Moving to Iceland from South Carolina
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from South Carolina to Iceland — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from South Carolina to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 52.4% more expensive than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly ISK16,231,155 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 Columbia, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from South Carolina to Iceland.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ISK16,231,155
To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 43.6% more
Groceries
pay 26.7% more
Transportation
pay 2.0 times more
Housing
pay 17.0% more
Childcare
pay 7.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 74.2% 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?
Real numbers on people moving from South Carolina to Iceland, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How South Carolina and Iceland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Iceland performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iceland performs significantly better than South Carolina across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iceland performs significantly better than South Carolina across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iceland performs significantly better than South Carolina across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Columbia | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Columbia | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
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 holder visiting Iceland
Visa Free
Iceland passport holder visiting United States
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 South Carolina?
Day-to-day costs in Iceland run about 72% higher than South Carolina on average; specific cities can swing further.
How much money do I need to move to Iceland?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around ISK4,057,789 in Iceland for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Iceland?
Working remotely from Iceland's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in South Carolina and Iceland.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to South Carolina?
Iceland performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to South Carolina?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In South Carolina, the official language is English.
