Moving to Iceland from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Iceland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 62.5% more expensive than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly ISK19,143,451 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 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iowa and Iceland.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ISK19,143,451
To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 61.3% more
Groceries
pay 52.4% more
Transportation
pay 2.2 times more
Housing
pay 55.8% more
Childcare
pay 4.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 52.6% more
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?
What the data shows about people moving from Iowa to Iceland.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Iceland compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Iceland performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iceland performs significantly better than Iowa 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 generally does better on employment & economy, though Iowa leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iceland performs significantly better than Iowa across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
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 holder visiting Iceland
Visa Free
Iceland passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Iowa?
On average Iceland is around 103% pricier than Iowa, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Iceland?
Budget about ISK4,785,863 for 3 months in Iceland (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Iceland?
From major Iceland cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Iceland are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Iowa?
Iceland performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Iowa, the official language is English.
