Moving to Bhutan from Iceland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iceland to Bhutan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iceland to Bhutan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dzongkha. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Thimphu averages 72°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iceland to Bhutan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland performs better than Bhutan 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
Bhutan 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
Iceland generally does better on environment, though Bhutan 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
share of households with internet
Iceland performs better than Bhutan 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 better than Bhutan 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 Bhutan 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 | Reykjavik | Thimphu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) | 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) | 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) | 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Reykjavik | Thimphu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) | 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) |
| Feb | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) | 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) |
| Mar | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) | 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) |
| Apr | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) | 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) |
| May | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) | 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) |
| Jun | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) | 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) |
| Jul | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) |
| Aug | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) | 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) |
| Sep | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) | 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) |
| Oct | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) | 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) | 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) |
| Dec | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) | 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) |
Data:
Icelandic Meteorological Office,
National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and Bhutan. To live, work, or study long-term in Bhutan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Bhutan's immigration authority.
Iceland passport holder visiting Bhutan
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Bhutan passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Bhutan?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Bhutan has 0.4 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 Bhutan safe for expats?
Iceland performs better than Bhutan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bhutan is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland.
How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to Iceland?
Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Bhutan, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Bhutan scores 60 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).
What's the weather like in Bhutan compared to Iceland?
The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Bhutan?
The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.
