Moving to Iceland from Philippines
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Philippines to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Philippines to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 4.4 times more expensive than Philippines overall. A ₱4,557,825 salary in Philippines would need to be roughly ISK33,431,629 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 88°F in Manila, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Philippines to Iceland.
What does your salary buy?
₱4,557,825 → ISK33,431,629
To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 6.3 times more
Groceries
pay 2.3 times more
Transportation
pay 5.0 times more
Housing
pay 6.1 times more
Childcare
pay 4.0 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 4.5 times 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 Philippines to Iceland, based on official data.
people moved from Philippines to Iceland · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Philippines to Iceland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland performs significantly better than Philippines 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Philippines 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
Philippines 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
Iceland performs significantly better than Philippines 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
Philippines 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 Philippines across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Internal Revenue, 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 | Manila | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/79°F (33°/26°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/77°F (30°/25°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Manila | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 85°/75°F (29.7°/23.9°C) | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) |
Data:
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration,
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Philippines 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.
Philippines passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa Required
Iceland passport holder visiting Philippines
Visa FreeData: 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 Philippines?
No — Iceland is on average about 258% more expensive than Philippines. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Iceland?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ISK8,357,907 in Iceland on a ₱4,557,825 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, 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?
Iceland performs significantly better than Philippines across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.3 in Philippines.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Philippines?
Philippines 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 7.9 in Philippines. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Philippines: 58).
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Philippines?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 88°F in Manila. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Manila gets 86.7 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Philippines, the official languages are English and Filipino.
