Moving to Nigeria from Iraq
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iraq to Nigeria? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iraq to Nigeria, you would find that Nigeria is 17.7% more expensive than Iraq overall. A IQD98,131,745 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly NGN147,416,944 in Nigeria to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English.
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 Nigeria.
What does your salary buy?
IQD98,131,745 → NGN147,416,944
To maintain the same standard of living in Nigeria
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 5.1% less
Groceries
pay 2.1 times more
Transportation
pay 7.9% more
Housing
pay 64.4% more
Childcare
pay 34.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 27.2% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Get free moving quotes to Nigeria
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Nigeria compared to Iraq.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Iraq generally does better on safety, though Nigeria leads in road traffic deaths.
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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq 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
Nigeria 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
share of households with internet
Iraq generally does better on infrastructure, though Nigeria 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
share of people below the poverty line
Iraq generally does better on employment & economy, though Nigeria leads in unemployment 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
Iraq generally does better on family life, though Nigeria leads in literacy rate.
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 | Abuja |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) | 97°/74°F (36°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) | 91°/69°F (33°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) | 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) | 93°/64°F (34°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Baghdad | Abuja |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) | 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C) |
| Feb | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) | 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C) |
| Mar | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) | 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C) |
| Apr | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) | 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C) |
| May | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) | 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C) |
| Jun | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) | 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) |
| Jul | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) | 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C) |
| Aug | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) | 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) |
| Sep | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) | 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C) |
| Oct | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) | 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C) |
| Nov | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) | 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C) |
| Dec | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) | 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C) |
Data:
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology,
Nigerian Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iraq and Nigeria. To live, work, or study long-term in Nigeria, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Nigeria's immigration authority.
Iraq passport holder visiting Nigeria
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Nigeria passport holder visiting Iraq
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Nigeria than Iraq?
On average Nigeria is around 43% pricier than Iraq, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Nigeria?
Budget about NGN36,854,236 for 3 months in Nigeria (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 Nigeria?
Connectivity is usually fine (Nigeria: 0.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Nigeria offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Nigeria safe for expats?
Iraq generally does better on safety, though Nigeria leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Nigeria is 21.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.
How is healthcare in Nigeria compared to Iraq?
Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Nigeria, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. Nigeria scores 38 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).
What's the weather like in Nigeria compared to Iraq?
The average high temperature in Abuja is 91°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Abuja receives around 48.1 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.
What language do they speak in Nigeria?
The official language in Nigeria is English. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.
