Moving to Illinois from Iceland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iceland to Illinois? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iceland to Illinois, you would find that Illinois is 29.2% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,100,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly $52,900 in Illinois to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Chicago averages 59°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Illinois cheaper than Iceland?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 43.5% less
Groceries
pay 20.7% less
Transportation
pay 35.8% less
Housing
pay 26.3% less
Childcare
pay 15.4% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 32.2% 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.
What salary do you need in Illinois?
What does your salary buy?
ISK9,100,000 → $52,900
To maintain the same standard of living in Illinois
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Illinois
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Iceland to Illinois.
people moved from Iceland to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
146.8,241
Iceland
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Illinois compared to Iceland.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Iceland performs better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iceland performs better than Illinois across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iceland performs better than Illinois across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iceland performs better than Illinois across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), World Health Organization (2024), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Illinois vs Iceland
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Reykjavik | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) | 38°/22°F (3°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) | 70°/48°F (21°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) | 48°/32°F (9°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Reykjavik | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) | 31°/17°F (-0.6°/-8.6°C) |
| Feb | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) | 35°/20°F (1.8°/-6.6°C) |
| Mar | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) | 47°/29°F (8.1°/-1.6°C) |
| Apr | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) | 59°/39°F (15.0°/3.8°C) |
| May | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) | 70°/48°F (21.1°/9.1°C) |
| Jun | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) | 80°/58°F (26.5°/14.5°C) |
| Jul | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) | 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) |
| Aug | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) | 82°/63°F (27.7°/17.2°C) |
| Sep | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) | 75°/54°F (23.8°/12.4°C) |
| Oct | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) | 62°/43°F (16.8°/6.0°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) | 48°/32°F (9.0°/0.2°C) |
| Dec | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) | 35°/21°F (1.6°/-6.3°C) |
Data:
Icelandic Meteorological Office,
National Weather Service
Can you move from Iceland to Illinois?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Iceland passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States 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 Illinois than Iceland?
On average Illinois is about 29% less expensive than Iceland, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Illinois?
Budget about $13,225 for 3 months in Illinois (based on a ISK9,100,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Illinois?
From major Illinois cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iceland and Illinois are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Illinois compared to Iceland?
Iceland performs better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Illinois compared to Iceland?
The average high temperature in Chicago is 59°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Chicago receives around 36.9 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Illinois?
The official language in Illinois is English. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.
