Moving to Iraq from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Hong Kong to Iraq — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 73.3% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$590,000 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly IQD30,400,000 in Iraq to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Iraq cheaper than Hong Kong?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 38.4% less
Groceries
pay 71.7% less
Transportation
pay 70.6% less
Housing
pay 82.9% less
Childcare
pay 86.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 56.8% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
What salary do you need in Iraq?
What does your salary buy?
HK$590,000 → IQD30,400,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Iraq
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Hong Kong to Iraq.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs better than Iraq across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Hong Kong performs better than Iraq across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Hong Kong generally does better on employment & economy, though Iraq leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Hong Kong generally does better on family life, though Iraq leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022), United Nations SDG Indicators (2013), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (2016), Ministry of Finance (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Iraq vs Hong Kong
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Hong Kong | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology
Can you move from Hong Kong to Iraq?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong 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.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Iraq
Visa Required
Iraq passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa RequiredData: 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 Hong Kong?
Yes — Iraq is on average about 73% cheaper than Hong Kong. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Iraq?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly IQD7,600,000 in Iraq on a HK$590,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Iraq?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Iraq has 17.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Iraq safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Iraq compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Iraq?
The official languages in Iraq are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
