Moving to Belgium from Iceland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iceland to Belgium — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iceland to Belgium, you would find that Belgium is 13.8% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,423,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly €39,294 in Belgium to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch, French and German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Brussels averages 57°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iceland to Belgium.
What does your salary buy?
ISK9,423,000 → €39,294
To maintain the same standard of living in Belgium
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 13.4% less
Groceries
pay 31.0% less
Transportation
pay 20.6% less
Housing
pay 0.2% more
Childcare
pay 25.8% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 30.8% less
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?
How many people actually move from Iceland to Belgium, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iceland to Belgium.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland performs better than Belgium 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
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium 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
Iceland generally does better on environment, though Belgium leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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 Belgium 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 better than Belgium 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 better than Belgium 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Reykjavik | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) | 45°/34°F (7°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) | 63°/47°F (17°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) | 70°/54°F (21°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) | 50°/40°F (10°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Reykjavik | Brussels |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) | 42°/33°F (5.6°/0.7°C) |
| Feb | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) | 44°/33°F (6.4°/0.6°C) |
| Mar | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) | 50°/37°F (9.9°/2.9°C) |
| Apr | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) | 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) |
| May | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) | 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) | 72°/56°F (22.4°/13.6°C) |
| Aug | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) | 72°/56°F (22.5°/13.4°C) |
| Sep | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) | 66°/51°F (18.7°/10.8°C) |
| Oct | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) | 58°/46°F (14.4°/7.6°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.7°C) |
| Dec | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) | 44°/35°F (6.5°/1.9°C) |
Data:
Icelandic Meteorological Office,
Institut Royal Météorologique
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and Belgium. To live, work, or study long-term in Belgium, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Belgium's immigration authority.
Iceland passport holder visiting Belgium
Visa Free
Belgium passport holder visiting Iceland
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 Belgium than Iceland?
Yes — Belgium is on average about 40% cheaper than Iceland. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Belgium?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €9,824 in Belgium on a ISK9,423,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Belgium?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Belgium has 43.5 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 Belgium safe for expats?
Iceland performs better than Belgium across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belgium is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland. About 62% of people in Belgium feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Belgium compared to Iceland?
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belgium leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 63.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belgium, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Belgium scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).
What's the weather like in Belgium compared to Iceland?
The average high temperature in Brussels is 57°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Brussels receives around 32.3 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Belgium?
The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, French and German. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.
