Moving to Iceland from Sri Lanka
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Sri Lanka to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Sri Lanka to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 9.6 times more expensive than Sri Lanka overall. A LKR25,173,710 salary in Sri Lanka would need to be roughly ISK34,923,917 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 87°F in Colombo, 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 Sri Lanka to Iceland.
What does your salary buy?
LKR25,173,710 → ISK34,923,917
To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 5.5 times more
Groceries
pay 3.1 times more
Transportation
pay 5.1 times more
Housing
pay 6.9 times more
Childcare
pay 37.9 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 4.0 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 Sri Lanka to Iceland, based on official data.
people moved from Sri Lanka 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
- · · ·
-
41.190
Sri Lanka
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Sri Lanka to Iceland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland performs significantly better than Sri Lanka 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sri Lanka 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
Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka 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
share of people below the poverty line
Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka across all family life metrics.
Data: Sri Lanka 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 | Colombo | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 88°/77°F (31°/25°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Colombo | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.8°C) | 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) |
Data:
National Meteorological Centre,
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sri Lanka 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.
Sri Lanka passport holder visiting Iceland
Visa Required
Iceland passport holder visiting Sri Lanka
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 Sri Lanka?
No — Iceland is on average about 271% more expensive than Sri Lanka. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Iceland?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ISK8,730,979 in Iceland on a LKR25,173,710 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?
Iceland performs significantly better than Sri Lanka across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.4 in Sri Lanka.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Sri Lanka?
Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sri Lanka leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 11.9 in Sri Lanka. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sri Lanka: 67).
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Sri Lanka?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 87°F in Colombo. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Colombo gets 99.4 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Sri Lanka, the official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.
