Moving to India from Iraq

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Iraq to India — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Iraq to India, you would find that India is 29.8% cheaper than Iraq overall. A IQD98,131,745 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly ₹4,843,673 in India to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Hindi and Tamil. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iraq to India.

What does your salary buy?

IQD98,131,745 ₹4,843,673

To maintain the same standard of living in India

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 31.4% less

Groceries

pay 19.2% less

Transportation

pay 15.1% less

Housing

pay 62.3% less

Childcare

pay 41.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 22.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 IQD = 0.0739 INR (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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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Iraq to India, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
670 ↓ 7% vs 2015

people born in Iraq live in India · UN DESA

Who's moving to India?

Top countries of origin for India's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iraq to India.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
9.4
IN
2.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
21.5
IN
15.4

India 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
IN
$346
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IQ
10.1
IN
7.3

India generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IQ
87.0
IN
83.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IQ
5.2t
IN
2.2t

India 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
IN
2.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IQ
59.6%
IN
66.5%

Iraq performs better than India 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%
IN
4.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IQ
$12,600
IN
$9,200

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IQ
73.2 yrs
IN
67.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IQ
19.6
IN
30.3

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

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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Delhi Rain: 28.2 in/yr (716 mm)
88° / 66°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Baghdad Delhi
Jan–Mar 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) 76°/52°F (25°/11°C)
Apr–Jun 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) 101°/78°F (38°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) 93°/79°F (34°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) 82°/56°F (28°/14°C)
View all months
Month Baghdad Delhi
Jan 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) 69°/46°F (20.8°/7.8°C)
Feb 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.3°C)
Mar 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) 85°/60°F (29.6°/15.4°C)
Apr 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) 97°/71°F (36.0°/21.5°C)
May 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) 104°/79°F (39.8°/26.2°C)
Jun 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) 103°/83°F (39.4°/28.3°C)
Jul 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) 95°/81°F (35.2°/27.0°C)
Aug 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) 92°/79°F (33.6°/26.2°C)
Sep 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) 93°/76°F (34.0°/24.7°C)
Oct 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) 91°/67°F (32.9°/19.4°C)
Nov 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) 82°/55°F (28.0°/12.8°C)
Dec 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) 73°/47°F (22.7°/8.4°C)

Data: Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology, India Meteorological Department India Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Iraq passport

Iraq passport holder visiting India

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

India passport holder visiting Iraq

Visa Required
India 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 India than Iraq?

Yes — India is on average about 33% cheaper than Iraq. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to India?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₹1,210,918 in India on a IQD98,131,745 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from India?

Internet is rarely the blocker — India has 2.4 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 India safe for expats?

India performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in India is 2.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.

How is healthcare in India compared to Iraq?

India generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 7.3 doctors per 10,000 people in India, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. India scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).

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

The average high temperature in Delhi is 88°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Delhi receives around 28.2 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.

What language do they speak in India?

The official languages in India are English, Hindi and Tamil. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.

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At a Glance

IQ IN
Population 40,462,701 1,389,637,446
Currency Iraqi Dinar (IQD) Indian Rupee (₹)
Languages Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani English, Hindi, Tamil
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +964 +91
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 104 112