Moving to Iceland from Gambia
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Gambia to Iceland — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Gambia to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 90°F in Banjul, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓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?
Real numbers on people moving from Gambia to Iceland, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Iceland?
Top countries of origin for Iceland's foreign-born residents.
- 21,102
- 3,918
- 3,171
- 2,604
- 2,357
- 2,284
- · · ·
-
102.19
Gambia
Key Indicator Comparison
How Gambia and Iceland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland performs significantly better than Gambia 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
Gambia 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
Gambia 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 Gambia 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 Gambia 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 Gambia 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 | Banjul | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/65°F (33°/19°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 89°/70°F (32°/21°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 92°/71°F (33°/22°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Banjul | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/64°F (32.4°/17.9°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 92°/65°F (33.2°/18.3°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 91°/67°F (32.9°/19.6°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 89°/68°F (31.8°/19.9°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 89°/70°F (31.6°/21.0°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 90°/72°F (32.4°/22.4°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 89°/74°F (31.8°/23.2°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.4°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 92°/75°F (33.5°/23.9°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 93°/71°F (34.0°/21.6°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 91°/67°F (32.9°/19.7°C) | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) |
Data:
Department of Water Resources,
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Gambia 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.
Gambia passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa Required
Iceland passport holder visiting Gambia
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Iceland?
With 38.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Iceland can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Gambia and Iceland.
Is Iceland safe for expats?
Iceland performs significantly better than Gambia across all safety metrics. About 91% of people in Iceland feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Gambia?
Gambia 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 1.0 in Gambia. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Gambia: 46).
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Gambia?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 90°F in Banjul. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Banjul gets 32.3 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Gambia, the official language is English.
