Moving to South Korea from Iceland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Iceland to South Korea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Iceland to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 37.7% cheaper than Iceland overall. A ISK9,423,000 salary in Iceland would need to be roughly ₩49,842,240 in South Korea to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Seoul averages 63°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 South Korea.
What does your salary buy?
ISK9,423,000 → ₩49,842,240
To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 67.9% less
Groceries
pay 5.6% more
Transportation
pay 52.2% less
Housing
pay 33.4% less
Childcare
pay 18.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 52.3% 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 South Korea, based on official data.
people moved from Iceland to South Korea · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to South Korea?
Top countries of origin for South Korea's foreign-born residents.
- 803,011
- 177,274
- 159,264
- 68,050
- 64,942
- 55,601
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iceland to South Korea.
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 South Korea 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 South Korea 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 performs better than South Korea across all environment metrics.
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 South Korea 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 South Korea 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
Iceland performs better than South Korea 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 | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Reykjavik | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) |
| Feb | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) |
| Apr | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) |
| May | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) |
| Jun | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) |
| Jul | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) |
| Aug | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) |
| Sep | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) |
| Oct | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) |
| Nov | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) |
| Dec | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) |
Data:
Icelandic Meteorological Office,
Korea Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and South Korea. To live, work, or study long-term in South Korea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Korea's immigration authority.
Iceland passport holder visiting South Korea
Electronic Travel Authorisation
South Korea 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 South Korea than Iceland?
Yes — South Korea is on average about 56% cheaper than Iceland. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to South Korea?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₩12,460,560 in South Korea 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 South Korea?
Internet is rarely the blocker — South Korea has 45.4 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 South Korea safe for expats?
Iceland generally does better on safety, though South Korea leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland. About 64% of people in South Korea feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Iceland?
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).
What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Iceland?
The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in South Korea?
The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.
