Moving to Iceland from Japan
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Japan to Iceland — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Japan to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 2.4 times more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥12,124,875 salary in Japan would need to be roughly ISK23,919,594 in Iceland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Japan to Iceland.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,124,875 → ISK23,919,594
To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 3.7 times more
Groceries
pay 70.8% more
Transportation
pay 68.2% more
Housing
pay 3.2 times more
Childcare
pay 73.0% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.5 times 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?
Real numbers on people moving from Japan to Iceland, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Iceland?
Top countries of origin for Iceland's foreign-born residents.
- 21,102
- 3,918
- 3,171
- 2,604
- 2,357
- 2,284
- · · ·
-
54.118
Japan
Key Indicator Comparison
How Japan and Iceland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
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 Japan 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 Japan 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
Japan generally does better on environment, though Iceland leads in air pollution deaths.
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 significantly better than Japan 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
share of people below the poverty line
Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Japan 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 generally does better on family life, though Japan leads in life expectancy.
Data: National Tax Agency Japan, 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 | Tokyo | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.
Japan passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa Free
Iceland passport holder visiting Japan
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 Iceland than Japan?
Day-to-day costs in Iceland run about 154% higher than Japan 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 ¥12,124,875 comparable salary, that's around ISK5,979,898 in Iceland for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Iceland?
With 38.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Iceland can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Japan and Iceland.
Is Iceland safe for expats?
Iceland generally does better on safety, though Japan leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan. About 91% of people in Iceland feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Japan?
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
