Moving to Iceland from Puerto Rico
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Puerto Rico to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Puerto Rico to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 64.5% more expensive than Puerto Rico overall. A $75,000 salary in Puerto Rico would need to be roughly ISK15,100,000 in Iceland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic.
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 Puerto Rico to Iceland.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ISK15,100,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.0 times more
Groceries
pay 8.6% more
Transportation
pay 75.1% more
Housing
pay 68.1% more
Childcare
pay 74.7% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.4 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 Puerto Rico to Iceland, based on official data.
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
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Puerto Rico to Iceland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland performs significantly better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Puerto Rico generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in adult obesity rate.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Puerto Rico performs better than Iceland across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
share of households with internet
Iceland performs significantly better than Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), Puerto Rican Department of Treasury (2016), Directorate of Internal Revenue (2016), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Puerto Rico 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.
Iceland passport holder visiting Puerto Rico
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 Puerto Rico?
No — Iceland is on average about 64% more expensive than Puerto Rico. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Iceland?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ISK3,775,000 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?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Iceland has 37.5 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 Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 14.6 in Puerto Rico.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in adult obesity rate.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Puerto Rico, the official languages are English and Spanish.
