Moving to Iceland from Czech Republic

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Czech Republic to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 2.2 times more expensive than Czech Republic overall. A CZK1,593,660 salary in Czech Republic would need to be roughly ISK19,975,629 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 57°F in Prague, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Czech Republic and Iceland.

What does your salary buy?

CZK1,593,660 ISK19,975,629

To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.2 times more

Groceries

pay 2.0 times more

Transportation

pay 2.0 times more

Housing

pay 2.8 times more

Childcare

pay 2.1 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.3 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 CZK = 5.91 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Czech Republic to Iceland.

Moved in 2023
441 ↑ 21% vs 2022

people moved from Czech Republic 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 Czech Republic.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CZ
0.8
IS
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CZ
5.2
IS
2.4

Czech Republic generally does better on safety, though Iceland leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CZ
$4,674
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CZ
42.5
IS
45.2

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Czech Republic 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

CZ
33.0
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CZ
7.1t
IS
8.5t

Czech Republic 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

CZ
38.4
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CZ
20.5%
IS
0.4%

Iceland generally does better on infrastructure, though Czech Republic leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CZ
2.6%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CZ
$47,700
IS
$66,500

Czech Republic generally does better on employment & economy, though Iceland leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CZ
79.7 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CZ
2.4
IS
1.6

Iceland performs significantly better than Czech Republic across all family life metrics.

Data: Financial Administration of the Czech Republic, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Prague Rain: 17.1 in/yr (435 mm)
57° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Prague Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 42°/31°F (5°/-1°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/48°F (19°/9°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/56°F (23°/13°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 47°/37°F (8°/2°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Prague Reykjavik
Jan 37°/28°F (2.6°/-2.4°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.4°/-1.8°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 48°/35°F (9.1°/1.5°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 59°/41°F (15.1°/5.1°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 69°/49°F (20.3°/9.7°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 73°/55°F (22.8°/12.7°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 78°/58°F (25.3°/14.5°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 77°/58°F (25.1°/14.2°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 68°/51°F (19.9°/10.5°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 58°/44°F (14.2°/6.4°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 45°/36°F (7.2°/2.1°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.1°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: Czech Hydrometeorological Institute Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Czech Republic 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.

Czech Republic passport

Czech Republic passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Free
Czech Republic passport holders can enter Iceland without a visa.
Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Czech Republic

Visa Free
Iceland passport holders can enter Czech Republic 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 Czech Republic?

On average Iceland is around 112% pricier than Czech Republic, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Iceland?

Budget about ISK4,993,907 for 3 months in Iceland (based on a CZK1,593,660 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?

Czech Republic generally does better on safety, though Iceland leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Czech Republic.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Czech Republic?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Czech Republic leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 42.5 in Czech Republic. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Czech Republic: 84).

What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Czech Republic?

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 57°F in Prague. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Prague gets 17.1 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Czech Republic, the official languages are Czech and Slovak.

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At a Glance

CZ IS
Population 10,705,384 357,603
Currency Czech Republic Koruna (CZK) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages Czech, Slovak Icelandic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +420 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112