Moving to South Korea from Iraq
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iraq to South Korea? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iraq to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 2.6 times more expensive than Iraq overall. A IQD98,250,000 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly ₩225,160,311 in South Korea to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Seoul averages 63°F vs 87°F in Baghdad, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iraq and South Korea.
What does your salary buy?
IQD98,250,000 → ₩225,160,311
To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.4 times more
Groceries
pay 4.1 times more
Transportation
pay 39.8% more
Housing
pay 51.8% more
Childcare
pay 5.0 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 36.5% 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 South Korea.
Who's moving to South Korea?
Top countries of origin for South Korea's foreign-born residents.
- 803,011
- 177,274
- 159,264
- 68,050
- 64,942
- 55,601
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Korea compared to Iraq.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
South Korea performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea 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
Iraq generally does better on environment, though South Korea leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
South Korea generally does better on infrastructure, though Iraq 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
South Korea generally does better on employment & economy, though Iraq leads in top income tax 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
South Korea generally does better on family life, though Iraq leads in education spending.
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 | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Baghdad | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) |
| Feb | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) |
| Apr | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) |
| May | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) |
| Jun | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) |
| Jul | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) |
| Aug | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) |
| Sep | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) |
| Oct | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) |
| Nov | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) |
| Dec | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) |
Data:
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology,
Korea Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iraq and South Korea. To live, work, or study long-term in South Korea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Korea's immigration authority.
Iraq passport holder visiting South Korea
Visa Required
South Korea 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 South Korea than Iraq?
On average South Korea is around 99% pricier than Iraq, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to South Korea?
Budget about ₩56,290,078 for 3 months in South Korea (based on a IQD98,250,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from South Korea?
Connectivity is usually fine (South Korea: 45.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does South Korea offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is South Korea safe for expats?
South Korea performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.
How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Iraq?
Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).
What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Iraq?
The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.
What language do they speak in South Korea?
The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.
