Moving to United States from Iraq
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iraq to United States? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iraq to United States, you would find that United States is 4.3 times more expensive than Iraq overall. A IQD98,131,745 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly $236,251 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°F vs 87°F in Baghdad, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iraq and United States.
What does your salary buy?
IQD98,131,745 → $236,251
To maintain the same standard of living in United States
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 5.3 times more
Groceries
pay 3.8 times more
Transportation
pay 64.9% more
Housing
pay 4.3 times more
Childcare
pay 10.6 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.5 times 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 United States.
people moved from Iraq to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
33.256,028
Iraq
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United States compared to Iraq.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United States 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States 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 United States 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
share of households with internet
United States performs significantly better than Iraq across all infrastructure metrics.
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
United States 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
United States 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Baghdad | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Baghdad | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) |
| Feb | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) |
| Apr | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) |
| May | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) |
| Jun | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) |
| Sep | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) |
| Oct | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) |
| Nov | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) |
| Dec | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) |
Data:
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iraq and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Iraq passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States 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 United States than Iraq?
On average United States is around 215% pricier than Iraq, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to United States?
Budget about $59,063 for 3 months in United States (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 United States?
Connectivity is usually fine (United States: 37.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United States offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is United States safe for expats?
United States performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.
How is healthcare in United States compared to Iraq?
Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).
What's the weather like in United States compared to Iraq?
The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.
What language do they speak in United States?
The official language in United States is English. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.
