Moving to Germany from Iceland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iceland to Germany? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iceland to Germany, you would find that Germany is 14.8% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,423,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly €37,576 in Germany to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Berlin averages 56°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iceland and Germany.
What does your salary buy?
ISK9,423,000 → €37,576
To maintain the same standard of living in Germany
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 17.4% less
Groceries
pay 30.8% less
Transportation
pay 17.6% less
Housing
pay 30.8% more
Childcare
pay 1.2% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 35.4% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Iceland to Germany.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Germany compared to Iceland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in homicide rate.
How's the healthcare?
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 performs better than Germany across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Iceland generally does better on environment, though Germany leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
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 Germany leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
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 generally does better on employment & economy, though Germany leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
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 Germany 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Reykjavik | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Reykjavik | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) |
| Feb | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) |
| Mar | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) |
| Apr | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) |
| May | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) |
| Jun | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) |
| Jul | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) |
| Aug | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) |
| Oct | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) |
| Dec | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) |
Data:
Icelandic Meteorological Office,
Deutscher Wetterdienst
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and Germany. To live, work, or study long-term in Germany, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Germany's immigration authority.
Iceland passport holder visiting Germany
Visa Free
Germany passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Germany than Iceland?
On average Germany is about 43% less expensive than Iceland, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Germany?
Budget about €9,394 for 3 months in Germany (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 Germany?
Connectivity is usually fine (Germany: 45.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Germany offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Germany safe for expats?
Iceland generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Germany is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland. About 72% of people in Germany feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Germany compared to Iceland?
Iceland performs better than Germany across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Germany, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Germany scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).
What's the weather like in Germany compared to Iceland?
The average high temperature in Berlin is 56°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Berlin receives around 22.5 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Germany?
The official language in Germany is German. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.
