Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Akureyri and Grundarfjordur

For one person, living is cheaper in Grundarfjordur: $1,713 a month against $3,106 in Akureyri, rent and utilities included – about $16,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Akureyri outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Akureyri, Iceland
Grundarfjordur, Iceland
Akureyri
🇮🇸 Iceland
$3,106
/mo nomad
Grundarfjordur
🇮🇸 Iceland
$1,713
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Akureyri and in Grundarfjordur

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 Grundarfjordur actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,106 per month in Akureyri vs $1,713 in Grundarfjordur, rent included.

  • Akureyri $3,106
  • Grundarfjordur $1,713

A couple spends around $4,176 per month in Akureyri vs $2,918 in Grundarfjordur, rent included.

  • Akureyri $4,176
  • Grundarfjordur $2,918

A family of three spends $5,246 per month in Akureyri vs $4,122 in Grundarfjordur, rent included.

  • Akureyri $5,246
  • Grundarfjordur $4,122

Akureyri costs about 81% more than Grundarfjordur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Akureyri and Grundarfjordur sit above the global median – Akureyri by 128%, Grundarfjordur by 26%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Akureyri
Grundarfjordur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.94 ISK 3,039
$30.53 ISK 3,720
-18.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$129 ISK 15.7K
$124 ISK 15.1K
3.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$22.63 ISK 2,758
$27.06 ISK 3,298
-16.37%
Cappuccino
$5.04 ISK 613
$6.61 ISK 805
-23.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 ISK 408
$3.34 ISK 407
0.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ISK 364
$3.03 ISK 370
-1.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.22 ISK 1,367
$14.17 ISK 1,726
-20.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.62 ISK 1,173
$12.21 ISK 1,488
-21.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Akureyri
Grundarfjordur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.77 ISK 338
$2.09 ISK 255
32.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 ISK 283
$4.11 ISK 501
-43.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.14 ISK 383
$3.73 ISK 455
-15.82%
Eggs
$7.65 ISK 931
$6.93 ISK 845
10.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.85 ISK 1,932
$21.76 ISK 2,651
-27.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.82 ISK 3,024
$24.62 ISK 2,999
0.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$42.23 ISK 5,145
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.31 ISK 403
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.92 ISK 355
$2.77 ISK 337
5.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.45 ISK 421
$3.16 ISK 385
9.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.08 ISK 740
$6.32 ISK 770
-3.80%
Potato (1kg)
-
$4.01 ISK 488
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.65 ISK 201
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$3.84 ISK 467
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.77 ISK 216
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.71 ISK 1,670
$14.16 ISK 1,725
-3.18%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$23.44 ISK 2,856
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.69 ISK 450
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.48 ISK 424
-
🚌 Getting Around
Akureyri
Grundarfjordur
Difference
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$6.59 ISK 802
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.80 ISK 341
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$80.5 ISK 9,808
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.59 ISK 315
$2.10 ISK 256
23.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.3K ISK 5.0M
$68.8K ISK 8.4M
-39.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$65.2K ISK 7.9M
$55.0K ISK 6.7M
18.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akureyri
Grundarfjordur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ISK 14.7K
$97.0 ISK 11.8K
24.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.21 ISK 3,072
$32.92 ISK 4,011
-23.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$165 ISK 20.1K
$86.2 ISK 10.5K
90.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Akureyri
Grundarfjordur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.3 ISK 10.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.53 ISK 1,892
$19.36 ISK 2,359
-19.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Akureyri
Grundarfjordur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$367 ISK 44.7K
$1,182 ISK 144.0K
-68.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$26.3K ISK 3.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Akureyri
Grundarfjordur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.8 ISK 9,845
$148 ISK 18.0K
-45.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$66.1 ISK 8,059
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 ISK 14.9K
$185 ISK 22.5K
-34.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$247 ISK 30.1K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Akureyri
Grundarfjordur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,835 ISK 223.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,833 ISK 223.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,186 ISK 266.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,596 ISK 803.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,483 ISK 789.9K
$1,098 ISK 133.8K
490.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Akureyri
Grundarfjordur
Difference
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 25, 2026

Last update for Grundarfjordur: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Akureyri
–
Grundarfjordur
$621
Eating Out
Akureyri
–
Grundarfjordur
$525
Clothing & Footwear
Akureyri
–
Grundarfjordur
$291
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akureyri
–
Grundarfjordur
$216
Sport & Entertainment
Akureyri
–
Grundarfjordur
$39 *
Getting Around
Akureyri
–
Grundarfjordur
$21 *
Accommodation & Living
Akureyri
–
Grundarfjordur
- *

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 $129 in Akureyri versus $124 in Grundarfjordur. Groceries tell a different story – $327 in Akureyri vs $621 in Grundarfjordur – so Akureyri wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Akureyri
🇮🇸 Grundarfjordur
🕒 Local time
09:29 9:29 AM
09:29 9:29 AM
Same time as Akureyri
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,219
800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 122 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.21 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Akureyri Grundarfjordur 250 km
From you
  • Akureyri
  • Grundarfjordur

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 Grundarfjordur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grundarfjordur cheaper than Akureyri?
Yes – Akureyri is pricier by about 81%, 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 $4,659 per month in Akureyri and $2,570 in Grundarfjordur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Akureyri or in Grundarfjordur?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $129 in Akureyri and $124 in Grundarfjordur. 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 Grundarfjordur?
Interestingly, groceries are about 47% cheaper in Akureyri – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Akureyri or in Grundarfjordur?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Grundarfjordur, where all-in costs run around $1,713, than in Akureyri at $3,106. In Grundarfjordur 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 Grundarfjordur?
It depends on your priorities. Akureyri has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,713 in Grundarfjordur to $3,106 in Akureyri. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Akureyri or Grundarfjordur?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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