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: $646 in Duhok versus $1,032 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,042 in Duhok versus $1,545 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,437 in Duhok versus $2,059 in Erbil.

Living in Duhok costs roughly 37% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duhok 52% lower, Erbil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.82 IQD 4,994

$7.55 IQD 9,869

-49.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.86 IQD 24.7K

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

-18.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 IQD 9,392

$8.70 IQD 11.4K

-17.47%

Cappuccino

$2.64 IQD 3,452

$3.09 IQD 4,038

-14.56%

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

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.48 IQD 627

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 233

$0.20 IQD 261

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 IQD 1,482

$1.93 IQD 2,520

-41.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 IQD 2,449

$2.08 IQD 2,721

-10.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 IQD 1,786

$1.38 IQD 1,805

-0.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 IQD 1,067

$0.87 IQD 1,133

-5.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,050

$1.79 IQD 2,342

-12.29%

Eggs

$1.88 IQD 2,462

$1.96 IQD 2,560

-4.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.22 IQD 6,825

$7.57 IQD 9,902

-31.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.94 IQD 3,840

$4.64 IQD 6,074

-36.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

$14.26 IQD 18.7K

-11.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,460

$1.19 IQD 1,562

-5.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 IQD 1,494

$1.14 IQD 1,487

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,071

$1.19 IQD 1,560

-31.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 977

$0.75 IQD 983

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 IQD 939

$0.67 IQD 882

7.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 924

$0.74 IQD 970

-4.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 IQD 1,011

$0.79 IQD 1,029

-2.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 726

$0.52 IQD 678

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.87 IQD 2,450

$2.64 IQD 3,456

-29.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.22 IQD 16.0K

$12.45 IQD 16.3K

-1.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 IQD 1,802

$1.38 IQD 1,806

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 IQD 2,610

$1.99 IQD 2,608

0.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 IQD 460

$0.55 IQD 718

-36.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.87 IQD 20.8K

$34.25 IQD 44.8K

-53.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 IQD 3,079

$2.28 IQD 2,985

3.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 IQD 1,979

$2.30 IQD 3,005

-34.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.04 IQD 7,901

$6.75 IQD 8,833

-10.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 IQD 835

$0.65 IQD 850

-1.54%

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

$18.9K IQD 24.7M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-2.53%

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

$19.7K IQD 25.7M

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

-2.66%

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

$93.3 IQD 122.0K

$99.5 IQD 130.2K

-6.29%

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

$9.99 IQD 13.1K

$17.78 IQD 23.3K

-43.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.31 IQD 39.6K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 IQD 68.1K

$73.8 IQD 96.5K

-29.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.82 IQD 22.0K

$11.46 IQD 15.0K

46.77%

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 IQD 10.0K

$11.63 IQD 15.2K

-33.96%

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

$112 IQD 146.9K

$268 IQD 350.6K

-58.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,223 IQD 4.2M

$3,286 IQD 4.3M

-1.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.90 IQD 12.9K

$33.35 IQD 43.6K

-70.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.68 IQD 25.7K

$49.04 IQD 64.1K

-59.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.75 IQD 38.9K

$80.7 IQD 105.5K

-63.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$20.14 IQD 26.3K

$77.3 IQD 101.1K

-73.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$181 IQD 236.5K

$428 IQD 559.2K

-57.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 IQD 160.4K

$276 IQD 360.9K

-55.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$374 IQD 489.8K

$730 IQD 954.7K

-48.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 IQD 450.6K

$493 IQD 645.3K

-30.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$460 IQD 601.6K

$1,121 IQD 1.5M

-58.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$385 IQD 503.8K

$644 IQD 842.4K

-40.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$431 IQD 564.3K

$582 IQD 761.7K

-25.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.33

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

Last update for Duhok: July 21, 2026

Last update for Erbil: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Duhok and $428 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Erbil pays 35% 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 $23.00 in Erbil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $196 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 60% in total monthly costs ($646 vs $1,032 including rent). Duhok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 35% 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: $181 in Duhok versus $428 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $112 in Duhok versus $268 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $646 in Duhok versus $1,032 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 60% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.