Moving to Iceland from Brazil

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Brazil to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 3.4 times more expensive than Brazil overall. A R$384,540 salary in Brazil would need to be roughly ISK34,120,610 in Iceland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 80°F in Brasilia, making it significantly cooler.

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 Brazil and Iceland.

What does your salary buy?

R$384,540 ISK34,120,610

To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.7 times more

Groceries

pay 2.9 times more

Transportation

pay 2.4 times more

Housing

pay 5.5 times more

Childcare

pay 2.8 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 4.3 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 BRL = 24.45 ISK (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 Iceland

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

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Brazil to Iceland.

Moved in 2023
37 ↑ 3% vs 2022

people moved from Brazil to Iceland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Iceland?

Top countries of origin for Iceland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Iceland compared to Brazil.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BR
20.6
IS
1.1
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

BR
48%
IS
91%

Iceland performs significantly better than Brazil across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

BR
$2,070
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BR
21.4
IS
45.2

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brazil 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

BR
23.0
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BR
2.3t
IS
8.5t

Brazil generally does better on environment, though Iceland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BR
21.0
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BR
1.5%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly better than Brazil across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BR
8.0%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BR
$18,600
IS
$66,500

Brazil generally does better on employment & economy, though Iceland leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BR
75.9 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BR
13.3
IS
1.6

Iceland performs significantly better than Brazil across all family life metrics.

Data: Secretaria da Receita Federal do Brasil, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Brasilia Rain: 61.1 in/yr (1552 mm)
80° / 61°F

Avg. annual high / low

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Brasilia Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 80°/63°F (27°/17°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/58°F (27°/14°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/64°F (27°/17°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Brasilia Reykjavik
Jan 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.5°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia, Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Brazil 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.

Brazil passport

Brazil passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Free
Brazil passport holders can enter Iceland without a visa.
Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Brazil

Visa Free
Iceland passport holders can enter Brazil without a 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 Iceland than Brazil?

On average Iceland is around 263% pricier than Brazil, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Iceland?

Budget about ISK8,530,152 for 3 months in Iceland (based on a R$384,540 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

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 Brazil across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 20.6 in Brazil. About 91% of people in Iceland feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Brazil?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brazil leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 21.4 in Brazil. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Brazil: 80).

What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Brazil?

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 80°F in Brasilia. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Brasilia gets 61.1 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Brazil, the official language is Portuguese.

Share this

At a Glance

BR IS
Population 217,240,060 357,603
Currency Brazilian Real (R$) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages Portuguese Icelandic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +55 +354
Time zones 4 1
Emergency number 190 112