Moving to Japan from Iceland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iceland to Japan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iceland to Japan, you would find that Japan is 59.3% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,200,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly ¥4,850,000 in Japan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tokyo averages 69°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 Japan.
What does your salary buy?
ISK9,200,000 → ¥4,850,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 75.9% less
Groceries
pay 32.9% less
Transportation
pay 42.7% less
Housing
pay 70.3% less
Childcare
pay 54.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 54.0% 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 Japan, based on official data.
Who's moving to Japan?
Top countries of origin for Japan's foreign-born residents.
- 775,893
- 456,203
- 335,668
- 275,252
- 204,814
- 58,340
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iceland to Japan.
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 Japan 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 Japan leads in healthcare spending per person.
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 Japan 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 Japan 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 Japan 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
Japan generally does better on family life, though Iceland leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Directorate of Internal Revenue (2016), National Tax Agency Japan (2016), The World Factbook (2013). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Reykjavik | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Reykjavik | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Icelandic Meteorological Office,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and Japan. To live, work, or study long-term in Japan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Japan's immigration authority.
Iceland passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan 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 Japan than Iceland?
Yes — Japan is on average about 59% cheaper than Iceland. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ¥1,212,500 in Japan on a ISK9,200,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Japan?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Japan has 38.6 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 Japan safe for expats?
Iceland generally does better on safety, though Japan leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.3 in Iceland. About 83% of people in Japan feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Iceland?
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 26.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 43.7 in Iceland. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Iceland?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.
