Moving to Iraq from Mexico

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Mexico to Iraq? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Mexico to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 34.7% cheaper than Mexico overall. A MX$1,315,545 salary in Mexico would need to be roughly IQD57,303,705 in Iraq to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Baghdad averages 87°F vs 74°F in Mexico City, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Mexico and Iraq.

What does your salary buy?

MX$1,315,545 IQD57,303,705

To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 55.5% less

Groceries

pay 50.6% less

Transportation

pay 20.9% less

Housing

pay 12.0% less

Childcare

pay 52.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 5.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MXN = 74.59 IQD (July 2026)

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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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Iraq compared to Mexico.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

MX
26.1
IQ
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MX
12.0
IQ
21.5

Mexico generally does better on safety, though Iraq leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MX
$1,368
IQ
$843
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MX
25.6
IQ
10.1

Mexico generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MX
30.0
IQ
87.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MX
3.6t
IQ
5.2t

Mexico performs better than Iraq across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MX
20.5
IQ
14.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MX
45.0%
IQ
59.6%

Mexico performs better than Iraq across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MX
2.8%
IQ
15.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MX
$22,400
IQ
$12,600

Mexico generally does better on employment & economy, though Iraq leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MX
72.3 yrs
IQ
73.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MX
11.9
IQ
19.6

Mexico generally does better on family life, though Iraq leads in life expectancy.

Data: Servicio de Administración Tributaria, SHCP, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Mexico City Rain: 32.1 in/yr (816 mm)
74° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

Baghdad Rain: 4.8 in/yr (123 mm)
87° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Mexico City Baghdad
Jan–Mar 74°/45°F (23°/7°C) 66°/43°F (19°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) 97°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) 108°/74°F (43°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) 77°/50°F (25°/10°C)
View all months
Month Mexico City Baghdad
Jan 70°/42°F (21.2°/5.8°C) 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C)
Feb 73°/45°F (22.9°/7.1°C) 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C)
Mar 78°/49°F (25.7°/9.2°C) 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C)
Apr 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.8°C) 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C)
May 80°/53°F (26.5°/11.7°C) 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C)
Jun 76°/54°F (24.6°/12.2°C) 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C)
Jul 73°/53°F (23.0°/11.5°C) 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C)
Aug 74°/53°F (23.3°/11.6°C) 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C)
Sep 72°/53°F (22.3°/11.5°C) 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C)
Oct 72°/50°F (22.2°/9.8°C) 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C)
Nov 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C)
Dec 69°/44°F (20.8°/6.6°C) 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C)

Data: Coordinación General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional Coordinación General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Mexico 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.

Mexico passport

Mexico passport holder visiting Iraq

Visa Required
Mexico passport holders need a visa to enter Iraq.
Iraq passport

Iraq passport holder visiting Mexico

Visa Required
Iraq passport holders need a visa to enter Mexico.

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 Iraq than Mexico?

On average Iraq is about 42% less expensive than Mexico, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Iraq?

Budget about IQD14,325,926 for 3 months in Iraq (based on a MX$1,315,545 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Iraq?

Connectivity is usually fine (Iraq: 14.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Iraq offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Iraq safe for expats?

Mexico generally does better on safety, though Iraq leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 26.1 in Mexico.

How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Mexico?

Mexico 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 25.6 in Mexico. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Mexico: 75).

What's the weather like in Iraq compared to Mexico?

The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 74°F in Mexico City. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Mexico City gets 32.1 in.

What language do they speak in Iraq?

The official languages in Iraq are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. In Mexico, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

MX IQ
Population 129,150,971 40,462,701
Currency Mexican Peso (MX$) Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
Languages Spanish Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +52 +964
Time zones 3 1
Emergency number 911 104