Moving to Malta from Iraq
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iraq to Malta — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iraq to Malta, you would find that Malta is 2.9 times more expensive than Iraq overall. A IQD98,250,000 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly €163,416 in Malta to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Maltese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Valletta averages 72°F vs 87°F in Baghdad, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iraq to Malta.
What does your salary buy?
IQD98,250,000 → €163,416
To maintain the same standard of living in Malta
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 4.7 times more
Groceries
pay 2.5 times more
Transportation
pay 81.9% more
Housing
pay 2.8 times more
Childcare
pay 4.1 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 80.4% 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 Malta, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iraq to Malta.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Malta 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 Malta 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
Malta 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
Malta generally does better on infrastructure, though Iraq leads in water stress level.
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
Malta 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
Malta 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 | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) | 60°/49°F (16°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) | 74°/59°F (23°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) | 85°/70°F (30°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) | 69°/57°F (20°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Baghdad | Valletta |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.2°C) |
| Feb | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) | 60°/49°F (15.5°/9.3°C) |
| Mar | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) | 62°/50°F (16.7°/10.1°C) |
| Apr | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) | 66°/53°F (19.1°/11.9°C) |
| May | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) | 74°/59°F (23.3°/14.9°C) |
| Jun | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) | 82°/65°F (27.5°/18.4°C) |
| Jul | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) | 87°/70°F (30.7°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.8°C) |
| Sep | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) | 82°/68°F (28.0°/20.1°C) |
| Oct | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) | 76°/63°F (24.2°/17.1°C) |
| Nov | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) | 68°/57°F (20.1°/13.9°C) |
| Dec | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) | 62°/52°F (16.7°/11.0°C) |
Data:
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology,
Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iraq and Malta. To live, work, or study long-term in Malta, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Malta's immigration authority.
Iraq passport holder visiting Malta
Visa Required
Malta 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 Malta than Iraq?
No — Malta is on average about 154% more expensive than Iraq. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Malta?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €40,854 in Malta on a IQD98,250,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Malta?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Malta has 43.0 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 Malta safe for expats?
Malta performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malta is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.
How is healthcare in Malta compared to Iraq?
Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malta leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 42.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Malta, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. Malta scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).
What's the weather like in Malta compared to Iraq?
The average high temperature in Valletta is 72°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Valletta receives around 21.8 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.
What language do they speak in Malta?
The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.
