Moving to Iraq from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Iraq — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 61.3% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly IQD31,152,250 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 66°F in Washington, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United States to Iraq.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → IQD31,152,250
To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 72.0% less
Groceries
pay 62.7% less
Transportation
pay 36.6% less
Housing
pay 68.0% less
Childcare
pay 90.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 51.2% 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.
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 United States to Iraq.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United States 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United States 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
share of households with internet
United States 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
United States 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
United States performs better than Iraq across all family life metrics.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology
Visitor Visa Requirements
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 United States?
Yes — Iraq is on average about 68% cheaper than United States. 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 IQD7,788,062 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?
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?
United States performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States.
How is healthcare in Iraq compared to United States?
Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 10.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iraq, compared to 36.1 in United States. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Iraq compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Iraq?
The official languages in Iraq are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. In United States, the official language is English.
