Moving to Iceland from Missouri

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Missouri to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 48.5% more expensive than Missouri. A $75,000 salary in Missouri would need to be roughly ISK13,600,000 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 66°F in Kansas City, making it significantly cooler.

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Is Iceland cheaper than Missouri?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 67.5% more

Groceries

pay 23.6% more

Transportation

pay 45.0% more

Housing

pay 53.2% more

Childcare

pay 10.7% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 70.1% 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 → ISK13,600,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland

Calculate with your salary →

Get free moving quotes to Iceland

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

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

The numbers behind daily life in Iceland compared to Missouri.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

MO
37.5%
IS
22.2%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

MO
88.3%
IS
98.2%

Iceland performs significantly better than Missouri across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MO
3.3%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MO
$56,344
IS
$98,323

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

MO
75.1 yrs
IS
82.8 yrs

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

Weather in Iceland vs Missouri

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kansas City Rain: 39.1 in/yr (992 mm)
66° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kansas City Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/57°F (24°/14°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/67°F (30°/20°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 55°/37°F (13°/3°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Kansas City Reykjavik
Jan 40°/22°F (4.2°/-5.3°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 45°/26°F (7.0°/-3.2°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 56°/36°F (13.4°/2.1°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 67°/47°F (19.3°/8.1°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 76°/57°F (24.4°/13.9°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 85°/67°F (29.4°/19.3°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 90°/72°F (32.3°/22.2°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 89°/70°F (31.4°/21.2°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 80°/60°F (26.7°/15.8°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 68°/49°F (19.9°/9.4°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 54°/37°F (12.3°/2.6°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 42°/26°F (5.4°/-3.6°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 Missouri 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 Missouri?

On average Iceland is around 48% pricier than Missouri, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Iceland?

Budget about ISK3,400,000 for 3 months in Iceland (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Iceland?

From major Iceland cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Missouri and Iceland are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Missouri?

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

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

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 66°F in Kansas City. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Kansas City gets 39.1 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

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

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At a Glance

IS
Population 6,270,541 392,404
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