Cost of Living Comparison Between Duhok and Erbil Cost of Living Comparison Between Duhok and Erbil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $663 in Duhok versus $1,074 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,064 in Duhok versus $1,624 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,466 in Duhok versus $2,173 in Erbil.

Living in Duhok costs roughly 38% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duhok 52% lower, Erbil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.84 IQD 5,024

$7.80 IQD 10.2K

-50.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.93 IQD 24.8K

$43.48 IQD 56.9K

-56.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.62 IQD 11.3K

$8.20 IQD 10.7K

5.12%

Cappuccino

$2.81 IQD 3,684

$3.65 IQD 4,784

-23.01%

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

$0.40 IQD 518

$1.04 IQD 1,362

-61.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 IQD 269

$0.45 IQD 585

-53.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 IQD 2,464

$5.96 IQD 7,809

-68.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 IQD 3,074

$4.46 IQD 5,839

-47.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,611

$1.27 IQD 1,664

-3.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 IQD 1,027

$0.82 IQD 1,073

-4.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 IQD 2,311

$1.67 IQD 2,187

5.39%

Eggs

$1.85 IQD 2,429

$1.85 IQD 2,418

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.91 IQD 6,436

$8.38 IQD 11.0K

-41.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.09 IQD 4,041

$5.72 IQD 7,485

-45.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.88 IQD 16.9K

$14.89 IQD 19.5K

-13.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 IQD 1,408

$1.15 IQD 1,502

-6.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 IQD 1,450

$1.16 IQD 1,521

-4.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 IQD 1,065

$1.18 IQD 1,544

-31.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 904

$0.75 IQD 979

-8.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 976

$0.76 IQD 997

-1.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 901

$0.68 IQD 892

1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 IQD 1,045

$0.73 IQD 961

9.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 IQD 772

$0.58 IQD 764

1.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 IQD 2,517

$2.52 IQD 3,305

-23.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.55 IQD 16.4K

$12.27 IQD 16.1K

2.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 IQD 2,147

$1.65 IQD 2,160

-0.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 IQD 2,686

$2.13 IQD 2,783

-3.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 IQD 466

$0.55 IQD 719

-34.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.53 IQD 20.3K

$44.38 IQD 58.1K

-65.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 IQD 2,436

$1.96 IQD 2,561

-5.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 IQD 1,875

$1.82 IQD 2,379

-21.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 IQD 7,629

$6.52 IQD 8,533

-10.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 IQD 879

$0.66 IQD 866

1.52%

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

$18.3K IQD 24.0M

$17.8K IQD 23.3M

2.71%

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

$20.2K IQD 26.4M

$19.9K IQD 26.0M

1.53%

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

$92.3 IQD 120.8K

$128 IQD 167.5K

-27.87%

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

$9.76 IQD 12.8K

$13.86 IQD 18.1K

-29.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.23 IQD 37.0K

$27.91 IQD 36.6K

1.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.3 IQD 69.8K

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

-17.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$14.65 IQD 19.2K

110.78%

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 IQD 9,883

$11.58 IQD 15.2K

-34.80%

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

$111 IQD 145.6K

$314 IQD 411.2K

-64.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,151 IQD 4.1M

$3,082 IQD 4.0M

2.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.17 IQD 13.3K

$30.66 IQD 40.2K

-66.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.16 IQD 26.4K

$45.68 IQD 59.8K

-55.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.16 IQD 39.5K

$67.9 IQD 89.0K

-55.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$20.11 IQD 26.3K

$68.8 IQD 90.1K

-70.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$179 IQD 234.5K

$470 IQD 616.0K

-61.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$125 IQD 163.7K

$294 IQD 385.1K

-57.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 IQD 479.6K

$728 IQD 953.0K

-49.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 IQD 442.9K

$434 IQD 568.3K

-22.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$477 IQD 625.2K

$1,096 IQD 1.4M

-56.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$391 IQD 512.6K

$646 IQD 846.5K

-39.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$455 IQD 595.5K

$608 IQD 796.3K

-25.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.53

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

Last update for Duhok: September 7, 2026

Last update for Erbil: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $179 in Duhok and $470 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Erbil pays 34% 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 $43.00 in Erbil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $205 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 Erbil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duhok and Erbil differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($663 vs $1,074 including rent). Duhok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 34% lower in Erbil. 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 $470 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $111 in Duhok versus $314 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $663 in Duhok versus $1,074 in Erbil, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Duhok but tight or insufficient in Erbil. 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 Erbil 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 62% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.