🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $663 in Duhok versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,064 in Duhok versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,466 in Duhok versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Duhok costs roughly 60% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Duhok is 52% below, Mexico City is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.84IQD 5,024
$12.14MX$206
-68.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.93IQD 24.8K
$53.9MX$913
-64.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.62IQD 11.3K
$11.09MX$188
-22.27%
Cappuccino
$2.81IQD 3,684
$4.10MX$69.4
-31.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 518
$1.68MX$28.49
-76.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21IQD 269
$1.39MX$23.52
-84.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.88IQD 2,464
$3.33MX$56.4
-43.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35IQD 3,074
$5.88MX$99.6
-60.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23IQD 1,611
$1.85MX$31.36
-33.51%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78IQD 1,027
$3.17MX$53.7
-75.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76IQD 2,311
$2.07MX$35.08
-14.98%
Eggs
$1.85IQD 2,429
$2.93MX$49.60
-36.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.91IQD 6,436
$12.59MX$213
-61.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.09IQD 4,041
$10.11MX$171
-69.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.88IQD 16.9K
$16.09MX$273
-19.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.08IQD 1,408
$3.39MX$57.4
-68.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11IQD 1,450
$2.08MX$35.21
-46.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.81IQD 1,065
$2.12MX$35.92
-61.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69IQD 904
$2.41MX$40.89
-71.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75IQD 976
$2.13MX$36.07
-64.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69IQD 901
$2.01MX$33.97
-65.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80IQD 1,045
$1.55MX$26.18
-48.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59IQD 772
$1.36MX$23.12
-56.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92IQD 2,517
$5.77MX$97.7
-66.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.55IQD 16.4K
$17.74MX$301
-29.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64IQD 2,147
$2.07MX$35.07
-20.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05IQD 2,686
$4.61MX$78.2
-55.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36IQD 466
$0.37MX$6.20
-2.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.53IQD 20.3K
$21.18MX$359
-26.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.86IQD 2,436
$2.05MX$34.79
-9.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43IQD 1,875
$0.58MX$9.77
146.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.83IQD 7,629
$6.07MX$103
-3.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.67IQD 879
$1.55MX$26.30
-56.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3KIQD 24.0M
$22.9KMX$387.5K
-19.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2KIQD 26.4M
$27.2KMX$461.4K
-25.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.3IQD 120.8K
$67.4MX$1,142
36.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.76IQD 12.8K
$30.62MX$519
-68.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.23IQD 37.0K
$37.24MX$631
-24.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.3IQD 69.8K
$61.5MX$1,041
-13.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.88IQD 40.4K
$27.12MX$459
13.86%
Cinema Ticket
$7.55IQD 9,883
$7.11MX$120
6.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$111IQD 145.6K
$456MX$7,728
-75.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,151IQD 4.1M
$13.7KMX$232.0K
-76.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.17IQD 13.3K
$74.2MX$1,257
-86.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.16IQD 26.4K
$57.0MX$966
-64.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$30.16IQD 39.5K
$115MX$1,955
-73.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$20.11IQD 26.3K
$122MX$2,059
-83.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$179IQD 234.5K
$1,148MX$19.4K
-84.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$125IQD 163.7K
$709MX$12.0K
-82.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$366IQD 479.6K
$2,577MX$43.7K
-85.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338IQD 442.9K
$1,295MX$21.9K
-73.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$477IQD 625.2K
$4,005MX$67.9K
-88.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$391IQD 512.6K
$2,130MX$36.1K
-81.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$455IQD 595.5K
$1,082MX$18.3K
-57.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.53
11.3
-77.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Duhok: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $179 in Duhok and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 138% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $345 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 in Mexico City?
Duhok and Mexico City differ by about 153% in total monthly costs ($663 vs $1,677 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, salaries run 138% lower in Mexico City. 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 in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $179 in Duhok versus $1,148 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 $111 in Duhok versus $456 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 99% 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 $663 in Duhok versus $1,677 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 153% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.