Moving to Iraq from Ghana

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ghana to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 3.9% more expensive than Ghana overall. A GHS864,429 salary in Ghana would need to be roughly IQD95,925,744 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 Ghana and Iraq.

What does your salary buy?

GHS864,429 IQD95,925,744

To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 25.8% less

Groceries

pay 46.3% less

Transportation

pay 34.0% more

Housing

pay 23.4% more

Childcare

pay 16.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 24.7% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GHS = 113.52 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 Ghana.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

GH
1.8
IQ
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GH
25.9
IQ
21.5

Ghana generally does better on safety, though Iraq leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

GH
$234
IQ
$843
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GH
1.4
IQ
10.1

Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ghana 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

GH
89.0
IQ
87.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GH
0.7t
IQ
5.2t

Ghana generally does better on environment, though Iraq leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GH
0.6
IQ
14.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GH
6.3%
IQ
59.6%

Ghana generally does better on infrastructure, though Iraq leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GH
3.1%
IQ
15.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GH
$6,700
IQ
$12,600

Iraq generally does better on employment & economy, though Ghana leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GH
69.4 yrs
IQ
73.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GH
32.6
IQ
19.6

Iraq generally does better on family life, though Ghana leads in literacy rate.

Data: Ghana Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Accra Rain: 29.2 in/yr (741 mm)
88° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Baghdad Rain: 4.8 in/yr (123 mm)
87° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Accra Baghdad
Jan–Mar 91°/76°F (33°/25°C) 66°/43°F (19°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) 97°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/74°F (29°/23°C) 108°/74°F (43°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/75°F (32°/24°C) 77°/50°F (25°/10°C)
View all months
Month Accra Baghdad
Jan 90°/75°F (32.4°/24.1°C) 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C)
Feb 92°/77°F (33.1°/25.0°C) 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C)
Mar 91°/77°F (33.0°/25.1°C) 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C)
Apr 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.1°C) 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C)
May 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.4°C) 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.6°C) 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C)
Jul 83°/74°F (28.4°/23.1°C) 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.3°/22.7°C) 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C)
Sep 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.1°C) 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C)
Oct 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C) 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C)
Nov 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.2°C) 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C)
Dec 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.3°C) 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C)

Data: Ghana Meteorological Agency Ghana Meteorological Agency, Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ghana 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.

Ghana passport

Ghana passport holder visiting Iraq

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

Iraq passport holder visiting Ghana

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

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 Ghana?

Iraq and Ghana are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.

How much money do I need to move to Iraq?

Budget about IQD23,981,436 for 3 months in Iraq (based on a GHS864,429 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?

Ghana generally does better on safety, though Iraq leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Ghana.

How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Ghana?

Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ghana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 10.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iraq, compared to 1.4 in Ghana. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ghana: 48).

What's the weather like in Iraq compared to Ghana?

The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 88°F in Accra. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Accra gets 29.2 in.

What language do they speak in Iraq?

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

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At a Glance

GH IQ
Population 33,107,275 40,462,701
Currency Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
Languages English Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +233 +964
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 104