After spending eight years living in Iceland, Jewells Chambers says it is the place she now calls home – and she can’t see herself living in the US ever again.
The 38-year-old, originally from Brooklyn, earns $73,000 per year in one of the world’s most expensive countries, but is much happier living overseas and has no plans to move back to America.
Speaking with CNBC Make It, Jewells shared her journey to Iceland, explaining how she is now debt free and manages to save 10 per cent of her salary per month – despite the expensive cost of living.
Jewells initially moved to the Nordic country when she married an Icelander.
‘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 the nature,’ she shared.
Jewells Chambers says Iceland its the place she now calls home – and she can’t see herself living in the US again
As well as moving for love, Jewells was also offered a job in the marketing department of a big travel company.
In 2018, she launched a social media brand called All things Iceland, which gives people the inside scoop on Icelandic nature, history, culture and travel through the eyes of someone who moved, through her podcast and YouTube channel.
While initially launched as a side hustle, the business expanded and in 2020 she was able to quit her full time job and focus on her social media career.
‘[All Things Iceland] gives travel tips, advice and sharing fun anecdotes about the country, as well as interviews on my podcast,’ Jewells explained.
‘All Things Iceland for the last six months has made a little over $50,000, and for the rest of the year, the projection is revenue of $100,000 and the company pays me. In essence, I pay myself $6,000 a month before taxes and pension,’ she explained.
Jewells’ company makes money from ad sales, sponsorships, affiliate marketing and content production. She also sells maps, travel consultations and private tours.
Budget wise, Jewells has a long term partnership with a rental car company, meaning she only has to pay to refuel it. She added there is universal health insurance in Iceland that is heavily subsidized and she doesn’t pay a monthly health insurance fee.
‘Iceland is expensive,’ the creator admits. ‘Particularly when it comes to eating out.’
The 38-year-old, originally from Brooklyn, earns $73,000 per year in one of the world’s most expensive countries, but is much happier living overseas and has no plans to move back to America
For Jewells, living in the Nordic Island nation has had an ‘amazing’ impact on her mental health
Jewells said she paid her U.S. credit card off a few years ago and has no student debt
Jewells added she had a ‘wonderful’ experience when she moved, and it felt like a weight had been lifted when she didn’t feel like her skin color was the thing that was most part of her identity
In June 2024, Jewells spent $4,667 on living costs and dining out. She estimated a main course in a restaurant is between $20-$30, and a coffee is $7.50 to $8.
Jewells said she paid her U.S. credit card off a few years ago and has no student debt.
‘It’s amazing to say that I am debt free, and I’d like to keep it that way,’ she quipped. ‘[Every month when I pay myself] I put away automatically 10 per cent into a savings account.’
While she loves Iceland, there are a few drawbacks in comparisons to the U.S. – including lack of fresh produce – although there are other perks.
‘If you are wondering about the water in Iceland – it is pristine,’ she declared. ‘It’s amazing. There’s no reason to ever buy bottled water in Iceland, ever.’
Jewells lives in downtown Reykjavik, in the 101 area, in a one bedroom, one bathroom with an indoor parking space where she pays $1,900 per month.
Another shock for Jewells was the weather.
‘I love Iceland, but it also can be really tough in the winter time when the daylight is so much less,’ she admitted.
While she loves Iceland, there are a few drawbacks in comparisons to the U.S. – including lack of fresh produce
While initially launched as a side hustle, the business expanded and in 2020 she was able to quit her full time job and focus on her social media career
Jewells lives in downtown Reykjavik, in the 101 area, in a one bedroom, one bathroom with an indoor parking space where she pays $1,900 per month
‘We have about four hours of daylight on our shortest day in the winter, but then we have 24 hour bright days during the summer.’
The weather differs from snowy, icy, rainy during the winter with wind any time of year, and rain during the summer.
‘Mild temperatures though, which is nice, meaning it doesn’t really go that much below freezing on average all during the winter time and in the summertime, we’re getting temperatures of maybe a high of 60°F, but more like 40 to 55 is far,’ she explained.
Something Jewells finds frustrating is not being able to order things online at the same price they would be in the U.S.
‘If I order something from Amazon or from Iherb, which I’ve done in the past, paying the customs fee can oftentimes be much more than what the item is worth,’ she complained.
While her Icelandic is getting better, Jewells finds herself being a bit nervous speaking it.
‘Only because I feel like I’m afraid to make really big mistakes, and that’s something I’m working on. So my understanding is quite high,’ she said.
For Jewells, living in the Nordic Island nation has had an ‘amazing’ impact on her mental health.
‘The nature aspect has helped me in so many ways, shedding this idea that it always has to be about my skin color,’ she admitted. ‘Being a person of color has many different layers in Iceland and everyone’s experience is different.’
Jewells is currently looking to buy an apartment with her boyfriend, who is Icelandic, and says Iceland is now her home for the ‘foreseeable future’
‘The number one thing I miss from the US is my family,’, she reflected. ‘I visit the US one to two times a year, and I have family members that also visit one or two times a year’
Jewells added she had a ‘wonderful’ experience when she moved, and it felt like a weight had been lifted when she didn’t feel like her skin color was the thing that was most part of her identity.
‘It felt like being from New York was what people were so interested in most of the time when we talked about, and I loved that,’ she gushed. ‘I loved being just Jules from New York.’
‘[There was] definitely nowhere near the same type of weight that I felt in the United States regarding the systematic oppression and racism,’ the creator said.
While adding that racism definitely exists in Iceland, she just hasn’t experienced it in the same way.
Jewells is currently looking to buy an apartment with her boyfriend, who is Icelandic, and says Iceland is now her home for the ‘foreseeable future.’
‘The number one thing I miss from the US is my family,’, she reflected. ‘I visit the US one to two times a year, and I have family members that also visit one or two times a year.’
‘I am an Icelandic citizen and I have been for some years now,’ she continued. ‘Iceland is my home – I’ve felt that ever since I moved.’