Moving to Louisiana from Iceland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iceland to Louisiana? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iceland to Louisiana, you would find that Louisiana is 34.6% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,100,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly $48,800 in Louisiana to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — New Orleans averages 77°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 Louisiana cheaper than Iceland?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 40.0% less
Groceries
pay 19.3% less
Transportation
pay 43.6% less
Housing
pay 34.1% less
Childcare
pay 15.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 39.0% 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.
What salary do you need in Louisiana?
What does your salary buy?
ISK9,100,000 → $48,800
To maintain the same standard of living in Louisiana
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Louisiana
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Iceland to Louisiana.
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 Louisiana compared to Iceland.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Iceland performs better than Louisiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iceland performs better than Louisiana 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 Louisiana across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iceland performs better than Louisiana 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 Louisiana vs Iceland
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Reykjavik | New Orleans |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) | 65°/51°F (18°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) | 84°/70°F (29°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) | 89°/77°F (32°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) | 71°/57°F (21°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Reykjavik | New Orleans |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) | 60°/46°F (15.6°/8.0°C) |
| Feb | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) | 64°/50°F (17.9°/9.9°C) |
| Mar | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) | 71°/56°F (21.4°/13.3°C) |
| Apr | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) | 77°/63°F (25.2°/17.1°C) |
| May | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) | 85°/71°F (29.2°/21.5°C) |
| Jun | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) | 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.4°C) |
| Jul | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) | 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.5°C) |
| Aug | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) | 91°/78°F (32.7°/25.7°C) |
| Sep | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) | 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.7°C) |
| Oct | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) | 79°/66°F (25.9°/18.9°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) | 71°/57°F (21.5°/13.7°C) |
| Dec | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) | 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.3°C) |
Data:
Icelandic Meteorological Office,
National Weather Service
Can you move from Iceland to Louisiana?
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 Louisiana than Iceland?
On average Louisiana is about 35% less expensive than Iceland, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Louisiana?
Budget about $12,200 for 3 months in Louisiana (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 Louisiana?
From major Louisiana cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iceland and Louisiana are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Louisiana compared to Iceland?
Iceland performs better than Louisiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Louisiana compared to Iceland?
The average high temperature in New Orleans is 77°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. New Orleans receives around 56.8 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Louisiana?
The official language in Louisiana is English. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.
