Moving to Dominican Republic from Iceland

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Iceland to Dominican Republic, you would find that Dominican Republic is 58.9% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,222,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly DOP1,462,525 in Dominican Republic to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Santo Domingo averages 87°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iceland and Dominican Republic.

What does your salary buy?

ISK9,222,000 DOP1,462,525

To maintain the same standard of living in Dominican Republic

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 72.6% less

Groceries

pay 52.6% less

Transportation

pay 44.1% less

Housing

pay 62.3% less

Childcare

pay 61.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 67.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ISK = 0.4745 DOP (June 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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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Dominican Republic compared to Iceland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IS
1.1
DO
12.4
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

IS
91%
DO
40%

Iceland performs better than Dominican Republic across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IS
$6,927
DO
$1,169
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IS
45.2
DO
22.3

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Dominican Republic 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
DO
27.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IS
8.5t
DO
3.0t

Iceland generally does better on environment, though Dominican Republic 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
DO
10.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IS
0.4%
DO
39.5%

Iceland performs better than Dominican Republic 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%
DO
5.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IS
$66,500
DO
$23,100

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Dominican Republic 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
DO
72.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IS
1.6
DO
21.2

Iceland performs better than Dominican Republic 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

Santo Domingo Rain: 57.0 in/yr (1447 mm)
87° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Reykjavik Santo Domingo
Jan–Mar 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) 85°/67°F (29°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) 87°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Jul–Sep 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) 89°/73°F (31°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 87°/71°F (30°/21°C)
View all months
Month Reykjavik Santo Domingo
Jan 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.6°C)
Feb 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) 85°/67°F (29.2°/19.7°C)
Mar 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) 85°/68°F (29.6°/20.2°C)
Apr 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.1°C)
May 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) 87°/72°F (30.4°/22.2°C)
Jun 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Jul 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) 88°/73°F (31.3°/22.8°C)
Aug 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.7°C)
Sep 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) 89°/73°F (31.4°/22.7°C)
Oct 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) 88°/72°F (31.1°/22.3°C)
Nov 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.4°C)
Dec 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) 85°/69°F (29.6°/20.3°C)

Data: Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office, Oficina Nacional de Meteorologiá Oficina Nacional de Meteorologiá

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Dominican Republic

Visa Free
Iceland passport holders can enter Dominican Republic without a visa.
Dominican Republic passport

Dominican Republic passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Required
Dominican Republic 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 Dominican Republic than Iceland?

On average Dominican Republic is about 67% less expensive than Iceland, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Dominican Republic?

Budget about DOP365,631 for 3 months in Dominican Republic (based on a ISK9,222,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Dominican Republic?

Connectivity is usually fine (Dominican Republic: 10.7 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Dominican Republic offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Dominican Republic safe for expats?

Iceland performs better than Dominican Republic across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Dominican Republic is 12.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland. About 40% of people in Dominican Republic feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Dominican Republic compared to Iceland?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Dominican Republic leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 22.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Dominican Republic, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Dominican Republic scores 77 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).

What's the weather like in Dominican Republic compared to Iceland?

The average high temperature in Santo Domingo is 87°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Santo Domingo receives around 57.0 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Dominican Republic?

The official language in Dominican Republic is Spanish. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.

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At a Glance

IS DO
Population 357,603 10,694,700
Currency Icelandic Króna (ISK) Dominican Peso (DOP)
Languages Icelandic Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +354 +1
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 911