Moving to Minnesota from Iraq
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iraq to Minnesota? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iraq to Minnesota, you would find that Minnesota is 4.1 times more expensive than Iraq overall. A IQD98,281,907 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly $186,069 in Minnesota to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Saint Paul averages 56°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 Minnesota.
What does your salary buy?
IQD98,281,907 → $186,069
To maintain the same standard of living in Minnesota
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 5.2 times more
Groceries
pay 3.9 times more
Transportation
pay 62.1% more
Housing
pay 3.4 times more
Childcare
pay 10.0 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.5 times 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 Minnesota.
people moved from Iraq to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
33.256,028
Iraq
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Minnesota compared to Iraq.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Iraq performs better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Minnesota 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
share of people below the poverty line
Minnesota performs significantly better than Iraq across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Minnesota performs significantly better than Iraq across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Baghdad | Saint Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) | 32°/16°F (0°/-9°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) | 69°/50°F (21°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) | 43°/27°F (6°/-3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Baghdad | Saint Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) | 25°/9°F (-4.1°/-12.6°C) |
| Feb | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) | 30°/14°F (-1.3°/-9.9°C) |
| Mar | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) | 42°/26°F (5.5°/-3.6°C) |
| Apr | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) | 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) |
| May | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) | 70°/50°F (21.2°/10.0°C) |
| Jun | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) |
| Jul | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) | 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.1°C) |
| Aug | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) | 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.8°C) |
| Sep | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) | 72°/53°F (22.2°/11.7°C) |
| Oct | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) | 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.7°C) |
| Nov | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) | 42°/28°F (5.6°/-2.4°C) |
| Dec | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) | 28°/14°F (-2.5°/-10.1°C) |
Data:
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iraq and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Iraq passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States 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 Minnesota than Iraq?
On average Minnesota is around 148% pricier than Iraq, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Minnesota?
Budget about $46,517 for 3 months in Minnesota (based on a IQD98,281,907 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Minnesota?
From major Minnesota cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iraq and Minnesota are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Minnesota compared to Iraq?
Iraq performs better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Minnesota compared to Iraq?
The average high temperature in Saint Paul is 56°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Saint Paul receives around 28.5 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.
What language do they speak in Minnesota?
The official language in Minnesota is English. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.
