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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,857 per month in Akureyri vs $1,619 in Hella, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,910 per month in Akureyri vs $2,788 in Hella, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,964 per month in Akureyri vs $3,958 in Hella, rent included.

Akureyri costs about 76% more than Hella, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Akureyri and Hella sit above the global median – Akureyri by 113%, Hella by 20%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.84 ISK 2,969

$27.32 ISK 3,401

-12.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$129 ISK 16.0K

$144 ISK 18.0K

-10.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.40 ISK 2,789

$22.68 ISK 2,823

-1.23%

Cappuccino

$4.95 ISK 617

$6.15 ISK 765

-19.51%

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

$3.28 ISK 409

$3.35 ISK 417

-2.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ISK 383

$2.54 ISK 316

21.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.68 ISK 1,330

$12.72 ISK 1,583

-16.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 ISK 1,125

$11.15 ISK 1,388

-18.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.87 ISK 357

$1.93 ISK 241

48.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 ISK 288

$4.19 ISK 522

-44.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 ISK 376

$3.67 ISK 457

-17.71%

Eggs

$7.92 ISK 986

$6.31 ISK 786

25.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.19 ISK 2,265

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.30 ISK 3,026

$24.53 ISK 3,053

-0.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.71 ISK 5,193

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ISK 418

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ISK 312

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 378

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 ISK 611

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ISK 459

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 ISK 301

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 ISK 397

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 ISK 247

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.20 ISK 1,643

$13.60 ISK 1,693

-2.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.47 ISK 2,922

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 ISK 463

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ISK 415

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 ISK 777

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 ISK 331

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.8 ISK 10.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.50 ISK 311

$2.43 ISK 302

2.88%

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

$40.9K ISK 5.1M

$47.5K ISK 5.9M

-13.93%

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

$63.6K ISK 7.9M

$51.3K ISK 6.4M

23.99%

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

$120 ISK 14.9K

$89.4 ISK 11.1K

33.84%

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

$25.24 ISK 3,143

$27.68 ISK 3,446

-8.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$159 ISK 19.8K

$85.5 ISK 10.6K

86.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.4 ISK 10.3K

Cinema Ticket

$14.82 ISK 1,845

$17.43 ISK 2,170

-14.97%

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

$362 ISK 45.1K

$316 ISK 39.4K

14.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.4 ISK 10.1K

$141 ISK 17.5K

-42.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 ISK 7,609

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ISK 14.9K

$186 ISK 23.1K

-35.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$271 ISK 33.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,802 ISK 224.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 ISK 222.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,144 ISK 266.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,488 ISK 807.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 ISK 809.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.4

9.63

-2.39%

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

Last update for Akureyri: June 6, 2026

Last update for Hella: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $129 in Akureyri versus $144 in Hella. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $597 – 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 76%, 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 $4,285 per month in Akureyri and $2,428 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 $129 in Akureyri and $144 in Hella. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 175% 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 $1,619, than in Akureyri at $2,857. 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.