Moving to Bolivia from Iceland

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Iceland to Bolivia — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Iceland to Bolivia, you would find that Bolivia is 81.5% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,200,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly BOB153,000 in Bolivia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from Iceland to Bolivia.

What does your salary buy?

ISK9,200,000 → BOB153,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Bolivia

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 87.7% less

Groceries

pay 74.6% less

Transportation

pay 72.2% less

Housing

pay 86.5% less

Childcare

pay 88.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 78.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ISK = 0.0902 BOB (October 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.

Get free moving quotes to Bolivia

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 Iceland to Bolivia, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
2 ↓ 33% vs 2015

people born in Iceland live in Bolivia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Bolivia?

Top countries of origin for Bolivia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Iceland and Bolivia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

IS
1.3
BO
4.4
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

IS
91%
BO
59%

Iceland performs better than Bolivia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IS
$6,927
BO
$756
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

IS
43.7
BO
12.8

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bolivia 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
BO
54.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IS
8.5t
BO
2.3t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IS
37.5
BO
12.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IS
0.4%
BO
0.2%

Iceland generally does better on infrastructure, though Bolivia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

IS
3.6%
BO
3.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

IS
$98,323
BO
$5,148

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Bolivia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

IS
82.8 yrs
BO
68.7 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IS
2.1
BO
14.2

Iceland generally does better on family life, though Bolivia leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Directorate of Internal Revenue (2016), Autoridad de Impugnación Tributaria (AIT), Bolivia (2016). How we calculate this

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Bolivia

Visa Free
Iceland passport holders can enter Bolivia without a visa.
Bolivia passport

Bolivia passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Required
Bolivia 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 Bolivia than Iceland?

Generally yes: Bolivia runs about 82% cheaper than Iceland on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Bolivia?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a ISK9,200,000 comparable salary, that's around BOB38,250 in Bolivia for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Bolivia?

With 12.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Bolivia can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Iceland and Bolivia.

Is Bolivia safe for expats?

Iceland performs better than Bolivia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bolivia is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.3 in Iceland. About 59% of people in Bolivia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Bolivia compared to Iceland?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bolivia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Bolivia, compared to 43.7 in Iceland. Bolivia scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).

What language do they speak in Bolivia?

The official languages in Bolivia are Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.

Share this

At a Glance

IS BO
Population 392,404 12,581,843
Currency Icelandic Króna (ISK) Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
Languages Icelandic Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +354 +591
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 110