Moving to Iceland from New Zealand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Zealand to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Zealand to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 64.0% more expensive than New Zealand overall. A NZ$128,326 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly ISK18,341,798 in Iceland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from New Zealand to Iceland.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$128,326 → ISK18,341,798
To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 74.8% more
Groceries
pay 61.4% more
Transportation
pay 51.9% more
Housing
pay 79.8% more
Childcare
pay 40.4% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 55.2% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from New Zealand to Iceland, based on official data.
people moved from New Zealand to Iceland · OECD (latest data available)
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
- · · ·
-
68.78
New Zealand
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to Iceland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand generally does better on safety, though Iceland leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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
Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though New Zealand leads in top income tax rate.
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 New Zealand across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, 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 | Wellington | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa Free
Iceland passport holder visiting New Zealand
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 New Zealand?
No — Iceland is on average about 95% more expensive than New Zealand. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Iceland?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ISK4,585,450 in Iceland on a NZ$128,326 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
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?
New Zealand 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 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to New Zealand?
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
