Moving to Iceland from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 40.4% more expensive than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly ISK13,439,585 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 Washington, 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 United States to Iceland.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ISK13,439,585
To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 46.4% more
Groceries
pay 27.2% more
Transportation
pay 75.1% more
Housing
pay 12.2% more
Childcare
pay 21.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 43.0% 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 United States to Iceland, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States to Iceland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Iceland performs significantly better than United States 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 performs significantly better than United States across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Iceland performs significantly better than United States across all environment metrics.
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 United States 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
United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Iceland leads in unemployment 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 United States across all family life metrics.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°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 United States?
No — Iceland is on average about 43% more expensive than United States. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Iceland?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ISK3,359,896 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 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 United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States. About 91% of people in Iceland feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to United States?
Iceland performs significantly better than United States across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 36.1 in United States. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In United States, the official language is English.
