Moving to France from Iceland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iceland to France? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iceland to France, you would find that France is 17.4% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,486,750 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly €37,484 in France to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Paris averages 60°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer. A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iceland and France. What does your salary buy? ISK9,486,750 → €37,484 To maintain the same standard of living in France How key spending categories compare Restaurants pay 28.2% less Groceries pay 23.7% less Transportation pay 23.7% less Housing pay 13.6% less Childcare pay 32.4% more Entertainment and Sports pay 29.1% less Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources. 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. What the data shows about people moving from Iceland to France. The numbers behind daily life in France compared to Iceland. per 100,000 people per year of residents who feel safe walking alone at night per 100,000 people per year Iceland performs better than France across all safety metrics. 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 Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in healthcare spending per person. deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year Iceland generally does better on environment, though France leads in co₂ emissions per capita. fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work higher means greater strain on freshwater supply annual consumption — reflects grid capacity share of households with internet Iceland generally does better on infrastructure, though France leads in broadband per 100 people. percentage of the labour force without work a broad measure of economic output per person the highest marginal rate on personal income share of people below the poverty line Iceland performs better than France across all employment & economy metrics. 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 France across all family life metrics. Data: Directorate of Internal Revenue, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and France. To live, work, or study long-term in France, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check France's immigration authority. Iceland passport holder visiting France France passport holder visiting Iceland Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements. On average France is about 43% less expensive than Iceland, with major cities narrowing the gap. Budget about €9,371 for 3 months in France (based on a ISK9,486,750 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees. Connectivity is usually fine (France: 49.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does France offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident? Iceland performs better than France across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in France is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland. About 82% of people in France feel safe walking alone at night. Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 33.4 doctors per 10,000 people in France, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. France scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89). The average high temperature in Paris is 60°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Paris receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in. The official language in France is French. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic. How Far Will Your Money Go?
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Key Indicator Comparison
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Reykjavik Paris Jan–Mar 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) Apr–Jun 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) Jul–Sep 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) Oct–Dec 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) View all months
Month Reykjavik Paris Jan 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) Feb 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) Mar 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) Apr 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) May 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) Jun 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) Jul 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) Aug 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) Sep 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) Oct 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) Nov 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) Dec 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) Visitor Visa Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
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Icelandic Meteorological Office
Météo-France
