Iraqi Dinar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1,511 IQD (10,000 IQD = 6.62 USD). 1 EUR = 1,699 IQD (10,000 IQD = 5.89 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 323 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 363 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

USD to IQD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Duhok Budapest 2,290 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Duhok
Budapest

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 Budapest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Budapest is pricier by about 169%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $903 per month in Duhok and $2,428 in Budapest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Duhok, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 79% less in Duhok. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $108 per month in Duhok and $533 in Budapest. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Duhok, where all-in costs run around $602, than in Budapest at $1,619. In Duhok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Budapest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Duhok – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Duhok. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Budapest makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.