Moving to Iceland from Greece
What to Expect
Considering a move from Greece to Iceland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Greece to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 2.1 times more expensive than Greece overall. A €65,700 salary in Greece would need to be roughly ISK20,518,897 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 72°F in Athens, 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 Greece and Iceland.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → ISK20,518,897
To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.3 times more
Groceries
pay 95.2% more
Transportation
pay 57.0% more
Housing
pay 2.8 times more
Childcare
pay 2.7 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 90.0% more
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 Greece to Iceland.
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
- · · ·
-
42.181
Greece
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Iceland compared to Greece.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Greece generally does better on safety, though Iceland leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Greece generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Greece 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
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Iceland generally does better on infrastructure, though Greece leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Iceland performs significantly better than Greece 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 Greece across all family life metrics.
Data: GSIS, Greece, 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 | Athens | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 57°/42°F (14°/6°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/57°F (26°/14°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/67°F (32°/20°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Athens | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/41°F (12.5°/5.2°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 56°/42°F (13.5°/5.4°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 60°/44°F (15.7°/6.7°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 79°/57°F (26.0°/13.9°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.2°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 92°/69°F (33.5°/20.8°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 92°/69°F (33.2°/20.7°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.3°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.4°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 65°/50°F (18.1°/9.8°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 57°/44°F (14.1°/6.8°C) | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) |
Data:
Hellenic National Meteorological Service,
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Greece 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.
Greece passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa Free
Iceland passport holder visiting Greece
Visa FreeData: 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 Greece?
On average Iceland is around 118% pricier than Greece, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Iceland?
Budget about ISK5,129,724 for 3 months in Iceland (based on a €65,700 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?
Greece 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 1.1 in Greece.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Greece?
Greece generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in health coverage index. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 63.7 in Greece. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Greece: 77).
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Greece?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 72°F in Athens. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Athens gets 16.3 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Greece, the official language is Greek.
