Moving to Zambia from Iraq
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iraq to Zambia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iraq to Zambia, you would find that Zambia is 18.2% more expensive than Iraq overall. A IQD110,000,000 salary in Iraq would need to be roughly ZMW1,710,000 in Zambia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Zambia cheaper than Iraq?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 3.7% more
Groceries
pay 2.1 times more
Transportation
pay 20.1% more
Housing
pay 10.5% less
Childcare
pay 2.2 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 11.7% 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.
What salary do you need in Zambia?
What does your salary buy?
IQD110,000,000 → ZMW1,710,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Zambia
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Zambia
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 Zambia compared to Iraq.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Zambia 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 Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Zambia 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 Zambia 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 Zambia 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 performs better than Zambia across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2013–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Ministry of Finance (2016), Zambia Revenue Authority (2016), The World Factbook (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Zambia vs Iraq
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Baghdad | Lusaka |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Baghdad | Lusaka |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) |
| Feb | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) |
| Mar | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) |
| May | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) |
| Jun | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) |
| Jul | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) |
| Aug | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) |
| Sep | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) |
| Oct | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) |
| Nov | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) |
| Dec | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) |
Data:
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology,
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)
Can you move from Iraq to Zambia?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iraq and Zambia. To live, work, or study long-term in Zambia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Zambia's immigration authority.
Iraq passport holder visiting Zambia
Visa Free
Zambia 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 Zambia than Iraq?
On average Zambia is around 18% pricier than Iraq, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Zambia?
Budget about ZMW427,500 for 3 months in Zambia (based on a IQD110,000,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Zambia?
Connectivity is usually fine (Zambia: 0.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Zambia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Zambia safe for expats?
Zambia performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.
How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Iraq?
Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 3.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 10.2 in Iraq. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).
What's the weather like in Zambia compared to Iraq?
The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.
What language do they speak in Zambia?
The official language in Zambia is English. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.
