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 $1,017 in Erbil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,057 in Duhok versus $1,518 in Erbil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,468 in Duhok versus $2,019 in Erbil.

Living in Duhok costs roughly 36% less than in Erbil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duhok 52% lower, Erbil 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 IQD 5,146

$7.59 IQD 9,926

-48.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.45 IQD 25.4K

$22.90 IQD 29.9K

-15.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 IQD 9,081

$8.65 IQD 11.3K

-19.77%

Cappuccino

$2.53 IQD 3,311

$3.25 IQD 4,255

-22.15%

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

$0.42 IQD 555

$0.52 IQD 675

-19.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 IQD 237

$0.20 IQD 261

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 IQD 1,532

$1.95 IQD 2,552

-40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 IQD 2,524

$2.04 IQD 2,672

-5.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 IQD 1,783

$1.32 IQD 1,723

3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 IQD 1,124

$0.81 IQD 1,061

6.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 IQD 2,060

$1.80 IQD 2,355

-12.78%

Eggs

$1.87 IQD 2,449

$1.91 IQD 2,503

-2.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.24 IQD 6,857

$7.50 IQD 9,805

-30.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 IQD 3,826

$4.82 IQD 6,308

-39.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.92 IQD 16.9K

$14.10 IQD 18.4K

-8.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 IQD 1,469

$1.18 IQD 1,550

-5.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 IQD 1,565

$1.15 IQD 1,499

4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 IQD 1,070

$1.14 IQD 1,492

-28.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 IQD 929

$0.80 IQD 1,044

-11.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 919

$0.66 IQD 862

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 IQD 910

$0.77 IQD 1,001

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 IQD 957

$0.77 IQD 1,007

-5.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 IQD 732

$0.55 IQD 720

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 IQD 2,432

$2.74 IQD 3,590

-32.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 IQD 16.5K

$12.38 IQD 16.2K

1.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 IQD 1,884

$1.37 IQD 1,792

5.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 IQD 2,575

$2.00 IQD 2,616

-1.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 IQD 431

$0.59 IQD 767

-44.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.86 IQD 20.7K

$34.99 IQD 45.8K

-54.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 IQD 2,919

$2.25 IQD 2,939

-0.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 IQD 2,017

$2.29 IQD 2,990

-32.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 IQD 7,949

$6.85 IQD 8,956

-11.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 IQD 861

$0.64 IQD 838

3.13%

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

$19.0K IQD 24.9M

$19.3K IQD 25.3M

-1.47%

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

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

$20.7K IQD 27.1M

-4.60%

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

$93.8 IQD 122.7K

$101 IQD 132.0K

-7.06%

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

$9.64 IQD 12.6K

$17.35 IQD 22.7K

-44.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.60 IQD 38.7K

$30.25 IQD 39.6K

-2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.8 IQD 67.8K

$72.1 IQD 94.3K

-28.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.86 IQD 22.1K

$11.54 IQD 15.1K

46.10%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 IQD 9,737

$11.28 IQD 14.8K

-34.04%

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

$115 IQD 150.0K

$271 IQD 354.1K

-57.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,332 IQD 4.4M

$3,274 IQD 4.3M

1.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.15 IQD 13.3K

$32.30 IQD 42.2K

-68.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

$49.61 IQD 64.9K

-60.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.07 IQD 39.3K

$81.1 IQD 106.0K

-62.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.79 IQD 25.9K

$77.2 IQD 100.9K

-74.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 IQD 235.3K

$425 IQD 555.3K

-57.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$124 IQD 162.5K

$279 IQD 364.9K

-55.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$367 IQD 479.6K

$740 IQD 967.8K

-50.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 452.3K

$491 IQD 642.6K

-29.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$471 IQD 615.6K

$1,098 IQD 1.4M

-57.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$394 IQD 515.0K

$646 IQD 844.5K

-39.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$430 IQD 562.4K

$591 IQD 772.4K

-27.19%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Erbil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $180 in Duhok and $425 in Erbil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Erbil pays 37% 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 $174 vs $195 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 57% in total monthly costs ($646 vs $1,017 including rent). Duhok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Erbil earns 37% 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 $425 in Erbil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $115 in Duhok versus $271 in Erbil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Erbil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $646 in Duhok versus $1,017 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 57% less than in Erbil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.