Reykjavik, Iceland 🇮🇸
#791
,
Nomad Score:
60%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
21%
Weight: 150
One of the most expensive cities globally, with high prices for most goods and services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
18%
Weight: 80
Accommodation is very costly, especially in central Reykjavik, with limited budget options.
🍎 Food & Groceries
23%
Weight: 40
Groceries and dining out are expensive due to import costs and high living standards.
🚌 Transportation Cost
50%
Weight: 20
Public transport is moderately priced but limited; taxis and car rentals are expensive.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
30%
Weight: 15
Entertainment venues and events tend to be pricey compared to other European cities.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
42%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately expensive but facilities are generally high quality.
💱 Currency Stability
79%
Weight: 30
Icelandic Krona is relatively stable but can be volatile due to small economy size.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
87%
Weight: 100
High-speed fiber internet is widely available with reliable connections.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
65%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist, mainly in the city center, but options are limited.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
78%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi, suitable for casual work sessions.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
69%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers with power outlets and good seating.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
52%
Weight: 100
Growing interest but still a niche destination for digital nomads.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
84%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
84%
Weight: 30
Strong cultural emphasis on work-life balance and leisure time.
🌳 Environmental Quality
95%
Weight: 15
Excellent environmental standards with clean air and water.
🧼 Cleanliness
97%
Weight: 10
City is very clean with well-maintained public spaces.
🗨️ Language Barrier
74%
Weight: 30
English is widely spoken, though Icelandic is the official language.
💨 Air Quality
98%
Weight: 15
Very good air quality due to low pollution and natural surroundings.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
70%
Weight: 25
Good public services and safe environment but high costs.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
89%
Weight: 20
High-quality healthcare system with modern facilities.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
45%
Weight: 25
Healthcare can be expensive for non-residents without insurance.
🏥 Healthcare
87%
Weight: 20
Accessible and reliable healthcare services available.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
12%
Weight: 80
Cold, often overcast and rainy weather with short summers.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
60%
Weight: 10
Some volcanic and seismic activity but well-monitored and managed.
🏞️ Green Spaces
73%
Weight: 10
Good access to parks and natural areas within and around the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
20%
Weight: 15
Rarely needed due to cool climate; most buildings lack AC.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
75%
Weight: 10
Distinct seasons with long daylight in summer and dark winters.
🔊 Noise Pollution
89%
Weight: 10
Low noise pollution due to small population and limited traffic.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
86%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural scene with music, art, and literature.
🌃 Nightlife
54%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is modest but lively, centered around bars and live music.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
98%
Weight: 15
Outstanding access to unique natural landscapes and outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60%
Weight: 10
Limited formal language courses but informal opportunities exist.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
89%
Weight: 10
Wide range of tours and cultural experiences available for visitors.
🎳 Indoors Fun
62%
Weight: 10
Museums, galleries, and indoor activities available but limited variety.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
71%
Weight: 25
Good quality food with emphasis on seafood and local ingredients.
🧠 Yoga Studios
58%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios exist but not as widespread as in larger cities.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
65%
Weight: 15
Decent number of gyms and fitness centers available.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
74%
Weight: 15
Healthy and organic food options are available but at a premium price.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
70%
Weight: 20
GMT timezone is convenient for Europe and North America overlap.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
55%
Weight: 25
Limited but growing tech and startup networking events.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
48%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from abroad.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
50%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is emerging but still small.
🏢 Coworking Quality
67%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are modern and well-equipped but limited in number.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
60%
Weight: 15
Active startup ecosystem with government support but small scale.
💳 Local Payment Services
78%
Weight: 10
Modern payment infrastructure with widespread card and mobile payments.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
63%
Weight: 15
Growing interest and adoption but still niche.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
72%
Weight: 30
Good international connections via Keflavik Airport, especially to Europe and North America.
🚇 Public Transit
45%
Weight: 20
Limited bus network; no metro or tram system.
🚶 Walkability
79%
Weight: 20
Compact city center is very walkable.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
35%
Weight: 15
Limited availability of ride-sharing apps; taxis are expensive.
🚲 Cycling
50%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is developing but weather limits year-round use.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Bus services connect major towns but options are limited.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
40%
Weight: 10
Some bike rentals available but scooters are rare.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
83%
Weight: 20
Good 4G/5G coverage throughout the city and most inhabited areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
85%
Weight: 20
Reliable VPN services with no major restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
92%
Weight: 15
Stable and reliable power supply with renewable energy sources.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
68%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in many cafes and some public areas.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
55%
Weight: 40
Schengen visa required for many; process can be bureaucratic.
📊 Tax Friendliness
40%
Weight: 30
Relatively high taxes; not particularly favorable for freelancers.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
96%
Weight: 15
Strong protections for freedom of speech and press.
🏛️ Political Stability
94%
Weight: 20
Very stable political environment.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
42%
Weight: 15
Difficult for non-residents; strict KYC and documentation required.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate ease with some bureaucracy but generally straightforward.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
30%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa as of 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
58%
Weight: 50
Moderately friendly but high costs and visa restrictions limit appeal.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
45%
Weight: 25
Few dedicated nomad events; some tech meetups available.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
57%
Weight: 20
Small but active online communities for digital nomads in Reykjavik.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
98%
Weight: 100
One of the safest cities worldwide with very low crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
90%
Weight: 50
Very safe and welcoming environment for women.
✊ Racial Tolerance
75%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant but less diverse than larger cities.