Moving to Iceland from Laos
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Laos to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Laos to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 88°F in Vientiane, making it significantly cooler.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Laos to Iceland, based on official data.
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
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Laos to Iceland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland performs significantly better than Laos across all safety metrics.
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
Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Laos 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 Laos 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
Laos generally does better on employment & economy, though Iceland leads in gdp per capita.
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 performs significantly better than Laos across all family life metrics.
Data: Ministry of Finance, 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 | Vientiane | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Vientiane | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) |
Data:
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR,
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Laos 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.
Laos passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa Required
Iceland passport holder visiting Laos
Visa on ArrivalData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Iceland?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Iceland has 38.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Iceland safe for expats?
Iceland performs significantly better than Laos across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Laos?
Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 3.3 in Laos. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Laos: 52).
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Laos?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 88°F in Vientiane. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Vientiane gets 65.4 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Laos, the official language is Lao.
