Moving to Iraq from Turkey
What to Expect
Considering a move from Turkey to Iraq? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Turkey to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 21.3% cheaper than Turkey overall. A TRY3,438,998 salary in Turkey would need to be roughly IQD51,970,320 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 64°F in Ankara, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Turkey and Iraq.
What does your salary buy?
TRY3,438,998 → IQD51,970,320
To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 40.7% less
Groceries
pay 14.5% less
Transportation
pay 2.8% more
Housing
pay 29.9% more
Childcare
pay 76.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 3.0% 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Turkey to Iraq.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Iraq compared to Turkey.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Turkey 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Turkey 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
Turkey 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
Turkey 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
Turkey 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
Turkey generally does better on family life, though Iraq leads in education spending.
Data: Revenue Administration, Government of Turkey, 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 | Ankara | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 45°/28°F (7°/-2°C) | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/57°F (29°/14°C) | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 55°/37°F (13°/3°C) | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Ankara | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°/26°F (4.1°/-3.5°C) | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) |
| Feb | 43°/27°F (5.9°/-2.8°C) | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) |
| Mar | 52°/32°F (11.1°/0.2°C) | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) |
| Apr | 63°/41°F (17.3°/5.1°C) | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) |
| May | 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C) | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) |
| Jun | 80°/55°F (26.4°/12.6°C) | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/60°F (29.9°/15.4°C) | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) |
| Aug | 86°/60°F (30.0°/15.4°C) | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) |
| Sep | 78°/52°F (25.8°/11.3°C) | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.0°/6.8°C) | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) |
| Nov | 55°/36°F (12.9°/2.4°C) | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) |
| Dec | 43°/30°F (6.3°/-0.9°C) | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) |
Data:
Turkish State Meteorological Service,
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Turkey 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.
Turkey passport holder visiting Iraq
Visa Required
Iraq passport holder visiting Turkey
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 Turkey?
On average Iraq is about 47% less expensive than Turkey, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Iraq?
Budget about IQD12,992,580 for 3 months in Iraq (based on a TRY3,438,998 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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?
Turkey performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.7 in Turkey.
How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Turkey?
Turkey 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 21.7 in Turkey. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Turkey: 76).
What's the weather like in Iraq compared to Turkey?
The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 64°F in Ankara. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Ankara gets 15.0 in.
What language do they speak in Iraq?
The official languages in Iraq are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. In Turkey, the official language is Turkish.
