Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Akureyri and Drangsnes

For one person, living is cheaper in Drangsnes: $1,726 a month against $3,106 in Akureyri, rent and utilities included – about $16,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Akureyri outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Akureyri, Iceland
Drangsnes, Iceland
Akureyri
🇮🇸 Iceland
$3,106
/mo nomad
Drangsnes
🇮🇸 Iceland
$1,726
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Akureyri and in Drangsnes

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Akureyri and in Drangsnes actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,106 per month in Akureyri vs $1,726 in Drangsnes, rent included.

  • Akureyri $3,106
  • Drangsnes $1,726

A couple spends around $4,170 per month in Akureyri vs $2,935 in Drangsnes, rent included.

  • Akureyri $4,170
  • Drangsnes $2,935

A family of three spends $5,234 per month in Akureyri vs $4,144 in Drangsnes, rent included.

  • Akureyri $5,234
  • Drangsnes $4,144

Akureyri costs about 80% more than Drangsnes, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Akureyri and Drangsnes sit above the global median – Akureyri by 130%, Drangsnes by 28%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Akureyri
Drangsnes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.19 ISK 2,937
$31.74 ISK 3,853
-23.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$131 ISK 15.9K
$122 ISK 14.9K
7.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$22.90 ISK 2,780
$26.90 ISK 3,266
-14.87%
Cappuccino
$4.90 ISK 595
$6.91 ISK 839
-29.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 ISK 425
$3.41 ISK 414
2.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 ISK 379
$3.15 ISK 383
-0.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.08 ISK 1,346
$14.01 ISK 1,700
-20.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.18 ISK 1,114
$12.12 ISK 1,471
-24.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Akureyri
Drangsnes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.76 ISK 335
$2.12 ISK 257
30.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 ISK 291
$4.23 ISK 514
-43.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.05 ISK 370
$3.65 ISK 444
-16.44%
Eggs
$7.90 ISK 959
$6.96 ISK 845
13.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.82 ISK 1,921
$21.86 ISK 2,654
-27.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.51 ISK 2,975
$24.27 ISK 2,946
0.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$42.46 ISK 5,155
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.28 ISK 398
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.93 ISK 355
$2.84 ISK 344
3.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 ISK 425
$3.17 ISK 385
10.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.94 ISK 721
$6.60 ISK 801
-10.00%
Potato (1kg)
-
$3.94 ISK 478
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.70 ISK 207
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$3.66 ISK 444
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.74 ISK 212
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.66 ISK 1,658
$13.77 ISK 1,671
-0.80%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$23.74 ISK 2,882
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.67 ISK 445
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.49 ISK 424
-
🚌 Getting Around
Akureyri
Drangsnes
Difference
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$6.64 ISK 806
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.79 ISK 339
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$80.7 ISK 9,791
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.53 ISK 307
$2.11 ISK 256
19.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.2K ISK 5.0M
$69.7K ISK 8.5M
-40.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$65.9K ISK 8.0M
$55.5K ISK 6.7M
18.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akureyri
Drangsnes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ISK 15.2K
$95.5 ISK 11.6K
31.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.95 ISK 3,150
$33.11 ISK 4,019
-21.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$164 ISK 19.9K
$87.1 ISK 10.6K
88.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Akureyri
Drangsnes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$85.2 ISK 10.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.66 ISK 1,902
$19.31 ISK 2,345
-18.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Akureyri
Drangsnes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$372 ISK 45.2K
$1,168 ISK 141.9K
-68.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$26.3K ISK 3.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Akureyri
Drangsnes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.2 ISK 9,978
$152 ISK 18.5K
-45.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$65.6 ISK 7,965
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 ISK 14.8K
$179 ISK 21.7K
-31.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$248 ISK 30.1K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Akureyri
Drangsnes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,807 ISK 219.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,834 ISK 222.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,171 ISK 263.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,673 ISK 810.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 ISK 782.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Akureyri
Drangsnes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$6,094 ISK 739.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.4
8.81
6.70%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Akureyri: October 31, 2026

Last update for Drangsnes: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Akureyri
–
Drangsnes
$623
Eating Out
Akureyri
–
Drangsnes
$538
Clothing & Footwear
Akureyri
–
Drangsnes
$290
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akureyri
–
Drangsnes
$216
Sport & Entertainment
Akureyri
–
Drangsnes
$39 *
Getting Around
Akureyri
–
Drangsnes
$21 *
Accommodation & Living
Akureyri
–
Drangsnes
- *

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $131 in Akureyri versus $122 in Drangsnes. Groceries tell a different story – $327 in Akureyri vs $623 in Drangsnes – so Akureyri wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Akureyri
🇮🇸 Drangsnes
🕒 Local time
04:29 4:29 AM
04:29 4:29 AM
Same time as Akureyri
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,219
100
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Akureyri Drangsnes 150 km
From you
  • Akureyri
  • Drangsnes

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Akureyri vs Drangsnes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Drangsnes cheaper than Akureyri?
Yes – Akureyri is pricier by about 80%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in leisure.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,658 per month in Akureyri and $2,589 in Drangsnes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Akureyri or in Drangsnes?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $131 in Akureyri and $122 in Drangsnes. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Akureyri and in Drangsnes?
Interestingly, groceries are about 48% cheaper in Akureyri – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Akureyri or in Drangsnes?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Drangsnes, where all-in costs run around $1,726, than in Akureyri at $3,106. In Drangsnes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Akureyri it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Akureyri or in Drangsnes?
It depends on your priorities. Akureyri has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,726 in Drangsnes to $3,106 in Akureyri. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Akureyri or Drangsnes?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Akureyri vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?