Moving to Albania from Iraq

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Iraq to Albania, you would find that Albania is 88.2% more expensive than Iraq overall. A IQD98,353,840 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly ALL11,077,212 in Albania to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Albanian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

IQD98,353,840 ALL11,077,212

To maintain the same standard of living in Albania

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.9 times more

Groceries

pay 81.2% more

Transportation

pay 2.1 times more

Housing

pay 25.9% more

Childcare

pay 58.9% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 25.4% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 IQD = 0.0626 ALL (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 Albania compared to Iraq.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
21.5
AL
10.8

Albania performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

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

affects wait times and access to care

IQ
10.1
AL
18.8

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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IQ
5.2t
AL
1.8t

Albania performs significantly 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

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

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IQ
59.6%
AL
4.8%

Albania performs significantly 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

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

IQ
$12,600
AL
$18,100

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

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

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IQ
19.6
AL
10.8

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

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

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.
Albania passport

Albania passport holder visiting Iraq

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

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 Albania than Iraq?

On average Albania is around 80% pricier than Iraq, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Albania?

Budget about ALL2,769,303 for 3 months in Albania (based on a IQD98,353,840 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Albania?

Connectivity is usually fine (Albania: 20.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Albania offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Albania safe for expats?

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

How is healthcare in Albania compared to Iraq?

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

What language do they speak in Albania?

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

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At a Glance

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