Moving to Iraq from Thailand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Thailand to Iraq — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Thailand to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 20.1% cheaper than Thailand overall. A THB2,497,395 salary in Thailand would need to be roughly IQD62,069,141 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.
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What to expect for your wallet after moving from Thailand to Iraq.
What does your salary buy?
THB2,497,395 → IQD62,069,141
To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.8% less
Groceries
pay 39.5% less
Transportation
pay 6.6% less
Housing
pay 12.1% more
Childcare
pay 71.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 0.6% 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.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Thailand to Iraq.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Thailand generally does better on safety, though Iraq leads in road traffic deaths.
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 Thailand leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Thailand performs 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
Thailand 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Thailand 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
Thailand generally does better on family life, though Iraq leads in education spending.
Data: The Revenue Department, Government of Thailand, 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 | Bangkok | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 93°/78°F (34°/26°C) | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bangkok | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C) | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) |
| Feb | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C) | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) |
| Mar | 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C) | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) |
| Apr | 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C) | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) |
| May | 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C) | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) |
| Jun | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C) | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) |
| Jul | 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C) | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) |
| Aug | 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C) | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) |
| Sep | 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C) | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) |
| Oct | 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C) | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C) | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) |
| Dec | 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C) | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) |
Data:
Thai Meteorological Department,
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Thailand 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.
Thailand passport holder visiting Iraq
Visa Required
Iraq passport holder visiting Thailand
Visa Online (e-Visa)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 Thailand?
Yes — Iraq is on average about 37% cheaper than Thailand. 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 IQD15,517,285 in Iraq on a THB2,497,395 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Iraq?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Iraq has 14.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Iraq safe for expats?
Thailand generally does better on safety, though Iraq leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.8 in Thailand.
How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Thailand?
Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Thailand leads in health coverage index. There are 10.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iraq, compared to 9.3 in Thailand. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Thailand: 82).
What's the weather like in Iraq compared to Thailand?
The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 91°F in Bangkok. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bangkok gets 59.0 in.
What language do they speak in Iraq?
The official languages in Iraq are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. In Thailand, the official language is Thai.
