Moving to Iceland from Indiana

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Indiana to Iceland — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Indiana to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 58.8% more expensive than Indiana. A $75,000 salary in Indiana would need to be roughly ISK14,500,000 in Iceland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 62°F in Indianapolis, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Iceland cheaper than Indiana?

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 87.8% more

Groceries

pay 37.5% more

Transportation

pay 84.9% more

Housing

pay 51.2% more

Childcare

pay 3.8% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 77.6% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 121.78 ISK (October 2026)

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 Iceland?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → ISK14,500,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland

Calculate with your salary →

Get free moving quotes to Iceland

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Indiana to Iceland, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
366

people moved from United States to Iceland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Iceland?

Top countries of origin for Iceland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Indiana and Iceland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

IN
38.5%
IS
22.2%

Iceland performs significantly better than Indiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

IN
88.5%
IS
98.2%

Iceland performs significantly better than Indiana across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

IN
2.7%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

IN
$59,083
IS
$98,323

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Indiana leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

IN
75.0 yrs
IS
82.8 yrs

Iceland performs significantly better than Indiana across all family life metrics.

Weather in Iceland vs Indiana

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Indianapolis Rain: 40.8 in/yr (1036 mm)
62° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Indianapolis Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 42°/26°F (6°/-3°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/53°F (22°/12°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/35°F (11°/2°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Indianapolis Reykjavik
Jan 35°/21°F (1.7°/-6.1°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 40°/24°F (4.4°/-4.4°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.8°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 63°/44°F (17.1°/6.4°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 72°/53°F (22.5°/11.7°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 84°/67°F (28.8°/19.2°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.3°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 77°/57°F (25.1°/13.9°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 64°/45°F (18.0°/7.3°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 52°/36°F (11.0°/2.3°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 38°/25°F (3.6°/-3.9°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Can you move from Indiana to Iceland?

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

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Iceland without a visa.
Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Iceland passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Iceland than Indiana?

Day-to-day costs in Iceland run about 59% higher than Indiana on average; specific cities can swing further.

How much money do I need to move to Iceland?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around ISK3,625,000 in Iceland for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Iceland?

Working remotely from Iceland's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Indiana and Iceland.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Indiana?

Iceland performs significantly better than Indiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 62°F in Indianapolis. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Indianapolis gets 40.8 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Indiana, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

IS
Population 6,973,333 392,404
Currency United States Dollar ($) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages English Icelandic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +354
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112