Moving to Iraq from Vietnam

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Vietnam to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 39.4% more expensive than Vietnam overall. A ₫1,972,127,268 salary in Vietnam would need to be roughly IQD74,653,398 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 ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

₫1,972,127,268 IQD74,653,398

To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 41.7% more

Groceries

pay 20.8% less

Transportation

pay 2.3 times more

Housing

pay 88.0% more

Childcare

pay 56.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.1 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 VND = 0.0498 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.

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

The numbers behind daily life in Iraq compared to Vietnam.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2013

per 100,000 people per year

VN
1.5
IQ
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VN
17.7
IQ
21.5

Vietnam performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

VN
$690
IQ
$843
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

VN
8.3
IQ
10.1

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

VN
52.0
IQ
87.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

VN
4.3t
IQ
5.2t

Vietnam 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

VN
21.7
IQ
14.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

VN
18.1%
IQ
59.6%

Vietnam 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

VN
1.6%
IQ
15.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

VN
$13,700
IQ
$12,600

Vietnam 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

VN
75.5 yrs
IQ
73.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

VN
14.8
IQ
19.6

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

Data: General Department Of Taxation - Ministry Of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Hanoi Rain: 64.1 in/yr (1628 mm)
82° / 70°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Hanoi Baghdad
Jan–Mar 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) 66°/43°F (19°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) 97°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) 108°/74°F (43°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/66°F (26°/19°C) 77°/50°F (25°/10°C)
View all months
Month Hanoi Baghdad
Jan 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C) 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C)
Feb 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C) 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C)
Mar 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C) 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C)
Apr 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C) 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C)
May 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C) 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C)
Jun 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C) 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C)
Jul 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C) 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C)
Aug 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C) 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C)
Sep 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C) 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C)
Oct 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C) 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C)
Nov 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C) 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C)
Dec 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C) 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C)

Data: Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Vietnam 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.

Vietnam passport

Vietnam passport holder visiting Iraq

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

Iraq passport holder visiting Vietnam

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Iraq passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Vietnam.

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 Vietnam?

On average Iraq is about 24% less expensive than Vietnam, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Iraq?

Budget about IQD18,663,350 for 3 months in Iraq (based on a ₫1,972,127,268 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?

Vietnam performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Vietnam.

How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Vietnam?

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 10.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iraq, compared to 8.3 in Vietnam. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vietnam: 68).

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

The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 82°F in Hanoi. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Hanoi gets 64.1 in.

What language do they speak in Iraq?

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

Share this

At a Glance

VN IQ
Population 103,808,319 40,462,701
Currency Vietnamese Dong (₫) Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
Languages Vietnamese Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +84 +964
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 113 104