🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $646 in Duhok versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,057 in Duhok versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,468 in Duhok versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Duhok costs roughly 55% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Duhok is 52% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.93IQD 5,146
$12.98MX$227
-69.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.45IQD 25.4K
$52.6MX$918
-63.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.94IQD 9,081
$9.43MX$165
-26.41%
Cappuccino
$2.53IQD 3,311
$3.57MX$62.3
-29.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42IQD 555
$1.61MX$28.02
-73.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18IQD 237
$1.15MX$20.14
-84.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17IQD 1,532
$3.15MX$55.0
-62.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93IQD 2,524
$4.86MX$84.8
-60.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36IQD 1,783
$1.70MX$29.66
-20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86IQD 1,124
$2.64MX$45.99
-67.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57IQD 2,060
$1.90MX$33.22
-17.37%
Eggs
$1.87IQD 2,449
$2.54MX$44.35
-26.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.24IQD 6,857
$10.08MX$176
-48.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.93IQD 3,826
$8.29MX$145
-64.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.92IQD 16.9K
$11.57MX$202
11.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.12IQD 1,469
$3.03MX$52.8
-63.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20IQD 1,565
$1.71MX$29.85
-29.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.82IQD 1,070
$2.05MX$35.76
-60.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.71IQD 929
$2.06MX$35.95
-65.53%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70IQD 919
$2.06MX$36.03
-66.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70IQD 910
$2.17MX$37.87
-67.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73IQD 957
$1.40MX$24.49
-47.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56IQD 732
$1.12MX$19.58
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.86IQD 2,432
$4.29MX$74.9
-56.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.62IQD 16.5K
$15.41MX$269
-18.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44IQD 1,884
$1.67MX$29.23
-13.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97IQD 2,575
$3.69MX$64.3
-46.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33IQD 431
$0.38MX$6.66
-13.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.86IQD 20.7K
$19.06MX$333
-16.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.23IQD 2,919
$1.38MX$24.10
61.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54IQD 2,017
$0.28MX$4.82
450.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.08IQD 7,949
$5.42MX$94.5
12.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.66IQD 861
$1.28MX$22.35
-48.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KIQD 24.9M
$19.0KMX$331.3K
0.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8KIQD 25.9M
$23.5KMX$409.5K
-15.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.8IQD 122.7K
$41.02MX$716
128.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.64IQD 12.6K
$26.92MX$470
-64.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.60IQD 38.7K
$29.69MX$518
-0.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.8IQD 67.8K
$52.3MX$913
-0.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.86IQD 22.1K
$26.23MX$458
-35.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.44IQD 9,737
$6.18MX$108
20.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$115IQD 150.0K
$427MX$7,454
-73.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,332IQD 4.4M
$10.7KMX$186.7K
-68.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.15IQD 13.3K
$56.8MX$992
-82.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.73IQD 25.8K
$44.83MX$782
-55.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$30.07IQD 39.3K
$105MX$1,824
-71.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$19.79IQD 25.9K
$106MX$1,849
-81.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$180IQD 235.3K
$995MX$17.4K
-81.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$124IQD 162.5K
$621MX$10.8K
-80.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$367IQD 479.6K
$2,126MX$37.1K
-82.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346IQD 452.3K
$1,254MX$21.9K
-72.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$471IQD 615.6K
$3,903MX$68.1K
-87.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$394IQD 515.0K
$2,096MX$36.6K
-81.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$430IQD 562.4K
$1,107MX$19.3K
-61.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.33
11.34
26.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Duhok: June 8, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $180 in Duhok and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 158% 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 $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $288 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 Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Duhok and Mexico City?
Duhok and Mexico City differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($646 vs $1,447 including rent). Duhok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mexico City earns 158% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Duhok and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $180 in Duhok versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Duhok and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $115 in Duhok versus $427 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $646 in Duhok versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Duhok but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Duhok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Duhok and Mexico City?
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.
Is Duhok or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Duhok and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Duhok or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Duhok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.