Is Iceland expensive to live in?

Iceland. Numbeo reports that the cost of living in Iceland is about 40.21% higher than that of the United States (rent not included). In addition, rent in Iceland is 15.57% higher than that in the United States.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Iceland?

According to estimations from websites Investopedia and International Living, a retired couple living in a one-bedroom apartment in Reykjavik can expect to live on roughly $2,600 a month. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, dining out, transportation and any help around the house you might need.

Why is living in Iceland expensive?

Because Iceland is so geographically isolated, it is more expensive to import products, meaning the prices for customers go up as a result. Iceland is also a small country, so it can't manufacture as much of its own products compared to larger countries.

What is the average cost of living in Iceland?

Family of four estimated monthly costs are 4,279$ (566,395kr) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 1,161$ (153,617kr) without rent. Cost of living in Iceland is, on average, 27.98% higher than in United States. Rent in Iceland is, on average, 21.10% lower than in United States.

How much is rent in Iceland?

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Reykjavík is ISK 130,000 (USD 990, EUR 920) per month. This website offers information on the cost of renting an apartment. The figures show the price per square meter in various parts of the country.

How expensive is ICELAND?

Is healthcare free in Iceland?

State healthcare in Iceland is not completely free. Healthcare costs are covered by the state (through the Icelandic Health Insurance fund) and through patient contributions. Patient contributions are capped each month. Once you've spent a certain amount, your state healthcare is free for the rest of the month.

Do they speak English in Iceland?

English is taught as a second language in Iceland and almost every Icelander speaks the language fluently. And more so, most Icelanders speak several other languages including Danish, German, Spanish and French and welcome the opportunity to practice their language skills. Hope to see you soon in Reykjavík.

Is food expensive in Iceland?

Eating out is relatively expensive (the average plate will cost between 15.50 USD and 31 USD), so the locals consider restaurant dining a treat instead of a regular occurrence. If you're going to be eating out in Iceland every night of your stay, expect your expenses to soar.

Is Iceland a good place to live?

If you are considering a move to Iceland, you have probably seen how well Iceland scores in many of the life indexes. Indeed, Icelandic living standards are very high, extremely safe, with high-quality education, modern infrastructure, and stable government.

Is Iceland a depressing country?

According to the European health survey, Icelanders are in fourth place as the most depressed European nation. Young women are most likely to suffer from depression, with a ratio of 11 percent to 7 percent of men. The country with the highest number of people suffering from depression is Hungary, around 10 percent.

Is moving to Iceland a good idea?

The Complete Guide to Moving to Iceland (2021)

Iceland is famous for being an incredibly great place to live: a safe, beautiful and welcoming country with a strong society and high living standards.

Are Icelanders friendly?

As well as being open-hearted and kind, Icelandic people are consistently rated as the happiest in the world! That happiness translates into how locals treat each other and how they welcome the many seasonal visitors. Most Icelanders are non-judgemental, laid back, and down to earth.

Can a US citizen live in Iceland?

Moving to Iceland as a United States citizen is possible. However, what the country allows is pretty restrictive. If you plan on staying for more than three months, you will need to contact the Directorate of Immigration to apply for a residence permit, and acceptance depends on your reason for staying.

Is it difficult to live in Iceland?

Life in Reykjavik - Life follows a very specific rhythm in the Capital city, probably everywhere in Iceland. In general, the pace of life was much slower than I was used to. Icelanders work hard and they play hard, to use an old cliche. Icelanders take long vacations, some up to 4 weeks in the summer!

What are the main jobs in Iceland?

Construction, healthcare, tourism, and IT are the four most significant sectors needing employees. These industries are required to keep the Icelandic economy thriving and are ideal jobs for Americans in Iceland, as special skill sets are often needed.

Can you drink alcohol in Iceland?

You can't just walk into the supermarket and pick up a bottle of wine as you can in most countries. Except for low-alcohol beer, you have to go to special shops called Vinbudin to buy alcohol. The state runs these liquor stores, and they are typically open from 11 am to 6 pm.

Is it very cold in Iceland?

Reykjavik Weather

The weather in Reykjavik averages around 33-35 F (1-2 C) in wintertime and about 54 F (12 C) in summer. In winter, the temperature in Reykjavik can drop as low as 14 F (-10 C) and rise as high as 50 F (10 C). In summer, it can drop as low as 44 F (7 C) and rise as high as 77 F (25 C).

How is Iceland so rich?

Tourism, exports and investment have driven Iceland's GDP growth, according to the IMF. The IMF also predicts that the growth of the country's tourism industry is also expected to be long-lasting.

Is there McDonalds in Iceland?

As mentioned earlier, Iceland is one of the few countries in the world without a McDonalds restaurant and there are no Starbucks chains either.

Is Reykjavik safe?

Safety in Reykjavík

Reykjavík is a friendly and very safe capital city, which is why it's heralded as a great destination for families and solo travellers in Iceland. Crime rates are low and there are no “bad” neighbourhoods in Reykjavík, but petty theft and pickpocketing – though rare – can occur.

What kind of food do they eat in Iceland?

Can you become a citizen of Iceland?

Applying for Icelandic citizenship

The general requirement for granting Icelandic citizenship is that the applicant has been domiciled in Iceland for seven years. Nordic nationals are an exception, however, as they only need to have had a legal domicile in Iceland for four years.

What can you not bring into Iceland?