Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Iceland Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Iceland

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 72% cheaper than Iceland without rent, and 78.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 72.2% cheaper than Iceland without rent, and 74% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Iceland
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$26.87 ISK 3,353
-89.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$126 ISK 15.7K
-81.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$20.34 ISK 2,538
-75.61%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$6.09 ISK 760
-48.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$3.36 ISK 419
-86.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$2.7 ISK 337
-89.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$12.07 ISK 1,506
-92.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$10.47 ISK 1,306
-79.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Iceland
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$1.95 ISK 243
-5.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$4.07 ISK 508
-58.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$3.48 ISK 434
-72.70%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$6.36 ISK 793
-75.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$18.36 ISK 2,290
-27.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$24.71 ISK 3,082
-86.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$42.1 ISK 5,251
-74.23%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$3.18 ISK 397
-44.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$2.49 ISK 310
-49.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$2.92 ISK 365
-48.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$4.86 ISK 606
-75.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$3.68 ISK 460
-79.62%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$2.26 ISK 281
-61.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$3.17 ISK 396
-80.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$2.2 ISK 274
-73.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$14.05 ISK 1,753
-75.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$24.13 ISK 3,010
-53.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$3.63 ISK 453
-76.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$3.21 ISK 401
-47.66%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Iceland
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$5.24 ISK 653
-92.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$84.3 ISK 10.5K
-75.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$6.26 ISK 781
-78.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$2.37 ISK 296
-85.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$86.5 ISK 10.8K
-92.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$2.46 ISK 307
-54.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$47.9K ISK 6M
-59.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$54K ISK 6.7M
-69.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Iceland
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$90.4 ISK 11.3K
-43.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$27.54 ISK 3,435
-64.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$85.9 ISK 10.7K
-86.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Iceland
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$81.8 ISK 10.2K
-51.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$37.74 ISK 4,708
-60.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$17.35 ISK 2,164
-64.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Iceland
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$348 ISK 43.4K
19.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$29.5K ISK 3.7M
-40.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Iceland
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$137 ISK 17.1K
-66.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$64.2 ISK 8,005
-47.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$171 ISK 21.4K
-58.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$254 ISK 31.6K
-71.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Iceland
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$2,216 ISK 276.4K
-79.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$2,002 ISK 249.8K
-87.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$3,148 ISK 392.7K
-70.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$2,722 ISK 339.5K
-80.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$7,550 ISK 941.9K
-18.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$6,306 ISK 786.7K
-54.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Iceland
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$4,591 ISK 572.7K
-79.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
9.88
-58.91%

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

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for Iceland: October 28, 2025

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