Moving to Cabo Verde from Iceland

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Iceland to Cabo Verde, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Praia averages 79°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 Cabo Verde.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IS
1.1
CV
6.2
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

IS
91%
CV
52%

Iceland performs better than Cabo Verde across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IS
$6,927
CV
$616
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IS
45.2
CV
44.6

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cabo Verde 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
CV
59.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IS
8.5t
CV
1.3t

Iceland generally does better on environment, though Cabo Verde 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
CV
5.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IS
0.4%
CV
57.2%

Iceland performs better than Cabo Verde 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%
CV
12.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IS
$66,500
CV
$8,200

Iceland performs better than Cabo Verde across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IS
83.6 yrs
CV
73.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IS
1.6
CV
23.5

Iceland performs better than Cabo Verde 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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Praia Rain: 2.8 in/yr (70 mm)
79° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Reykjavik Praia
Jan–Mar 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) 76°/None°F (24°/None°C)
Apr–Jun 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) 78°/None°F (25°/None°C)
Jul–Sep 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) 83°/None°F (28°/None°C)
Oct–Dec 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 80°/None°F (27°/None°C)
View all months
Month Reykjavik Praia
Jan 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) 75°/None°F (24.0°/None°C)
Feb 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) 75°/None°F (24.1°/None°C)
Mar 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) 77°/None°F (24.8°/None°C)
Apr 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) 77°/None°F (24.8°/None°C)
May 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) 78°/None°F (25.3°/None°C)
Jun 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) 79°/None°F (26.0°/None°C)
Jul 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) 81°/None°F (27.2°/None°C)
Aug 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) 84°/None°F (28.8°/None°C)
Sep 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) 85°/None°F (29.3°/None°C)
Oct 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) 83°/None°F (28.6°/None°C)
Nov 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) 81°/None°F (27.3°/None°C)
Dec 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) 77°/None°F (25.2°/None°C)

Data: Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Cabo Verde

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

Cabo Verde passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Required
Cabo Verde 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

Can I work remotely from Cabo Verde?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Cabo Verde has 5.8 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 Cabo Verde safe for expats?

Iceland performs better than Cabo Verde across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cabo Verde is 6.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland. About 52% of people in Cabo Verde feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Cabo Verde compared to Iceland?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cabo Verde leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 44.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Cabo Verde, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Cabo Verde scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).

What's the weather like in Cabo Verde compared to Iceland?

The average high temperature in Praia is 79°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Praia receives around 2.8 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Cabo Verde?

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

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At a Glance

IS CV
Population 357,603 596,707
Currency Icelandic Króna (ISK) Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE)
Languages Icelandic Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +354 +238
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112