Cost of Living Comparison Between Biel and Reykjavik Cost of Living Comparison Between Biel and Reykjavik

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,095 per month in Biel vs $3,849 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,727 per month in Biel vs $5,457 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,358 per month in Biel vs $7,065 in Reykjavik, rent included.

Biel is about 20% cheaper than Reykjavik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Biel and Reykjavik sit above the global median – Biel by 133%, Reykjavik by 189%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.66 CHF 20.06

$26.85 ISK 3,340

-8.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$113 CHF 91.6

$142 ISK 17.7K

-20.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.23 CHF 13.20

$22.18 ISK 2,759

-26.83%

Cappuccino

$6.19 CHF 5.03

$6.17 ISK 768

0.32%

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

$5.18 CHF 4.21

$3.24 ISK 403

59.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 CHF 3.94

$2.62 ISK 326

84.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.53 CHF 6.12

$12.69 ISK 1,579

-40.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.86 CHF 5.58

$11.39 ISK 1,417

-39.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CHF 1.78

$1.87 ISK 232

17.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.73 CHF 3.03

$4.30 ISK 535

-13.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 CHF 3.48

$3.56 ISK 443

20.22%

Eggs

$7.30 CHF 5.93

$6.28 ISK 782

16.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.19 CHF 24.56

$18.25 ISK 2,270

65.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.60 CHF 28.95

$23.69 ISK 2,947

50.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$51.2 CHF 41.66

$42.14 ISK 5,242

21.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 CHF 2.74

$3.33 ISK 415

1.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 CHF 1.80

$2.41 ISK 299

-7.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.01 CHF 2.45

$3.00 ISK 373

0.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CHF 3.46

$5.12 ISK 637

-16.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 CHF 1.96

$3.58 ISK 445

-32.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 CHF 2.04

$2.36 ISK 294

6.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.68 CHF 2.18

$3.14 ISK 390

-14.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 CHF 0.73

$2.03 ISK 252

-56.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.14 CHF 9.06

$13.89 ISK 1,728

-19.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 CHF 12.43

$23.38 ISK 2,909

-34.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 CHF 1.90

$3.58 ISK 445

-34.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 CHF 2.71

$3.21 ISK 400

4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.34 CHF 3.53

$5.09 ISK 633

-14.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 CHF 88.5

$86.7 ISK 10.8K

25.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.20 CHF 9.92

$6.37 ISK 792

91.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.10 CHF 3.34

$2.56 ISK 318

60.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$82.9 CHF 67.4

$86.9 ISK 10.8K

-4.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.24 CHF 1.82

$2.45 ISK 305

-8.57%

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

$30.9K CHF 25.2K

$48.1K ISK 6.0M

-35.73%

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

$28.2K CHF 22.9K

$52.6K ISK 6.5M

-46.44%

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

$250 CHF 203

$87.4 ISK 10.9K

186.36%

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

$36.83 CHF 29.95

$27.40 ISK 3,408

34.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.2 CHF 46.49

$86.5 ISK 10.8K

-33.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$117 CHF 94.9

$83.6 ISK 10.4K

39.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$74.0 CHF 60.2

$37.79 ISK 4,701

95.85%

Cinema Ticket

$22.35 CHF 18.18

$17.41 ISK 2,166

28.37%

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

$2,900 CHF 2,359

$322 ISK 40.1K

800.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.9K CHF 34.9K

$30.1K ISK 3.7M

42.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$136 CHF 111

$137 ISK 17.0K

-0.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.65 CHF 37.94

$61.0 ISK 7,584

-23.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 CHF 107

$181 ISK 22.6K

-27.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$158 CHF 129

$271 ISK 33.7K

-41.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 CHF 1,052

$2,228 ISK 277.1K

-41.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,162 CHF 945

$2,035 ISK 253.1K

-42.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,272 CHF 1,848

$3,171 ISK 394.5K

-28.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,827 CHF 1,486

$2,699 ISK 335.7K

-32.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,886 CHF 8,041

$7,931 ISK 986.5K

24.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,956 CHF 6,471

$6,333 ISK 787.8K

25.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,723 CHF 6,282

$4,563 ISK 567.6K

69.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.88

9.63

-80.48%

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

Last update for Biel: July 26, 2026

Last update for Reykjavik: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,294 in Biel versus $2,228 in Reykjavik. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 69% higher in Biel, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $113 in Biel versus $142 in Reykjavik. Groceries tell a different story – $674 in Biel vs $593 in Reykjavik – so Reykjavik wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Biel vs Reykjavik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Reykjavik is pricier by about 24%, 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 $4,643 per month in Biel and $5,774 in Reykjavik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Biel, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 25% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,900 per month in Biel and $322 in Reykjavik. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,095 in Biel and $3,849 in Reykjavik. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Biel – 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 Biel. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Reykjavik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.