Moving to Iceland from Bhutan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Bhutan to Iceland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Bhutan to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 72°F in Thimphu, making it significantly cooler.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Iceland compared to Bhutan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland performs significantly better than Bhutan 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
Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland 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
Bhutan generally does better on environment, though Iceland leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Iceland performs significantly better than Bhutan across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iceland performs significantly better than Bhutan across all employment & economy metrics.
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
Iceland performs significantly better than Bhutan across all family life metrics.
Data: 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 | Thimphu | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Thimphu | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) |
Data:
National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM),
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bhutan and Iceland. To live, work, or study long-term in Iceland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iceland's immigration authority.
Bhutan passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa Required
Iceland passport holder visiting Bhutan
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Iceland?
Connectivity is usually fine (Iceland: 38.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Iceland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Iceland safe for expats?
Iceland performs significantly better than Bhutan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.5 in Bhutan.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Bhutan?
Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 5.5 in Bhutan. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bhutan: 60).
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Bhutan?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 72°F in Thimphu. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Thimphu gets 23.3 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Bhutan, the official language is Dzongkha.
