a large brick building with a sky background
View of Sulaymaniyah (Slemani) City in Winter Snow
Iraqi Wikimedians at the Iraqi embassy in Nairobi during Wikima…
Iraqi Wikimedians at the Iraqi embassy in Nairobi during Wikima…
Iraqi Wikimedians at the Iraqi embassy in Nairobi during Wikima…
Iraqi Wikimedians at the Iraqi embassy in Nairobi during Wikima…
UN MemberVisa requiredPop. 40.2M
47
NestFainder ScoreAI

Worth considering

ACost
B+Safety
BClimate
CHDI
Iraq flag

Iraq

Arabic

Iraq

Iraq delivers a 109 Quality of Life score at just 28% of global living costs — your Western salary stretches to cradle-of-civilization comfort.

See how Iraq matches your profileComing soon — available in a future release
CLIMATE
38°C avg · 3500h sun/yr
CURRENCY
IQD
LANGUAGE
Arabic
SAFETY
Safe
#1 globally · Safety index 60/100
COST OF LIVING
Low cost
Cost index 28/100
TIME ZONE
GMT+3
UTC+3

What it's like to live in Iraq

Iraq is a pivotal country located in the heart of the Middle East, situated in the region historically known as Mesopotamia, often referred to as the "cradle of civilization." Bordered by several nations including Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan,...


Cost of living
vs EU Average40% lower than EU average
1-bed apartment, city
IQD550,000Apartment (1 bedroom) in City…
Dinner for two
IQD8,000Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
Monthly groceries
IQD1,500Milk (regular), (1 liter)
Public transit (month)
IQD750One-way Ticket (Local Transpo…
Read the full cost-of-living guide
★ Professional

Your Iraq Roadmap

40+ page personal relocation analysis — visa path, tax strategy, neighbourhood guide, healthcare setup and more.

€29one-time report
What's included
  • Visa & residency path
  • Tax optimisation
  • Neighbourhood guide
  • Healthcare & schools
  • Cost breakdown

Healthcare

  • Foreign nationals traveling to Iraq are now required to obtain Iraqi health insurance through a federal e-visa platform before arrival.
  • Iraq operates a dual healthcare system with public facilities run by the Ministry of Health and a growing private sector, particularly in major cities like Baghdad and Erbil.
  • While public healthcare is nominally free or low-cost for citizens, expats often rely on private facilities due to varying quality and resource limitations in the public sector.
Healthcare guide →
Entry Requirements & Visa Options

Iraq requires most international travelers, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and nearly all other nationalities, to obtain an eVisa in advance before entering Federal Iraq (Baghdad and southern regions). Since March 1, 2025, the visa-on-arrival (VOA) program has been suspended for most nationalities, mandating online applications via the official Iraq eVisa Portal (evisa.iq). The Federal eVisa costs approximately $160 USD, is valid for 30-60 days (single or multiple entry), and permits nationwide travel including Iraqi...

Visa-free entry: 60 days
Read full guide

Travel advisories, hazards, and conflict indicators

Cost of living, housing, income, and purchasing power overview

Income tax, corporate tax, and fiscal overview

Job market, business environment, and work permits

International schools, universities, and curricula

Pension, retirement pathways, and financial planning

Seasonal temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine hours

Population, languages, and ethnic composition

Day-to-day expat life and practical tips

Public transit, airports, and getting around

Community, cultural integration, and expat life

Air quality, green spaces, and sustainability

Political system, government structure, and key policies

Location overview, cost of living index, and purchasing power

Economic and geographic overview at a glance

Community perspectives and expat experiences

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Coming soon — available in a future release

This content was generated using artificial intelligence based on publicly available information. It is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration, or professional advice. Information may be incomplete or outdated. Always verify with official sources before making decisions.

Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.

All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.