Moving to Vanuatu from Iceland

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Iceland to Vanuatu? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Iceland to Vanuatu, and you’d need to navigate life in Bislama, English and French. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Vila averages 83°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Vanuatu compared to Iceland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IS
1.1
VU
0.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IS
2.4
VU
12.5

Iceland generally does better on safety, though Vanuatu leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

IS
$6,927
VU
$141
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IS
45.2
VU
1.6

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IS
8.0
VU
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IS
8.5t
VU
0.9t

Iceland generally does better on environment, though Vanuatu leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IS
38.2
VU
1.1

Iceland performs better than Vanuatu across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IS
3.6%
VU
5.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IS
$66,500
VU
$3,000

Iceland performs better than Vanuatu across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IS
83.6 yrs
VU
75.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IS
1.6
VU
14.3

Iceland performs better than Vanuatu across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

Port Vila Rain: 87.5 in/yr (2222 mm)
83° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Reykjavik Port Vila
Jan–Mar 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) 82°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) 79°/67°F (26°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 84°/71°F (29°/22°C)
View all months
Month Reykjavik Port Vila
Jan 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.4°C)
Feb 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) 86°/74°F (30.2°/23.6°C)
Mar 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Apr 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C)
May 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C)
Jun 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) 80°/69°F (26.7°/20.5°C)
Jul 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C)
Aug 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) 79°/67°F (26.1°/19.3°C)
Sep 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.6°C)
Oct 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) 82°/69°F (27.8°/20.6°C)
Nov 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.7°C)
Dec 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) 85°/72°F (29.7°/22.4°C)

Data: Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office, Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland and Vanuatu. To live, work, or study long-term in Vanuatu, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Vanuatu's immigration authority.

Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Vanuatu

Visa Required
Iceland passport holders need a visa to enter Vanuatu.
Vanuatu passport

Vanuatu passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Required
Vanuatu passport holders need a visa to enter Iceland.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Vanuatu?

Connectivity is usually fine (Vanuatu: 1.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Vanuatu offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Vanuatu safe for expats?

Iceland generally does better on safety, though Vanuatu leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Vanuatu is 0.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Iceland.

How is healthcare in Vanuatu compared to Iceland?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Vanuatu, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Vanuatu scores 47 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).

What's the weather like in Vanuatu compared to Iceland?

The average high temperature in Port Vila is 83°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Port Vila receives around 87.5 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Vanuatu?

The official languages in Vanuatu are Bislama, English and French. In Iceland, the official language is Icelandic.

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At a Glance

IS VU
Population 357,603 308,043
Currency Icelandic Króna (ISK) Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)
Languages Icelandic Bislama, English, French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +354 +678
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112