American who quit US for new life in isolated European country reveals culture shocks - including 'expensive' coffees and housing
An American woman who left New York to settle in one of Europe's most remote nations has shared the highs and lows of life in her new home.
Jewells Chambers, 38, originally from Brooklyn, moved to Iceland in 2016 after marrying an Icelander and taking a new job at a local travel company.
Although the marriage ended in 2023, Jewells opted to remain in the Nordic country - and now earns $73,000 (around £45,000) annually.
She's since set up a podcast and Instagram page, named All Things Iceland, that documents Icelandic life and culture, along with her adventures across the Nordic country.
In a YouTube video uploaded by CNBC Make It, the expat detailed some of the financial realities of living in Iceland, which ranked as the eighth most expensive country in the world in 2023.
Jewells revealed eating out can be costly, adding: 'It is normal to pay somewhere between $25 to $30 (about £18 to £22) for one course at a restaurant, a main course. A three-course dinner would be around $100 to £120 (about £74 to £89).'
She further revealed a cup of coffee can cost as much as $8 (around £6), depending on the location.
In June 2024, Jewells reported spending a total of $4,667 (£3,400), with £1,500 going on housing and utilities, and approximately £400 going toward her monthly grocery shop.
Jewells Chambers, 38, originally from Brooklyn, moved to Iceland in 2016 after marrying an Icelander and taking a new job at a local travel company
Jewells has since set up a podcast and Instagram page, named All Things Iceland, that documents Icelandic life and culture, along with her adventures across the Nordic country
However, she added her expenses for running her car are reduced because of a contract with a local car company, meaning she only pays for fuel.
But despite the high cost of living, Jewells not only benefits from Iceland's universal healthcare system, but insists the general lifestyle is more suited to her.
Now, she spends her free time exploring and showcasing the best of Iceland's dramatic landscape and natural wonders, from its snow-capped mountains and dormant volcanos, to its striking glaciers and breathtaking Northern lights.
She concluded: 'When I moved to Iceland, it felt as if there was something magnetic that has been pulling me in this direction, and I still haven't been able to put my finger on it exactly, but I know it has something to do with nature.'
Iceland, which has a population of around 376,000, was recently ranked third in the 2025 World Happiness Report, following closely behind Finland and Denmark.
In the report, published by Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the WHR's Editorial Board, Nordic countries dominated the top of the list, with Sweden in fourth place.
The report asked people around the globe to rate their lives to find the world's happiest country.
Rankings were then based on a three-year average of each population's average assessment of their quality of life.
In June 2024, Jewells reported spending a total of $4,667 (£3,400), with £1,500 going on housing and utilities, and approximately £400 going toward her monthly grocery shop
Now, Jewells spends her free time exploring and showcasing the best of Iceland's dramatic landscape and natural wonders, from its snow-capped mountains and dormant volcanos, to its striking glaciers and breathtaking Northern lights
She concluded: 'When I moved to Iceland, it felt as if there was something magnetic that has been pulling me in this direction, and I still haven't been able to put my finger on it exactly, but I know it has something to do with nature'
The report found that sharing meals with other people is strongly linked to wellbeing across all global regions. In the USA, the number of people dining alone has increased by 53 per cent over the past two decades.
Household size also has a big impact on happiness, with the happiest households those that had four or five people living together. In Europe, many people are living on their own, which could impact happiness levels.
The number of young adults who say they have no one they can count on for social support has also increased by 39 per cent since 2006.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, said: 'This year’s report pushes us to look beyond traditional determinants like health and wealth. It turns out that sharing meals and trusting others are even stronger predictors of wellbeing than expected.'
