Moving to Nepal from Iraq

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Iraq to Nepal — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Iraq to Nepal, you would find that Nepal is 21.0% cheaper than Iraq overall. A IQD98,353,840 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly NPR10,479,642 in Nepal to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Nepali. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kathmandu averages 77°F vs 87°F in Baghdad, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iraq to Nepal.

What does your salary buy?

IQD98,353,840 NPR10,479,642

To maintain the same standard of living in Nepal

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 22.0% less

Groceries

pay 5.7% less

Transportation

pay 23.8% more

Housing

pay 73.7% less

Childcare

pay 22.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 30.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 IQD = 0.1163 NPR (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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iraq to Nepal.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
9.4
NP
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
21.5
NP
28.2

Iraq generally does better on safety, though Nepal leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

IQ
$843
NP
$332
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IQ
10.1
NP
8.7

Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Nepal 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
NP
76.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IQ
5.2t
NP
0.5t

Nepal 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
NP
4.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IQ
59.6%
NP
8.3%

Iraq generally does better on infrastructure, though Nepal leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IQ
15.5%
NP
10.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IQ
$12,600
NP
$4,700

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

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IQ
19.6
NP
25.1

Iraq generally does better on family life, though Nepal leads in literacy rate.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Baghdad Rain: 4.8 in/yr (123 mm)
87° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Kathmandu Rain: 56.1 in/yr (1425 mm)
77° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Baghdad Kathmandu
Jan–Mar 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) 69°/40°F (21°/4°C)
Apr–Jun 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) 82°/59°F (28°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) 82°/67°F (28°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) 73°/46°F (23°/8°C)
View all months
Month Baghdad Kathmandu
Jan 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) 64°/36°F (18.0°/2.1°C)
Feb 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) 68°/39°F (20.2°/3.8°C)
Mar 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) 76°/46°F (24.3°/7.5°C)
Apr 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) 81°/52°F (27.4°/11.3°C)
May 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) 83°/60°F (28.2°/15.5°C)
Jun 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) 83°/66°F (28.3°/19.0°C)
Jul 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) 82°/68°F (27.7°/20.0°C)
Aug 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) 82°/67°F (28.0°/19.7°C)
Sep 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) 81°/65°F (27.2°/18.2°C)
Oct 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) 78°/55°F (25.8°/13.0°C)
Nov 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) 73°/45°F (22.7°/7.4°C)
Dec 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) 67°/37°F (19.4°/3.0°C)

Data: Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology, Department of Hydrology and meteorology Department of Hydrology and meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Iraq passport

Iraq passport holder visiting Nepal

Visa Required
Iraq passport holders need a visa to enter Nepal.
Nepal passport

Nepal passport holder visiting Iraq

Visa Required
Nepal 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 Nepal than Iraq?

Yes — Nepal is on average about 8% cheaper than Iraq. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Nepal?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly NPR2,619,910 in Nepal on a IQD98,353,840 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Nepal?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Nepal has 4.7 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 Nepal safe for expats?

Iraq generally does better on safety, though Nepal leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Nepal is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.

How is healthcare in Nepal compared to Iraq?

Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Nepal leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 8.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Nepal, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. Nepal scores 54 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).

What's the weather like in Nepal compared to Iraq?

The average high temperature in Kathmandu is 77°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Kathmandu receives around 56.1 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.

What language do they speak in Nepal?

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

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At a Glance

IQ NP
Population 40,462,701 30,666,598
Currency Iraqi Dinar (IQD) Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
Languages Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani Nepali
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +964 +977
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 104 100