Moving to Brazil from Iceland

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Iceland to Brazil? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Iceland to Brazil, you would find that Brazil is 61.7% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,423,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly R$105,895 in Brazil to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Brasilia averages 80°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iceland and Brazil.

What does your salary buy?

ISK9,423,000 R$105,895

To maintain the same standard of living in Brazil

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 71.8% less

Groceries

pay 60.3% less

Transportation

pay 56.4% less

Housing

pay 68.8% less

Childcare

pay 47.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 73.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ISK = 0.0408 BRL (July 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Iceland to Brazil.

Living there in 2020
612 ↑ 9% vs 2015

people born in Iceland live in Brazil · UN DESA

Who's moving to Brazil?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Brazil compared to Iceland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IS
1.1
BR
20.6
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

IS
91%
BR
48%

Iceland performs better than Brazil across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IS
$6,927
BR
$2,070
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IS
45.2
BR
21.4

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brazil 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
BR
23.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IS
8.5t
BR
2.3t

Iceland generally does better on environment, though Brazil 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
BR
21.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IS
0.4%
BR
1.5%

Iceland performs better than Brazil 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%
BR
8.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IS
$66,500
BR
$18,600

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Brazil 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
BR
75.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IS
1.6
BR
13.3

Iceland performs better than Brazil 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

Brasilia Rain: 61.1 in/yr (1552 mm)
80° / 61°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Reykjavik Brasilia
Jan–Mar 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) 80°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) 78°/59°F (26°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) 80°/58°F (27°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 80°/64°F (27°/17°C)
View all months
Month Reykjavik Brasilia
Jan 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C)
Feb 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C)
Mar 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C)
Apr 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C)
May 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C)
Jun 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C)
Jul 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C)
Aug 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C)
Sep 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C)
Oct 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C)
Nov 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C)
Dec 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.5°C)

Data: Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office, Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Brazil

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

Brazil passport holder visiting Iceland

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

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 Brazil than Iceland?

On average Brazil is about 72% less expensive than Iceland, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Brazil?

Budget about R$26,474 for 3 months in Brazil (based on a ISK9,423,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Brazil?

Connectivity is usually fine (Brazil: 21.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Brazil offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Brazil safe for expats?

Iceland performs better than Brazil across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Brazil is 20.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland. About 48% of people in Brazil feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Brazil compared to Iceland?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brazil leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 21.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Brazil, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Brazil scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).

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

The average high temperature in Brasilia is 80°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Brasilia receives around 61.1 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Brazil?

The official language in Brazil is Portuguese. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.

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At a Glance

IS BR
Population 357,603 217,240,060
Currency Icelandic Króna (ISK) Brazilian Real (R$)
Languages Icelandic Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +354 +55
Time zones 1 4
Emergency number 112 190