Moving to Iraq from Uruguay

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Uruguay to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 54.6% cheaper than Uruguay overall. A UYU3,018,578 salary in Uruguay would need to be roughly IQD42,086,743 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 71°F in Montevideo, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

UYU3,018,578 IQD42,086,743

To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 70.0% less

Groceries

pay 55.8% less

Transportation

pay 45.3% less

Housing

pay 40.9% less

Childcare

pay 73.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 35.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 UYU = 32.51 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 Uruguay.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

UY
11.2
IQ
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UY
13.0
IQ
21.5

Uruguay generally does better on safety, though Iraq leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

UY
$3,135
IQ
$843
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

UY
46.3
IQ
10.1

Uruguay 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

UY
16.0
IQ
87.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

UY
2.6t
IQ
5.2t

Uruguay performs better than Iraq 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

UY
33.2
IQ
14.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UY
9.8%
IQ
59.6%

Uruguay performs better than Iraq across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

UY
8.3%
IQ
15.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

UY
$30,700
IQ
$12,600

Uruguay generally does better on employment & economy, though Iraq leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

UY
78.4 yrs
IQ
73.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UY
8.3
IQ
19.6

Uruguay generally does better on family life, though Iraq leads in education spending.

Data: Dirección General Impositiva, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Montevideo Rain: 43.3 in/yr (1101 mm)
71° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Montevideo Baghdad
Jan–Mar 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) 66°/43°F (19°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (19°/10°C) 97°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 61°/46°F (16°/8°C) 108°/74°F (43°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 75°/57°F (24°/14°C) 77°/50°F (25°/10°C)
View all months
Month Montevideo Baghdad
Jan 83°/64°F (28.4°/18.0°C) 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C)
Feb 82°/64°F (27.5°/17.9°C) 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C)
Mar 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.2°C) 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C)
Apr 72°/55°F (22.0°/12.9°C) 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C)
May 65°/50°F (18.6°/10.2°C) 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C)
Jun 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.7°C) 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C)
Jul 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.2°C) 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C)
Aug 61°/46°F (16.2°/7.8°C) 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C)
Sep 64°/48°F (18.0°/9.1°C) 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C)
Oct 69°/53°F (20.5°/11.5°C) 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C)
Nov 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.2°C) 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C)
Dec 80°/61°F (26.5°/16.3°C) 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C)

Data: Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia Instituto Uruguayo de Meteorologia, Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Uruguay 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.

Uruguay passport

Uruguay passport holder visiting Iraq

Visa Required
Uruguay passport holders need a visa to enter Iraq.
Iraq passport

Iraq passport holder visiting Uruguay

Visa Required
Iraq passport holders need a visa to enter Uruguay.

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 Uruguay?

On average Iraq is about 57% less expensive than Uruguay, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Iraq?

Budget about IQD10,521,686 for 3 months in Iraq (based on a UYU3,018,578 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?

Uruguay generally does better on safety, though Iraq leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.2 in Uruguay.

How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Uruguay?

Uruguay 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 46.3 in Uruguay. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Uruguay: 82).

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

The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 71°F in Montevideo. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Montevideo gets 43.3 in.

What language do they speak in Iraq?

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

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At a Glance

UY IQ
Population 3,407,213 40,462,701
Currency Uruguayan Peso (UYU) Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
Languages Spanish Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +598 +964
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 104