Moving to New Zealand from Iceland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iceland to New Zealand — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iceland to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 25.8% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,423,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly NZ$66,716 in New Zealand to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Wellington averages 62°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 New Zealand.
What does your salary buy?
ISK9,423,000 → NZ$66,716
To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 40.2% less
Groceries
pay 30.8% less
Transportation
pay 30.8% less
Housing
pay 28.5% less
Childcare
pay 16.8% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 21.5% 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 New Zealand, based on official data.
people moved from Iceland to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to New Zealand?
Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.
- 286,746
- 144,207
- 122,506
- 85,289
- 73,846
- 70,412
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iceland to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland performs better than New Zealand across all safety metrics.
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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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
Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though New Zealand leads in top income tax 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
Iceland performs better than New Zealand 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 | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Reykjavik | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) |
| Feb | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) |
| Mar | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) |
| Apr | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) |
| May | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) |
| Jun | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) |
| Jul | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) |
| Aug | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) |
| Sep | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) |
| Oct | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) |
| Dec | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) |
Data:
Icelandic Meteorological Office,
New Zealand National Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and New Zealand. To live, work, or study long-term in New Zealand, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check New Zealand's immigration authority.
Iceland passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel Authorisation
New Zealand 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 New Zealand than Iceland?
Yes — New Zealand is on average about 49% cheaper than Iceland. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to New Zealand?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly NZ$16,679 in New Zealand 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 New Zealand?
Internet is rarely the blocker — New Zealand has 35.9 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 New Zealand safe for expats?
Iceland performs better than New Zealand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland.
How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Iceland?
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).
What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Iceland?
The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.
