Cost of Living Comparison Between Akureyri and Hella Cost of Living Comparison Between Akureyri and Hella

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,040 per month in Akureyri vs $1,694 in Hella, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,128 per month in Akureyri vs $2,923 in Hella, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,217 per month in Akureyri vs $4,152 in Hella, rent included.

Akureyri costs about 79% more than Hella, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Akureyri and Hella sit above the global median – Akureyri by 122%, Hella by 24%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 ISK 3,017

$29.93 ISK 3,645

-17.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$130 ISK 15.8K

$137 ISK 16.6K

-4.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.81 ISK 2,779

$26.99 ISK 3,287

-15.49%

Cappuccino

$4.92 ISK 599

$6.87 ISK 837

-28.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 ISK 416

$3.25 ISK 396

4.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ISK 368

$3.21 ISK 392

-5.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.32 ISK 1,379

$13.88 ISK 1,690

-18.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.57 ISK 1,165

$12.29 ISK 1,497

-22.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.87 ISK 350

$2.12 ISK 259

35.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 ISK 293

$4.32 ISK 526

-44.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ISK 389

$3.69 ISK 450

-13.28%

Eggs

$7.80 ISK 950

$7.01 ISK 854

11.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.74 ISK 1,917

$21.12 ISK 2,573

-25.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.51 ISK 2,985

$24.72 ISK 3,011

-0.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.94 ISK 5,230

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ISK 408

Banana (1kg)

$2.93 ISK 357

$2.92 ISK 356

0.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.49 ISK 425

$3.16 ISK 385

10.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 ISK 763

$6.25 ISK 762

0.16%

Potato (1kg)

$4.13 ISK 504

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 ISK 202

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.81 ISK 465

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ISK 214

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.53 ISK 1,648

$13.87 ISK 1,690

-2.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.10 ISK 2,936

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.79 ISK 462

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ISK 410

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 ISK 827

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.83 ISK 345

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$74.9 ISK 9,118

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.64 ISK 322

$2.02 ISK 246

30.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$41.4K ISK 5.0M

$50.8K ISK 6.2M

-18.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$65.2K ISK 7.9M

$54.3K ISK 6.6M

20.03%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$125 ISK 15.2K

$88.2 ISK 10.7K

41.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.76 ISK 3,137

$32.75 ISK 3,989

-21.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$166 ISK 20.2K

$83.8 ISK 10.2K

97.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.9 ISK 10.6K

Cinema Ticket

$15.40 ISK 1,876

$19.68 ISK 2,396

-21.75%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$367 ISK 44.7K

$1,190 ISK 144.9K

-69.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.7 ISK 10.1K

$161 ISK 19.6K

-48.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.1 ISK 8,170

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ISK 15.2K

$182 ISK 22.1K

-31.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$252 ISK 30.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 ISK 217.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,846 ISK 224.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,182 ISK 265.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,717 ISK 818.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,544 ISK 797.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.4

8.88

5.86%

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

Last update for Akureyri: September 15, 2026

Last update for Hella: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $130 in Akureyri versus $137 in Hella. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $329 vs $627 – making Akureyri the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Hella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Akureyri is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,560 per month in Akureyri and $2,541 in Hella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $130 in Akureyri and $137 in Hella. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 90% cheaper in Akureyri – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Hella, where all-in costs run around $1,694, than in Akureyri at $3,040. In Hella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Akureyri it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hella – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Hella. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Akureyri makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.