Moving to Bangladesh from Iceland

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Iceland to Bangladesh — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Iceland to Bangladesh, you would find that Bangladesh is 80.8% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,222,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly BDT1,854,548 in Bangladesh to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Bengali. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Dhaka averages 87°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iceland to Bangladesh.

What does your salary buy?

ISK9,222,000 BDT1,854,548

To maintain the same standard of living in Bangladesh

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 89.0% less

Groceries

pay 71.8% less

Transportation

pay 68.0% less

Housing

pay 86.5% less

Childcare

pay 94.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 75.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ISK = 0.9984 BDT (June 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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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iceland to Bangladesh.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IS
1.1
BD
2.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IS
2.4
BD
18.6

Iceland performs better than Bangladesh across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IS
$6,927
BD
$198
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IS
45.2
BD
6.7

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bangladesh 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

IS
8.0
BD
66.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IS
8.5t
BD
0.7t

Iceland generally does better on environment, though Bangladesh leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IS
38.2
BD
7.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IS
0.4%
BD
5.7%

Iceland performs better than Bangladesh across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IS
3.6%
BD
5.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IS
$66,500
BD
$8,200

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Bangladesh leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IS
83.6 yrs
BD
74.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IS
1.6
BD
30.4

Iceland performs better than Bangladesh across all family life metrics.

Data: Directorate of Internal Revenue, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Dhaka Rain: 84.8 in/yr (2154 mm)
87° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Reykjavik Dhaka
Jan–Mar 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) 84°/61°F (29°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) 91°/76°F (33°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) 89°/79°F (32°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 85°/67°F (29°/19°C)
View all months
Month Reykjavik Dhaka
Jan 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.7°C)
Feb 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) 83°/60°F (28.1°/15.5°C)
Mar 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) 90°/69°F (32.4°/20.3°C)
Apr 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) 93°/74°F (33.8°/23.6°C)
May 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) 91°/76°F (32.9°/24.5°C)
Jun 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.1°C)
Jul 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) 89°/79°F (31.4°/26.2°C)
Aug 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) 89°/79°F (31.6°/26.3°C)
Sep 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) 89°/79°F (31.8°/25.9°C)
Oct 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) 89°/75°F (31.6°/23.8°C)
Nov 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) 85°/67°F (29.6°/19.2°C)
Dec 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) 80°/58°F (26.4°/14.3°C)

Data: Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and Bangladesh. To live, work, or study long-term in Bangladesh, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Bangladesh's immigration authority.

Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Bangladesh

Visa on Arrival
Iceland passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh passport

Bangladesh passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Required
Bangladesh passport holders need a visa to enter Iceland.

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 Bangladesh than Iceland?

Yes — Bangladesh is on average about 80% cheaper than Iceland. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Bangladesh?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly BDT463,637 in Bangladesh on a ISK9,222,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Bangladesh?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Bangladesh has 7.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Bangladesh safe for expats?

Iceland performs better than Bangladesh across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bangladesh is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland.

How is healthcare in Bangladesh compared to Iceland?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bangladesh leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 6.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Bangladesh, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Bangladesh scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).

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

The average high temperature in Dhaka is 87°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Dhaka receives around 84.8 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Bangladesh?

The official language in Bangladesh is Bengali. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.

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At a Glance

IS BD
Population 357,603 165,650,475
Currency Icelandic Króna (ISK) Bangladeshi Taka (BDT)
Languages Icelandic Bengali
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +354 +880
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 999