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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,090 per month in Biel vs $3,824 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,810 per month in Biel vs $5,556 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,531 per month in Biel vs $7,289 in Reykjavik, rent included.

Biel is about 19% cheaper than Reykjavik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Biel and Reykjavik sit above the global median – Biel by 130%, Reykjavik by 184%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.74 CHF 19.64

$27.13 ISK 3,378

-8.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$111 CHF 88.4

$147 ISK 18.3K

-24.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.06 CHF 12.75

$22.15 ISK 2,757

-27.49%

Cappuccino

$6.13 CHF 4.87

$6.08 ISK 756

0.82%

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

$5.27 CHF 4.18

$3.24 ISK 404

62.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 CHF 4.03

$2.60 ISK 324

95.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.56 CHF 6.00

$13.07 ISK 1,627

-42.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CHF 5.34

$11.14 ISK 1,387

-39.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CHF 1.78

$1.86 ISK 231

20.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 CHF 3.04

$4.34 ISK 541

-11.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.21 CHF 3.35

$3.63 ISK 451

15.98%

Eggs

$7.42 CHF 5.89

$6.31 ISK 786

17.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.45 CHF 24.17

$18.05 ISK 2,247

68.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$35.97 CHF 28.56

$24.02 ISK 2,990

49.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$51.6 CHF 40.95

$43.15 ISK 5,372

19.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 CHF 2.68

$3.26 ISK 406

3.37%

Banana (1kg)

$2.27 CHF 1.80

$2.45 ISK 304

-7.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 CHF 2.38

$3.11 ISK 387

-3.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 CHF 3.26

$4.87 ISK 606

-15.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.49 CHF 1.97

$3.68 ISK 459

-32.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 CHF 1.96

$2.34 ISK 291

5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 CHF 2.14

$3.04 ISK 379

-11.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 CHF 0.76

$1.92 ISK 239

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.88 CHF 8.64

$13.59 ISK 1,692

-19.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 CHF 10.93

$23.29 ISK 2,900

-40.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 CHF 1.85

$3.71 ISK 462

-37.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 CHF 2.61

$3.30 ISK 411

-0.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.52 CHF 3.59

$5.08 ISK 633

-11.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 CHF 87.3

$88.4 ISK 11.0K

24.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$12.26 CHF 9.73

$6.30 ISK 784

94.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.09 CHF 3.24

$2.64 ISK 328

54.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$83.3 CHF 66.2

$86.7 ISK 10.8K

-3.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.23 CHF 1.77

$2.48 ISK 308

-10.08%

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

$30.3K CHF 24.0K

$46.4K ISK 5.8M

-34.81%

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

$28.3K CHF 22.5K

$52.0K ISK 6.5M

-45.49%

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

$251 CHF 200

$89.0 ISK 11.1K

182.53%

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

$36.85 CHF 29.26

$27.11 ISK 3,376

35.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.6 CHF 44.16

$83.7 ISK 10.4K

-33.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$116 CHF 92.1

$83.2 ISK 10.4K

39.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$73.3 CHF 58.2

$37.19 ISK 4,630

97.18%

Cinema Ticket

$22.57 CHF 17.92

$17.41 ISK 2,167

29.64%

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

$2,842 CHF 2,256

$319 ISK 39.7K

790.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.1K CHF 33.4K

$29.8K ISK 3.7M

41.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 CHF 112

$138 ISK 17.1K

2.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.15 CHF 36.64

$60.8 ISK 7,569

-24.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 CHF 103

$181 ISK 22.5K

-28.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$161 CHF 128

$269 ISK 33.5K

-40.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,282 CHF 1,018

$2,246 ISK 279.6K

-42.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,132 CHF 899

$2,025 ISK 252.1K

-44.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,273 CHF 1,805

$3,220 ISK 400.9K

-29.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,868 CHF 1,483

$2,728 ISK 339.6K

-31.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,844 CHF 7,815

$7,686 ISK 957.0K

28.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,108 CHF 6,437

$6,267 ISK 780.3K

29.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,948 CHF 6,310

$4,442 ISK 553.0K

78.92%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Reykjavik: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,282 in Biel versus $2,246 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 79% 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 $111 in Biel versus $147 in Reykjavik. Groceries tell a different story – $677 in Biel vs $596 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 $4,635 per month in Biel and $5,735 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 24% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $2,842 per month in Biel and $319 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 $3,090 in Biel and $3,824 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.