😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,548 in Akranes versus $1,811 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,681 in Akranes versus $2,690 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,814 in Akranes versus $3,570 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
😐Living in Akranes is roughly 96% more expensive than Villingen-Schwenningen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Akranes165% above, Villingen-Schwenningen35% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.05ISK 3,368
$15.02€13.03
80.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144ISK 18.0K
$58.5€50.8
146.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$22.71ISK 2,827
$10.90€9.45
108.35%
Cappuccino
$5.87ISK 731
$3.26€2.82
80.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10ISK 386
$3.39€2.94
-8.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44ISK 304
$2.77€2.40
-11.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.53ISK 1,310
$4.39€3.81
139.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.18ISK 1,018
$4.88€4.23
67.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86ISK 231
$1.23€1.06
51.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98ISK 247
$2.23€1.93
-11.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.66ISK 456
$3.66€3.18
-
Eggs
$5.86ISK 729
$2.58€2.23
127.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.99ISK 2,240
$10.00€8.67
79.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$24.47ISK 3,046
$12.89€11.18
89.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$43.17ISK 5,375
$20.23€17.55
113.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.19ISK 397
$3.19€2.76
-
Banana(1kg)
$2.40ISK 299
$1.69€1.46
42.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.06ISK 381
$2.21€1.92
38.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.77ISK 594
$4.23€3.67
12.77%
Potato(1kg)
$3.50ISK 436
$1.60€1.38
118.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.42ISK 301
$1.64€1.43
47.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.19ISK 397
$1.86€1.61
71.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00ISK 250
$1.17€1.01
70.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.74ISK 1,710
$9.33€8.10
47.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.30ISK 2,900
$4.10€3.56
468.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75ISK 342
$1.12€0.97
145.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99ISK 247
$1.78€1.55
11.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.73ISK 464
$2.84€2.47
31.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.7ISK 9,180
$67.1€58.2
9.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.29ISK 783
$5.49€4.76
14.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04ISK 130
$2.37€2.06
-56.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$85.0ISK 10.6K
$38.02€32.98
123.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.52ISK 314
$2.00€1.74
26.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.5KISK 5.8M
$30.9K€26.8K
50.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.2KISK 6.6M
$36.8K€32.0K
44.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$87.4ISK 10.9K
$397€344
-77.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.25ISK 3,393
$15.97€13.86
70.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.7ISK 10.8K
$52.1€45.20
66.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$34.17€29.65
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.14€20.07
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.53ISK 2,182
$12.06€10.47
45.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319ISK 39.8K
$267€232
19.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.3KISK 3.8M
$13.4K€11.6K
126.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$138ISK 17.1K
$106€92.0
29.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.2ISK 7,617
$57.8€50.1
5.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$185ISK 23.0K
$93.6€81.2
97.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$269ISK 33.5K
$137€119
95.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,972ISK 370.0K
$494€429
501.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,857ISK 231.1K
$483€419
283.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,764ISK 593.1K
$935€811
409.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,642ISK 453.4K
$818€710
345.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,802€5,034
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,638€3,156
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Akranes
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,558ISK 692.0K
$4,227€3,667
31.49%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Villingen-Schwenningen: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,972 in Akranes and $494 in Villingen-Schwenningen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Akranes pays 31% 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: $144 in Akranes vs $59.0 in Villingen-Schwenningen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $565 vs $318 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 96% 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 31% 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: $2,972 in Akranes versus $494 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 $3,548 per month in Akranes versus $1,811 in Villingen-Schwenningen – a 96% 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 10% 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 $1,811 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $3,548 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 96% less than in Akranes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.