Moving to Iraq from Texas
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Texas to Iraq — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Texas to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 66.6% cheaper than Texas. A $75,000 salary in Texas would need to be roughly IQD37,900,000 in Iraq to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Iraq cheaper than Texas?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 68.5% less
Groceries
pay 64.9% less
Transportation
pay 43.2% less
Housing
pay 75.7% less
Childcare
pay 87.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 41.3% 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 Iraq?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → IQD37,900,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq
Calculate with your salary →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
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Texas to Iraq.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Texas performs better than Iraq across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Texas performs 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
share of people below the poverty line
Texas performs better than Iraq across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Texas performs better than Iraq across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Iraq vs Texas
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Houston | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 67°/48°F (20°/9°C) | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 86°/67°F (30°/19°C) | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 93°/73°F (34°/23°C) | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 73°/53°F (23°/11°C) | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Houston | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°/43°F (17.2°/6.2°C) | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) |
| Feb | 66°/47°F (19.1°/8.1°C) | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) |
| Mar | 73°/53°F (22.8°/11.4°C) | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) |
| Apr | 80°/59°F (26.4°/15.2°C) | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) |
| May | 86°/68°F (30.2°/19.8°C) | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) |
| Jun | 91°/73°F (33.0°/22.9°C) | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) |
| Jul | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.9°C) | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) |
| Aug | 94°/75°F (34.7°/23.8°C) | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) |
| Sep | 90°/70°F (32.1°/21.0°C) | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) |
| Oct | 82°/61°F (27.8°/16.1°C) | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) |
| Nov | 72°/52°F (22.5°/11.2°C) | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) |
| Dec | 64°/45°F (17.9°/7.0°C) | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology
Can you move from Texas to Iraq?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Iraq
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Iraq passport holder visiting United States
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 Iraq than Texas?
Yes — Iraq is on average about 67% cheaper than Texas. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Iraq?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly IQD9,475,000 in Iraq on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Iraq?
Usually fine from major cities in Iraq. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Texas?
Texas performs better than Iraq across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Iraq compared to Texas?
The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 80°F in Houston. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Houston gets 49.8 in.
What language do they speak in Iraq?
The official languages in Iraq are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. In Texas, the official language is English.
