Moving to Iceland from Utah
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Utah to Iceland — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Utah to Iceland, you would find that Iceland is 54.3% more expensive than Utah. A $75,000 salary in Utah would need to be roughly ISK17,287,489 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 64°F in Salt Lake City, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Utah to Iceland.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ISK17,287,489
To maintain the same standard of living in Iceland
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 59.6% more
Groceries
pay 44.2% more
Transportation
pay 79.1% more
Housing
pay 24.1% more
Childcare
pay 12.4% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 60.1% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Iceland
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Utah to Iceland, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How Utah and Iceland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Iceland performs significantly better than Utah across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iceland performs significantly better than Utah 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
Utah generally does better on employment & economy, though Iceland leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iceland performs significantly better than Utah 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 | Salt Lake City | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 45°/27°F (7°/-3°C) | 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) | 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 87°/60°F (31°/16°C) | 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/32°F (10°/0°C) | 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Salt Lake City | Reykjavik |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/22°F (3.0°/-5.8°C) | 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) |
| Feb | 43°/25°F (6.2°/-3.8°C) | 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) |
| Mar | 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) | 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) |
| Apr | 62°/40°F (16.4°/4.2°C) | 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) |
| May | 72°/48°F (22.2°/8.8°C) | 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) |
| Jun | 83°/56°F (28.3°/13.6°C) | 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) |
| Jul | 93°/65°F (33.7°/18.2°C) | 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) |
| Aug | 90°/63°F (32.5°/17.4°C) | 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) |
| Sep | 79°/53°F (26.2°/11.7°C) | 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) |
| Oct | 65°/41°F (18.2°/5.2°C) | 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) |
| Nov | 49°/31°F (9.7°/-0.8°C) | 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Dec | 38°/23°F (3.3°/-5.2°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 Utah?
Day-to-day costs in Iceland run about 84% higher than Utah 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 ISK4,321,872 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 Utah and Iceland.
How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Utah?
Iceland performs significantly better than Utah across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Utah?
The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 64°F in Salt Lake City. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Salt Lake City gets 16.1 in.
What language do they speak in Iceland?
The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Utah, the official language is English.
