Moving to Iraq from Albania

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Albania to Iraq? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Albania to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 29.1% cheaper than Albania overall. A ALL6,149,207 salary in Albania would need to be roughly IQD54,565,176 in Iraq to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Albania and Iraq.

What does your salary buy?

ALL6,149,207 IQD54,565,176

To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 55.8% less

Groceries

pay 43.4% less

Transportation

pay 20.5% less

Housing

pay 9.2% more

Childcare

pay 34.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 7.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ALL = 15.96 IQD (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Iraq compared to Albania.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

AL
1.6
IQ
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AL
10.8
IQ
21.5

Albania performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AL
$1,464
IQ
$843
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

AL
18.8
IQ
10.1

Albania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AL
59.0
IQ
87.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AL
1.8t
IQ
5.2t

Albania performs better than Iraq across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AL
20.6
IQ
14.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AL
4.8%
IQ
59.6%

Albania performs better than Iraq across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AL
11.6%
IQ
15.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AL
$18,100
IQ
$12,600

Albania generally does better on employment & economy, though Iraq leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AL
79.5 yrs
IQ
73.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AL
10.8
IQ
19.6

Albania generally does better on family life, though Iraq leads in education spending.

Data: Albanian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Albania and Iraq. To live, work, or study long-term in Iraq, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iraq's immigration authority.

Albania passport

Albania passport holder visiting Iraq

Visa Required
Albania passport holders need a visa to enter Iraq.
Iraq passport

Iraq passport holder visiting Albania

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Iraq passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Albania.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Iraq than Albania?

On average Iraq is about 44% less expensive than Albania, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Iraq?

Budget about IQD13,641,294 for 3 months in Iraq (based on a ALL6,149,207 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Iraq?

Connectivity is usually fine (Iraq: 14.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Iraq offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Iraq safe for expats?

Albania performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in Albania.

How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Albania?

Albania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 10.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iraq, compared to 18.8 in Albania. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Albania: 64).

What language do they speak in Iraq?

The official languages in Iraq are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. In Albania, the official language is Albanian.

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At a Glance

AL IQ
Population 3,095,344 40,462,701
Currency Albanian Lek (ALL) Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
Languages Albanian Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +355 +964
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 104