Moving to Iran from Iceland

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Iceland to Iran, you would find that Iran is 75.0% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,222,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly IRR37,299,788,400 in Iran to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Persian (Farsi). Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tehran averages 72°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iceland to Iran.

What does your salary buy?

ISK9,222,000 IRR37,299,788,400

To maintain the same standard of living in Iran

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 76.9% less

Groceries

pay 76.2% less

Transportation

pay 53.5% less

Housing

pay 85.9% less

Childcare

pay 86.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 85.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ISK = 10987.72 IRR (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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iceland to Iran.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IS
1.1
IR
2.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IS
2.4
IR
20.6

Iceland performs better than Iran across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IS
$6,927
IR
$1,064
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IS
45.2
IR
15.1

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iran 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
IR
51.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IS
8.5t
IR
9.1t

Iceland performs better than Iran across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IS
38.2
IR
12.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IS
0.4%
IR
81.3%

Iceland performs better than Iran 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%
IR
9.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IS
$66,500
IR
$16,200

Iceland performs better than Iran 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
IR
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IS
1.6
IR
14.8

Iceland performs better than Iran 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

Tehran Rain: 9.1 in/yr (230 mm)
72° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Reykjavik Tehran
Jan–Mar 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) 52°/35°F (11°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) 82°/61°F (28°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) 94°/72°F (35°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 62°/44°F (17°/7°C)
View all months
Month Reykjavik Tehran
Jan 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) 45°/30°F (7.2°/-1.1°C)
Feb 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) 50°/33°F (9.9°/0.7°C)
Mar 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) 60°/41°F (15.4°/5.2°C)
Apr 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) 71°/52°F (21.9°/10.9°C)
May 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.1°C)
Jun 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) 93°/70°F (34.1°/20.9°C)
Jul 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) 98°/75°F (36.8°/24.0°C)
Aug 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) 96°/73°F (35.4°/23.0°C)
Sep 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.2°C)
Oct 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C)
Nov 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.7°C)
Dec 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.3°C)

Data: Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Iran

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

Iran passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Required
Iran 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 Iran than Iceland?

Yes — Iran is on average about 63% cheaper than Iceland. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Iran?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly IRR9,324,947,100 in Iran on a ISK9,222,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Iran?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Iran has 12.3 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 Iran safe for expats?

Iceland performs better than Iran across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iran is 2.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland.

How is healthcare in Iran compared to Iceland?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iran leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 15.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iran, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Iran scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).

What's the weather like in Iran compared to Iceland?

The average high temperature in Tehran is 72°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Tehran receives around 9.1 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Iran?

The official language in Iran is Persian (Farsi). In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.

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At a Glance

IS IR
Population 357,603 86,758,304
Currency Icelandic Króna (ISK) Iranian Rial (IRR)
Languages Icelandic Persian (Farsi)
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +354 +98
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 115