Moving to Ireland from Iceland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iceland to Ireland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iceland to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 3.2% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,423,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly €44,779 in Ireland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Irish. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Dublin averages 56°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 ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Iceland to Ireland.
What does your salary buy?
ISK9,423,000 → €44,779
To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 31.4% less
Groceries
pay 31.2% less
Transportation
pay 1.1% more
Housing
pay 16.8% more
Childcare
pay 77.0% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 13.0% 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?
How many people actually move from Iceland to Ireland, based on official data.
Who's moving to Ireland?
Top countries of origin for Ireland's foreign-born residents.
- 305,197
- 146,211
- 44,229
- 35,190
- 25,371
- 25,104
- · · ·
-
126.41
Iceland
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iceland to Ireland.
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 Ireland 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 generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in suicide rate.
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 Ireland 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 performs better than Ireland across all infrastructure metrics.
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 Ireland leads in gdp per capita.
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 Ireland 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 | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) | 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) | 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) | 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) | 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) |
View all months
| Month | Reykjavik | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) |
| Feb | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) | 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) |
| Mar | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) | 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) |
| Apr | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) | 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) |
| May | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) | 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) |
| Jun | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) | 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) |
| Jul | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) | 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) |
| Aug | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) | 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) |
| Sep | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) | 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) |
| Oct | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) | 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) | 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) |
| Dec | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) | 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) |
Data:
Icelandic Meteorological Office,
Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and Ireland. To live, work, or study long-term in Ireland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Ireland's immigration authority.
Iceland passport holder visiting Ireland
Visa Free
Ireland 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 Ireland than Iceland?
Yes — Ireland is on average about 32% cheaper than Iceland. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Ireland?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €11,195 in Ireland on a ISK9,423,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Ireland?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Ireland has 32.1 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 Ireland safe for expats?
Iceland generally does better on safety, though Ireland leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland. About 75% of people in Ireland feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Iceland?
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in suicide rate. There are 40.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).
What's the weather like in Ireland compared to Iceland?
The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Ireland?
The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.
