Moving to Iraq from Oman

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Oman to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 34.8% cheaper than Oman overall. A OMR28,846 salary in Oman would need to be roughly IQD65,725,281 in Iraq to maintain the same lifestyle.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

OMR28,846 IQD65,725,281

To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 24.8% less

Groceries

pay 36.1% less

Transportation

pay 11.2% less

Housing

pay 28.9% less

Childcare

pay 53.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 49.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 OMR = 3409.59 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 Oman.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

OM
0.3
IQ
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

OM
11.0
IQ
21.5

Oman performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

OM
$1,444
IQ
$843
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

OM
20.6
IQ
10.1

Oman 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

OM
104.0
IQ
87.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

OM
18.7t
IQ
5.2t

Iraq performs significantly better than Oman 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

OM
10.9
IQ
14.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

OM
116.7%
IQ
59.6%

Oman generally does better on infrastructure, though Iraq leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

OM
1.5%
IQ
15.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

OM
$40,000
IQ
$12,600

Oman performs better than Iraq across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

OM
76.9 yrs
IQ
73.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

OM
14.4
IQ
19.6

Oman performs better than Iraq across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, Oman, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Muscat Rain: 3.5 in/yr (90 mm)
91° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Muscat Baghdad
Jan–Mar 81°/65°F (27°/18°C) 66°/43°F (19°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 100°/82°F (38°/28°C) 97°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 97°/83°F (36°/28°C) 108°/74°F (43°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/70°F (31°/21°C) 77°/50°F (25°/10°C)
View all months
Month Muscat Baghdad
Jan 77°/62°F (25.1°/16.7°C) 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C)
Feb 80°/64°F (26.4°/17.8°C) 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C)
Mar 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.3°C) 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C)
Apr 94°/76°F (34.7°/24.2°C) 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C)
May 103°/84°F (39.6°/28.7°C) 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C)
Jun 104°/87°F (40.0°/30.3°C) 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C)
Jul 100°/86°F (38.0°/30.1°C) 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C)
Aug 96°/83°F (35.6°/28.2°C) 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C)
Sep 96°/80°F (35.6°/26.8°C) 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C)
Oct 94°/76°F (34.6°/24.2°C) 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C)
Nov 87°/69°F (30.3°/20.8°C) 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C)
Dec 80°/65°F (26.8°/18.3°C) 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C)

Data: Directorate General of Meteorology - Civil Aviation Authority Directorate General of Meteorology - Civil Aviation Authority, Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Oman 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.

Oman passport

Oman passport holder visiting Iraq

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Oman passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Iraq.
Iraq passport

Iraq passport holder visiting Oman

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Iraq passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Oman.

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 Oman?

On average Iraq is about 33% less expensive than Oman, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Iraq?

Budget about IQD16,431,320 for 3 months in Iraq (based on a OMR28,846 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?

Oman performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.3 in Oman.

How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Oman?

Oman 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 20.6 in Oman. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Oman: 70).

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

The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 91°F in Muscat. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Muscat gets 3.5 in.

What language do they speak in Iraq?

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

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At a Glance

OM IQ
Population 3,764,348 40,462,701
Currency Omani Rial (OMR) Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
Languages Arabic Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +968 +964
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 9999 104