Moving to Iran from Iraq
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iraq to Iran? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iraq to Iran, you would find that Iran is 5.7% more expensive than Iraq overall. A IQD98,131,745 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly IRR170,545,375,000 in Iran to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Persian (Farsi). Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tehran averages 72°F vs 87°F in Baghdad, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iraq and Iran.
What does your salary buy?
IQD98,131,745 → IRR170,545,375,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Iran
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 89.2% more
Groceries
pay 16.1% less
Transportation
pay 47.8% more
Housing
pay 29.3% less
Childcare
pay 48.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 50.9% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Iraq to Iran.
Who's moving to Iran?
Top countries of origin for Iran's foreign-born residents.
- 2,710,601
-
2.54,445
Iraq
- 12,575
- 4,788
- 1,954
- 989
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Iran compared to Iraq.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Iran 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Iran generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in healthcare spending per person.
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 Iran 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
share of households with internet
Iraq generally does better on infrastructure, though Iran leads in electricity per capita.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iran performs significantly better than Iraq across all employment & economy metrics.
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
Iran generally does better on family life, though Iraq leads in education spending.
Data: 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 | Tehran |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) | 52°/35°F (11°/2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) | 82°/61°F (28°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) | 94°/72°F (35°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) | 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) |
View all months
| Month | Baghdad | Tehran |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) | 45°/30°F (7.2°/-1.1°C) |
| Feb | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) | 50°/33°F (9.9°/0.7°C) |
| Mar | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) | 60°/41°F (15.4°/5.2°C) |
| Apr | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) | 71°/52°F (21.9°/10.9°C) |
| May | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) | 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.1°C) |
| Jun | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) | 93°/70°F (34.1°/20.9°C) |
| Jul | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) | 98°/75°F (36.8°/24.0°C) |
| Aug | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) | 96°/73°F (35.4°/23.0°C) |
| Sep | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) | 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.2°C) |
| Oct | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) | 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) |
| Nov | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) | 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.7°C) |
| Dec | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.3°C) |
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and SeismologyVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iraq and Iran. To live, work, or study long-term in Iran, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iran's immigration authority.
Iraq passport holder visiting Iran
Visa Free
Iran passport holder visiting Iraq
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Iran than Iraq?
On average Iran is around 65% pricier than Iraq, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Iran?
Budget about IRR42,636,343,750 for 3 months in Iran (based on a IQD98,131,745 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Iran?
Connectivity is usually fine (Iran: 12.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Iran offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Iran safe for expats?
Iran performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iran is 2.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.
How is healthcare in Iran compared to Iraq?
Iran generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 15.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iran, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. Iran scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).
What's the weather like in Iran compared to Iraq?
The average high temperature in Tehran is 72°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Tehran receives around 9.1 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.
What language do they speak in Iran?
The official language in Iran is Persian (Farsi). In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.
