😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,440 in Akranes versus $1,866 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,537 in Akranes versus $2,704 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,633 in Akranes versus $3,542 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
🌍Living in Akranes is roughly 84% more expensive than in Villingen-Schwenningen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Akranes157% above, Villingen-Schwenningen40% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.63ISK 3,342
$15.10€13.23
76.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$145ISK 18.2K
$56.8€49.80
155.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$22.27ISK 2,795
$11.12€9.74
100.27%
Cappuccino
$6.05ISK 759
$3.19€2.80
89.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26ISK 409
$3.22€2.82
1.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47ISK 309
$2.61€2.29
-5.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.37ISK 1,301
$4.33€3.79
139.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07ISK 1,012
$4.93€4.32
63.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92ISK 242
$1.22€1.07
57.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04ISK 256
$2.25€1.97
-9.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.72ISK 467
$3.66€3.21
1.64%
Eggs
$5.94ISK 746
$2.58€2.26
130.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.03ISK 2,262
$10.08€8.84
78.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$23.76ISK 2,982
$13.17€11.53
80.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$42.23ISK 5,300
$20.04€17.56
110.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31ISK 416
$3.24€2.84
2.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.49ISK 313
$1.66€1.46
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.97ISK 372
$2.20€1.93
35.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.87ISK 611
$4.22€3.70
15.40%
Potato(1kg)
$3.56ISK 447
$1.58€1.38
125.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33ISK 292
$1.62€1.42
43.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.04ISK 381
$1.93€1.69
57.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99ISK 250
$1.22€1.07
63.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.45ISK 1,688
$9.21€8.07
46.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.57ISK 2,958
$3.92€3.43
501.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87ISK 360
$1.11€0.98
158.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97ISK 247
$1.82€1.59
8.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.52ISK 442
$2.81€2.46
25.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.6ISK 8,988
$67.6€59.3
5.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.39ISK 802
$5.45€4.78
17.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08ISK 136
$2.34€2.05
-53.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$85.0ISK 10.7K
$38.97€34.14
118.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.53ISK 317
$2.00€1.76
26.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.8KISK 5.9M
$31.7K€27.8K
47.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.2KISK 6.6M
$36.8K€32.2K
42.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.5ISK 11.1K
$396€347
-77.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.23ISK 3,417
$16.34€14.32
66.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.8ISK 10.5K
$52.9€46.32
58.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$35.35€30.97
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.46€20.55
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.63ISK 2,213
$12.01€10.52
46.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319ISK 40.0K
$277€242
15.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.4KISK 3.8M
$13.1K€11.5K
132.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$139ISK 17.5K
$104€91.1
33.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.5ISK 7,837
$56.8€49.76
9.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$186ISK 23.3K
$90.6€79.4
105.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$271ISK 34.0K
$138€121
96.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,957ISK 371.1K
$481€421
515.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,855ISK 232.7K
$479€420
287.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,903ISK 615.3K
$910€797
438.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,644ISK 457.3K
$803€704
353.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,466€3,912
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,114€2,728
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,591ISK 701.7K
$4,093€3,586
36.59%
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: July 21, 2026
Last update for Villingen-Schwenningen: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,957 in Akranes and $481 in Villingen-Schwenningen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Akranes pays 37% 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: $145 in Akranes vs $57.0 in Villingen-Schwenningen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $562 vs $319 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 84% 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 in Villingen-Schwenningen?
Average pay runs 37% higher in Akranes, 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 compared to Villingen-Schwenningen?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,957 in Akranes versus $481 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 $3,440 per month in Akranes versus $1,866 in Villingen-Schwenningen – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Akranes compared to Villingen-Schwenningen?
A monthly transit pass in Villingen-Schwenningen runs roughly 6% 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 in Villingen-Schwenningen?
At $1,866 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $3,440 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 84% less than in Akranes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.