Moving to Moldova from Iraq

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Iraq to Moldova? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Iraq to Moldova, you would find that Moldova is 67.3% more expensive than Iraq overall. A IQD98,131,745 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly MDL2,104,101 in Moldova to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Romanian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iraq and Moldova.

What does your salary buy?

IQD98,131,745 MDL2,104,101

To maintain the same standard of living in Moldova

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 94.3% more

Groceries

pay 44.3% more

Transportation

pay 31.3% more

Housing

pay 23.9% more

Childcare

pay 2.7 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 9.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 IQD = 0.0134 MDL (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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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Moldova compared to Iraq.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
9.4
MD
2.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
21.5
MD
9.1

Moldova 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
MD
$1,181
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IQ
10.1
MD
32.5

Moldova generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IQ
87.0
MD
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IQ
5.2t
MD
3.4t

Moldova 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
MD
24.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IQ
59.6%
MD
12.6%

Moldova performs significantly better than Iraq 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%
MD
1.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IQ
$12,600
MD
$15,700

Iraq generally does better on employment & economy, though Moldova 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
MD
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IQ
19.6
MD
11.6

Moldova generally does better on family life, though Iraq leads in life expectancy.

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Iraq passport

Iraq passport holder visiting Moldova

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Iraq passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Moldova.
Moldova passport

Moldova passport holder visiting Iraq

Visa Required
Moldova 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 Moldova than Iraq?

On average Moldova is around 60% pricier than Iraq, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Moldova?

Budget about MDL526,025 for 3 months in Moldova (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 Moldova?

Connectivity is usually fine (Moldova: 24.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Moldova offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Moldova safe for expats?

Moldova performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Moldova is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.

How is healthcare in Moldova compared to Iraq?

Moldova generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 32.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Moldova, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. Moldova scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).

What language do they speak in Moldova?

The official language in Moldova is Romanian. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.

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At a Glance

IQ MD
Population 40,462,701 3,287,326
Currency Iraqi Dinar (IQD) Moldovan Leu (MDL)
Languages Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani Romanian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +964 +373
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 104 112