Moving to Latvia from Iraq
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iraq to Latvia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iraq to Latvia, you would find that Latvia is 2.7 times more expensive than Iraq overall. A IQD98,131,745 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly €124,499 in Latvia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riga averages 50°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?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iraq to Latvia.
What does your salary buy?
IQD98,131,745 → €124,499
To maintain the same standard of living in Latvia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 3.5 times more
Groceries
pay 93.0% more
Transportation
pay 71.2% more
Housing
pay 75.7% more
Childcare
pay 5.6 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 62.4% 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?
How many people actually move from Iraq to Latvia, based on official data.
Who's moving to Latvia?
Top countries of origin for Latvia's foreign-born residents.
- 116,771
- 42,251
- 32,262
- 14,209
- 5,651
- 3,712
- · · ·
-
50.52
Iraq
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iraq to Latvia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Latvia 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
Latvia 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
Latvia performs significantly better than Iraq across all environment metrics.
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
Latvia 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
share of people below the poverty line
Latvia 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
Latvia 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 | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) | 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) | 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) | 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Baghdad | Riga |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) | 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) |
| Feb | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) | 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) |
| Mar | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) | 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) |
| Apr | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) |
| May | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) | 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) |
| Jun | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) | 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) |
| Jul | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) | 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) |
| Aug | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Sep | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) | 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) |
| Oct | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) | 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) |
| Nov | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) | 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) |
| Dec | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) | 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) |
Data:
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology,
Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iraq and Latvia. To live, work, or study long-term in Latvia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Latvia's immigration authority.
Iraq passport holder visiting Latvia
Visa Required
Latvia 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 Latvia than Iraq?
No — Latvia is on average about 90% more expensive than Iraq. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Latvia?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €31,125 in Latvia 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 Latvia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Latvia has 26.4 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 Latvia safe for expats?
Latvia performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.
How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Iraq?
Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 33.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).
What's the weather like in Latvia compared to Iraq?
The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.
What language do they speak in Latvia?
The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.
