Moving to Netherlands from Iraq

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Iraq to Netherlands, you would find that Netherlands is 4.5 times more expensive than Iraq overall. A IQD98,131,745 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly €202,731 in Netherlands to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Amsterdam averages 56°F vs 87°F in Baghdad, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

IQD98,131,745 €202,731

To maintain the same standard of living in Netherlands

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 7.1 times more

Groceries

pay 2.9 times more

Transportation

pay 2.7 times more

Housing

pay 3.9 times more

Childcare

pay 9.5 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.8 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 IQD = 0.0007 EUR (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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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Iraq to Netherlands.

Moved in 2023
1,354 ↑ 25% vs 2022

people moved from Iraq to Netherlands · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Netherlands?

Top countries of origin for Netherlands's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Netherlands compared to Iraq.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
9.4
NL
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
21.5
NL
3.4

Netherlands performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IQ
$843
NL
$8,195
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IQ
10.1
NL
39.1

Netherlands 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
NL
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IQ
5.2t
NL
6.6t

Iraq generally does better on environment, though Netherlands leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IQ
14.4
NL
44.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IQ
59.6%
NL
16.1%

Netherlands 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%
NL
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IQ
$12,600
NL
$69,300

Netherlands generally does better on employment & economy, though Iraq leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IQ
73.2 yrs
NL
82.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IQ
19.6
NL
3.4

Netherlands 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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Amsterdam Rain: 30.7 in/yr (780 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Baghdad Amsterdam
Jan–Mar 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) 45°/34°F (7°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) 61°/45°F (16°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) 69°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) 50°/40°F (10°/4°C)
View all months
Month Baghdad Amsterdam
Jan 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) 42°/33°F (5.4°/0.5°C)
Feb 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) 43°/32°F (6.0°/0.2°C)
Mar 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) 49°/36°F (9.2°/2.4°C)
Apr 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) 54°/39°F (12.4°/4.0°C)
May 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) 63°/46°F (17.1°/7.8°C)
Jun 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) 67°/51°F (19.2°/10.4°C)
Jul 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) 71°/54°F (21.4°/12.5°C)
Aug 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) 71°/54°F (21.8°/12.3°C)
Sep 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) 65°/50°F (18.4°/10.2°C)
Oct 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) 57°/45°F (14.1°/7.0°C)
Nov 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) 49°/39°F (9.2°/3.9°C)
Dec 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C)

Data: Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Iraq passport

Iraq passport holder visiting Netherlands

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

Netherlands passport holder visiting Iraq

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Netherlands passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to 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 Netherlands than Iraq?

On average Netherlands is around 209% pricier than Iraq, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Netherlands?

Budget about €50,683 for 3 months in Netherlands (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 Netherlands?

Connectivity is usually fine (Netherlands: 44.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Netherlands offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Netherlands safe for expats?

Netherlands performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Netherlands is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.

How is healthcare in Netherlands compared to Iraq?

Netherlands generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 39.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Netherlands, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. Netherlands scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).

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

The average high temperature in Amsterdam is 56°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Amsterdam receives around 30.7 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.

What language do they speak in Netherlands?

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

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At a Glance

IQ NL
Population 40,462,701 17,400,824
Currency Iraqi Dinar (IQD) Euro (€)
Languages Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani Dutch
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +964 +31
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 104 112