Moving to Iraq from Malaysia
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Malaysia to Iraq — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Malaysia to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 4.6% cheaper than Malaysia overall. A MYR307,192 salary in Malaysia would need to be roughly IQD64,026,384 in Iraq to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Malaysia to Iraq.
What does your salary buy?
MYR307,192 → IQD64,026,384
To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 2.8% more
Groceries
pay 40.8% less
Transportation
pay 59.2% more
Housing
pay 22.1% more
Childcare
pay 42.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 1.6% 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 Iraq
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
How Malaysia and Iraq stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Malaysia performs 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
Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq 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
Malaysia generally does better on environment, though Iraq leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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
Malaysia generally does better on infrastructure, though Iraq leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
Malaysia 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
Malaysia generally does better on family life, though Iraq leads in education spending.
Data: Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, 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 | Kuala Lumpur | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/75°F (33°/24°C) | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kuala Lumpur | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.5°C) | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) |
| Feb | 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.8°C) | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) |
| Mar | 92°/74°F (33.2°/23.2°C) | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) |
| Apr | 92°/75°F (33.1°/23.7°C) | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) |
| May | 91°/75°F (32.9°/23.9°C) | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) |
| Jun | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.6°C) | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) |
| Jul | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.2°C) | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) |
| Aug | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.1°C) | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) |
| Sep | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) |
| Oct | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) |
| Dec | 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.9°C) | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) |
Data:
Malaysian Meteorological Department,
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malaysia and Iraq. To live, work, or study long-term in Iraq, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iraq's immigration authority.
Malaysia passport holder visiting Iraq
Visa Free
Iraq passport holder visiting Malaysia
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Iraq than Malaysia?
Generally yes: Iraq runs about 35% cheaper than Malaysia on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Iraq?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a MYR307,192 comparable salary, that's around IQD16,006,596 in Iraq for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Iraq?
With 14.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Iraq can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Malaysia and Iraq.
Is Iraq safe for expats?
Malaysia performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Malaysia.
How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Malaysia?
Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 10.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iraq, compared to 23.2 in Malaysia. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malaysia: 76).
What's the weather like in Iraq compared to Malaysia?
The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 90°F in Kuala Lumpur. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Kuala Lumpur gets 95.6 in.
What language do they speak in Iraq?
The official languages in Iraq are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. In Malaysia, the official languages are English and Malay.
