🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $646 in Duhok versus $1,481 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,042 in Duhok versus $2,352 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,437 in Duhok versus $3,222 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Duhok costs roughly 56% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Duhok is 52% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.82IQD 4,994
$13.16MX$230
-70.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.86IQD 24.7K
$53.6MX$936
-64.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.18IQD 9,392
$9.55MX$167
-24.82%
Cappuccino
$2.64IQD 3,452
$3.72MX$65.0
-29.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 522
$1.57MX$27.39
-74.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18IQD 233
$1.16MX$20.20
-84.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.13IQD 1,482
$3.18MX$55.7
-64.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87IQD 2,449
$4.63MX$81.0
-59.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37IQD 1,786
$1.71MX$29.80
-19.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82IQD 1,067
$2.62MX$45.73
-68.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57IQD 2,050
$1.89MX$33.01
-16.93%
Eggs
$1.88IQD 2,462
$2.60MX$45.36
-27.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.22IQD 6,825
$9.91MX$173
-47.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.94IQD 3,840
$8.22MX$144
-64.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62IQD 16.5K
$11.78MX$206
7.13%
Apples(1kg)
$1.12IQD 1,460
$3.00MX$52.4
-62.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14IQD 1,494
$1.80MX$31.45
-36.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.82IQD 1,071
$2.07MX$36.24
-60.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75IQD 977
$1.97MX$34.37
-61.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72IQD 939
$2.07MX$36.21
-65.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71IQD 924
$2.17MX$38.00
-67.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77IQD 1,011
$1.40MX$24.52
-45.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56IQD 726
$1.07MX$18.78
-47.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87IQD 2,450
$4.12MX$72.0
-54.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.22IQD 16.0K
$17.42MX$304
-29.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38IQD 1,802
$1.68MX$29.28
-17.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00IQD 2,610
$3.65MX$63.8
-45.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35IQD 460
$0.38MX$6.64
-7.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.87IQD 20.8K
$18.71MX$327
-15.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.35IQD 3,079
$1.33MX$23.23
76.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51IQD 1,979
$0.30MX$5.30
403.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.04IQD 7,901
$5.51MX$96.3
9.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64IQD 835
$1.31MX$22.81
-51.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KIQD 24.7M
$19.2KMX$334.9K
-1.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7KIQD 25.7M
$23.7KMX$415.0K
-17.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.3IQD 122.0K
$41.14MX$719
126.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.99IQD 13.1K
$27.74MX$485
-63.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.31IQD 39.6K
$30.13MX$527
0.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1IQD 68.1K
$53.7MX$939
-3.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.82IQD 22.0K
$25.98MX$454
-35.26%
Cinema Ticket
$7.68IQD 10.0K
$6.49MX$113
18.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$112IQD 146.9K
$437MX$7,630
-74.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,223IQD 4.2M
$10.5KMX$182.7K
-69.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.90IQD 12.9K
$58.3MX$1,019
-83.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.68IQD 25.7K
$45.86MX$801
-57.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$29.75IQD 38.9K
$101MX$1,773
-70.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$20.14IQD 26.3K
$107MX$1,862
-81.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$181IQD 236.5K
$1,005MX$17.6K
-82.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$123IQD 160.4K
$634MX$11.1K
-80.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$374IQD 489.8K
$2,148MX$37.5K
-82.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$345IQD 450.6K
$1,247MX$21.8K
-72.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$460IQD 601.6K
$3,859MX$67.4K
-88.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$385IQD 503.8K
$2,085MX$36.4K
-81.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duhok
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$431IQD 564.3K
$1,072MX$18.7K
-59.76%
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: July 21, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $181 in Duhok and $1,005 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 149% 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 $172 vs $291 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 129% in total monthly costs ($646 vs $1,481 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 149% 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: $181 in Duhok versus $1,005 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 $112 in Duhok versus $437 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 69% 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 $1,481 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 129% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.