Moving to Cyprus from Iraq
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iraq to Cyprus? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iraq to Cyprus, you would find that Cyprus is 2.7 times more expensive than Iraq overall. A IQD98,250,000 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly €154,866 in Cyprus to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Greek and Turkish. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iraq and Cyprus.
What does your salary buy?
IQD98,250,000 → €154,866
To maintain the same standard of living in Cyprus
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 4.0 times more
Groceries
pay 2.5 times more
Transportation
pay 89.8% more
Housing
pay 2.6 times more
Childcare
pay 3.8 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 81.2% more
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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Iraq to Cyprus.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Cyprus compared to Iraq.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Cyprus performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cyprus leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Iraq generally does better on environment, though Cyprus leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Cyprus performs significantly 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
Cyprus generally does better on employment & economy, though Iraq leads in top income tax 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Cyprus performs significantly better than Iraq across all family life metrics.
Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Baghdad | Nicosia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) | 63°/44°F (17°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) | 85°/60°F (29°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) | 97°/71°F (36°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) | 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) |
View all months
| Month | Baghdad | Nicosia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) | 60°/42°F (15.7°/5.8°C) |
| Feb | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) | 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.0°C) |
| Mar | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) | 68°/46°F (20.1°/7.8°C) |
| Apr | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) | 76°/52°F (24.3°/10.9°C) |
| May | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) | 85°/59°F (29.6°/15.2°C) |
| Jun | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) | 94°/68°F (34.3°/20.0°C) |
| Jul | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) | 100°/73°F (37.5°/22.7°C) |
| Aug | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) | 100°/73°F (37.5°/22.7°C) |
| Sep | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) | 92°/67°F (33.6°/19.5°C) |
| Oct | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) | 84°/61°F (28.8°/15.9°C) |
| Nov | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) | 73°/51°F (22.6°/10.6°C) |
| Dec | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) | 64°/45°F (17.8°/7.3°C) |
Data:
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology,
Department of Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iraq and Cyprus. To live, work, or study long-term in Cyprus, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Cyprus's immigration authority.
Iraq passport holder visiting Cyprus
Visa Required
Cyprus passport holder visiting Iraq
Visa Online (e-Visa)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 Cyprus than Iraq?
On average Cyprus is around 141% pricier than Iraq, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Cyprus?
Budget about €38,716 for 3 months in Cyprus (based on a IQD98,250,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Cyprus?
Connectivity is usually fine (Cyprus: 38.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Cyprus offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Cyprus safe for expats?
Cyprus performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cyprus is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.
How is healthcare in Cyprus compared to Iraq?
Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cyprus leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 35.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Cyprus, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. Cyprus scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).
What's the weather like in Cyprus compared to Iraq?
The average high temperature in Nicosia is 80°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Nicosia receives around 13.5 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.
What language do they speak in Cyprus?
The official languages in Cyprus are Greek and Turkish. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.
