Moving to Iceland from Mississippi

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Mississippi to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Mississippi to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 63.0% more expensive than Mississippi. A $75,000 salary in Mississippi would need to be roughly ISK14,900,000 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 76°F in Jackson, 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 Mississippi?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 83.6% more

Groceries

pay 40.7% more

Transportation

pay 59.0% more

Housing

pay 69.4% more

Childcare

pay 26.4% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 87.3% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 121.78 ISK (October 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.

What salary do you need in Iceland?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → ISK14,900,000

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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Mississippi to Iceland, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
366

people moved from United States 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Mississippi to Iceland.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

MS
41.9%
IS
22.2%

Iceland performs significantly better than Mississippi across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

MS
82.0%
IS
98.2%

Iceland performs significantly better than Mississippi across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MS
3.1%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MS
$41,778
IS
$98,323

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Mississippi leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

MS
71.9 yrs
IS
82.8 yrs

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

Weather in Iceland vs Mississippi

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Jackson Rain: 54.3 in/yr (1380 mm)
76° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Jackson Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 62°/41°F (17°/5°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 83°/62°F (28°/17°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/70°F (32°/21°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 67°/46°F (20°/8°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Jackson Reykjavik
Jan 56°/37°F (13.6°/2.7°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 61°/40°F (16.1°/4.6°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 68°/47°F (20.2°/8.2°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 76°/54°F (24.4°/12.1°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 83°/63°F (28.3°/17.1°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 89°/69°F (31.8°/20.8°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.1°/22.4°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 92°/72°F (33.1°/22.2°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 87°/66°F (30.3°/18.9°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.8°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Can you move from Mississippi 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

United States passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Iceland without a visa.
Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Iceland passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

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 Mississippi?

No — Iceland is on average about 63% more expensive than Mississippi. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Iceland?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ISK3,725,000 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 Mississippi?

Iceland performs significantly better than Mississippi across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 76°F in Jackson. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Jackson gets 54.3 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Mississippi, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

IS
Population 2,954,160 392,404
Currency United States Dollar ($) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages English Icelandic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +354
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112