Moving to Iceland from Louisiana
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Louisiana to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Louisiana to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 53.0% more expensive than Louisiana. A $75,000 salary in Louisiana would need to be roughly ISK14,000,000 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 77°F in New Orleans, 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 Louisiana?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 66.6% more
Groceries
pay 23.9% more
Transportation
pay 77.2% more
Housing
pay 51.8% more
Childcare
pay 19.0% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 63.8% 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.
What salary do you need in Iceland?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ISK14,000,000
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.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Louisiana to Iceland, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Louisiana to Iceland.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Iceland performs significantly better than Louisiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iceland performs significantly better than Louisiana 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 performs significantly better than Louisiana across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iceland performs significantly better than Louisiana across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Iceland vs Louisiana
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | New Orleans | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 65°/51°F (18°/10°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 84°/70°F (29°/21°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 89°/77°F (32°/25°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 71°/57°F (21°/14°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | New Orleans | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°/46°F (15.6°/8.0°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 64°/50°F (17.9°/9.9°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 71°/56°F (21.4°/13.3°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 77°/63°F (25.2°/17.1°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 85°/71°F (29.2°/21.5°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.4°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.5°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 91°/78°F (32.7°/25.7°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.7°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 79°/66°F (25.9°/18.9°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 71°/57°F (21.5°/13.7°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.3°C) | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Can you move from Louisiana 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 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 Louisiana?
No — Iceland is on average about 53% more expensive than Louisiana. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Iceland?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ISK3,500,000 in Iceland on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Iceland?
Usually fine from major cities in Iceland. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Louisiana?
Iceland performs significantly better than Louisiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Louisiana?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 77°F in New Orleans. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while New Orleans gets 56.8 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Louisiana, the official language is English.
