😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,460 in Akranes versus $1,828 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,533 in Akranes versus $2,716 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,607 in Akranes versus $3,604 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
😐Living in Akranes is roughly 89% more expensive than Villingen-Schwenningen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Akranes158% above, Villingen-Schwenningen36% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.18ISK 3,327
$15.06€12.85
80.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$143ISK 17.4K
$57.5€49.08
147.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$22.65ISK 2,773
$10.77€9.19
110.31%
Cappuccino
$6.17ISK 756
$3.13€2.67
97.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20ISK 391
$3.33€2.84
-3.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34ISK 286
$2.70€2.30
-13.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.27ISK 1,257
$4.22€3.60
143.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.81ISK 956
$4.89€4.17
59.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88ISK 230
$1.22€1.04
54.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97ISK 241
$2.20€1.88
-10.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.74ISK 458
$3.64€3.11
2.75%
Eggs
$6.12ISK 749
$2.58€2.20
137.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.09ISK 2,215
$10.28€8.77
75.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$24.39ISK 2,986
$12.76€10.88
91.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$42.40ISK 5,190
$20.16€17.19
110.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.34ISK 409
$3.23€2.76
3.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54ISK 311
$1.66€1.42
53.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.96ISK 362
$2.20€1.88
34.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.70ISK 576
$4.16€3.55
12.98%
Potato(1kg)
$3.66ISK 448
$1.54€1.31
137.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.40ISK 294
$1.56€1.33
53.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.04ISK 372
$1.88€1.60
61.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93ISK 236
$1.17€0.99
64.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.69ISK 1,676
$9.37€7.99
46.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.96ISK 2,811
$4.21€3.60
445.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.73ISK 334
$1.09€0.93
150.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04ISK 249
$1.81€1.54
12.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.57ISK 437
$2.70€2.30
32.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.6ISK 9,006
$67.6€57.7
8.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.29ISK 770
$5.42€4.62
16.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05ISK 129
$2.38€2.03
-55.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.7ISK 10.7K
$38.17€32.56
129.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.52ISK 309
$2.00€1.71
26.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.3KISK 5.8M
$31.6K€27.0K
49.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.5KISK 6.4M
$37.4K€31.9K
40.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.4ISK 10.6K
$399€340
-78.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.48ISK 3,364
$15.94€13.59
72.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.4ISK 10.3K
$52.1€44.47
61.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$34.64€29.55
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$22.85€19.49
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.46ISK 2,137
$12.02€10.25
45.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315ISK 38.6K
$267€228
18.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.7KISK 3.8M
$13.1K€11.2K
134.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$137ISK 16.8K
$103€88.2
32.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.9ISK 7,581
$57.2€48.81
8.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$181ISK 22.2K
$92.8€79.2
95.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$264ISK 32.3K
$139€119
89.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,003ISK 367.6K
$490€418
512.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,860ISK 227.7K
$483€412
285.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,806ISK 588.3K
$916€781
424.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,560ISK 435.9K
$821€700
333.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,637€3,955
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,746€3,195
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,765ISK 705.7K
$4,294€3,663
34.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.63
3.99
141.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Akranes: April 22, 2026
Last update for Villingen-Schwenningen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,003 in Akranes and $490 in Villingen-Schwenningen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Akranes pays 34% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $143 in Akranes vs $58 in Villingen-Schwenningen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $563 vs $317 per month, with Villingen-Schwenningen cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Akranes vs Villingen-Schwenningen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Akranes or Villingen-Schwenningen?
Villingen-Schwenningen wins on cost – living expenses run 89% lower than in Akranes. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Villingen-Schwenningen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Akranes or Villingen-Schwenningen?
Akranes pays 34% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Akranes vs Villingen-Schwenningen?
Rent for a central apartment: $3,003 in Akranes versus $490 in Villingen-Schwenningen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Akranes compared to Villingen-Schwenningen?
All in, you'll spend $3,460 per month in Akranes versus $1,828 in Villingen-Schwenningen – a 89% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Akranes vs Villingen-Schwenningen?
A monthly transit pass in Villingen-Schwenningen runs roughly 9% less than in Akranes. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Akranes or Villingen-Schwenningen?
At $1,828 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $3,460 in Akranes, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Villingen-Schwenningen but tight or insufficient in Akranes. The gap between the two cities makes Villingen-Schwenningen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Akranes or Villingen-Schwenningen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Akranes compared to Villingen-Schwenningen?
Safety-wise, Akranes and Villingen-Schwenningen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Villingen-Schwenningen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Akranes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.