Moving to Iceland from Jordan

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Jordan to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 3.9 times more expensive than Jordan overall. A JOD53,175 salary in Jordan would need to be roughly ISK33,161,924 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 74°F in Amman, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Jordan and Iceland.

What does your salary buy?

JOD53,175 ISK33,161,924

To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 5.9 times more

Groceries

pay 3.7 times more

Transportation

pay 2.2 times more

Housing

pay 5.5 times more

Childcare

pay 5.0 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.3 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 JOD = 177.21 ISK (July 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Jordan to Iceland.

Moved in 2023
8 ↑ 100% vs 2022

people moved from Jordan 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

The numbers behind daily life in Iceland compared to Jordan.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

JO
1.0
IS
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JO
13.6
IS
2.4

Jordan generally does better on safety, though Iceland leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

JO
$798
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

JO
25.1
IS
45.2

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Jordan 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

JO
38.0
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JO
2.1t
IS
8.5t

Jordan generally does better on environment, though Iceland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JO
7.1
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JO
102.5%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly better than Jordan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JO
17.9%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JO
$9,400
IS
$66,500

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Jordan leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JO
76.0 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JO
13.9
IS
1.6

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

Data: Jordan Tax Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Amman Rain: 10.6 in/yr (269 mm)
74° / 52°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Amman Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 58°/40°F (14°/5°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 81°/56°F (27°/13°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 69°/49°F (21°/9°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Amman Reykjavik
Jan 54°/38°F (12.3°/3.6°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 57°/40°F (13.7°/4.2°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 63°/43°F (17.2°/6.1°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 73°/49°F (22.6°/9.5°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.5°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 87°/62°F (30.8°/16.6°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 90°/65°F (32.0°/18.5°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 90°/65°F (32.4°/18.6°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 87°/62°F (30.7°/16.6°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 81°/57°F (27.1°/13.8°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 69°/49°F (20.4°/9.3°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 58°/41°F (14.4°/5.2°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: Jordan Meteorological Department Jordan Meteorological Department, Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Jordan 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.

Jordan passport

Jordan passport holder visiting Iceland

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

Iceland passport holder visiting Jordan

Visa on Arrival
Iceland passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Jordan.

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 Jordan?

On average Iceland is around 252% pricier than Jordan, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Iceland?

Budget about ISK8,290,481 for 3 months in Iceland (based on a JOD53,175 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Iceland?

Connectivity is usually fine (Iceland: 38.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Iceland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Iceland safe for expats?

Jordan generally does better on safety, though Iceland leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in Jordan.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Jordan?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Jordan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 25.1 in Jordan. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Jordan: 65).

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

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 74°F in Amman. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Amman gets 10.6 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Jordan, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

JO IS
Population 10,998,531 357,603
Currency Jordanian Dinar (JOD) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages Arabic Icelandic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +962 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 112