Moving to Iraq from Zimbabwe
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Zimbabwe to Iraq — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Zimbabwe to Iraq, you would find that Iraq is 20.8% cheaper than Zimbabwe overall. A ZWL24,000,000 salary in Zimbabwe would need to be roughly IQD89,600,000 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Baghdad averages 87°F vs 78°F in Harare, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Iraq cheaper than Zimbabwe?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 19.1% less
Groceries
pay 41.8% less
Transportation
pay 44.6% less
Housing
pay 0.1% less
Childcare
pay 52.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 14.4% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
What salary do you need in Iraq?
What does your salary buy?
ZWL24,000,000 → IQD89,600,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Iraq
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Iraq
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Zimbabwe to Iraq.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe 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
Zimbabwe 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
Iraq generally does better on infrastructure, though Zimbabwe leads in water stress level.
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
Iraq generally does better on employment & economy, though Zimbabwe leads in unemployment 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
Iraq generally does better on family life, though Zimbabwe leads in literacy rate.
Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2013–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2016–2021), Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (2016), Ministry of Finance (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Iraq vs Zimbabwe
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Harare | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) | 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/49°F (24°/10°C) | 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) | 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) | 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | Harare | Baghdad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79°/60°F (26.2°/15.8°C) | 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) |
| Feb | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.7°C) | 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) |
| Mar | 79°/58°F (26.2°/14.5°C) | 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) |
| Apr | 78°/54°F (25.6°/12.5°C) | 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) |
| May | 75°/49°F (23.8°/9.3°C) | 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) |
| Jun | 71°/44°F (21.8°/6.8°C) | 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) |
| Jul | 71°/44°F (21.6°/6.5°C) | 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) |
| Aug | 75°/47°F (24.1°/8.5°C) | 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) |
| Sep | 83°/53°F (28.4°/11.7°C) | 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) |
| Oct | 84°/58°F (28.8°/14.5°C) | 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) |
| Nov | 82°/60°F (27.6°/15.5°C) | 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) |
| Dec | 79°/60°F (26.3°/15.8°C) | 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Services Department,
Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology
Can you move from Zimbabwe to Iraq?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zimbabwe 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.
Zimbabwe passport holder visiting Iraq
Visa Required
Iraq passport holder visiting Zimbabwe
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 Zimbabwe?
Yes — Iraq is on average about 21% cheaper than Zimbabwe. 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 IQD22,400,000 in Iraq on a ZWL24,000,000 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 17.6 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?
Zimbabwe 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 6.8 in Zimbabwe.
How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Zimbabwe?
Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zimbabwe leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 10.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iraq, compared to 1.4 in Zimbabwe. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zimbabwe: 55).
What's the weather like in Iraq compared to Zimbabwe?
The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 78°F in Harare. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Harare gets 33.1 in.
What language do they speak in Iraq?
The official languages in Iraq are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. In Zimbabwe, the official languages are Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language.
Compare further: Zimbabwe vs. Iraq
At a Glance
ZW
|
IQ
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,950,795 | 47,020,774 |
| Currency | Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) | Iraqi Dinar (IQD) |
| Languages | Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language | Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +263 | +964 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 999 | 104 |