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

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 71.1% cheaper than Iceland without rent, and 79% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 72.5% cheaper than Iceland without rent, and 75.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Iceland
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82 ¥19.48
$27.05 ISK 3,319
-89.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.62 ¥163
$130 ISK 16.0K
-81.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 ¥34.30
$20.18 ISK 2,476
-75.37%
Cappuccino
$3.14 ¥21.63
$6.04 ISK 741
-48.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.06
$3.31 ISK 407
-86.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.84
$2.67 ISK 328
-89.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.93 ¥6.39
$12.15 ISK 1,490
-92.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 ¥14.35
$10.26 ISK 1,258
-79.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Iceland
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 ¥12.68
$1.85 ISK 227
-0.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ¥11.15
$4.08 ISK 501
-60.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.61
$3.58 ISK 440
-73.18%
Eggs
$1.56 ¥10.74
$6.57 ISK 806
-76.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.18 ¥90.9
$18.48 ISK 2,268
-28.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.21 ¥22.11
$24.80 ISK 3,043
-87.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.89 ¥75.2
$42.58 ISK 5,224
-74.42%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.18
$3.02 ISK 370
-41.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 ¥8.62
$2.43 ISK 298
-48.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.51
$2.89 ISK 355
-47.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.94
$5.00 ISK 613
-77.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.27
$3.68 ISK 451
-79.35%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 ¥6.13
$2.19 ISK 269
-59.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.24
$3.10 ISK 380
-80.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.71
$2.23 ISK 273
-75.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ¥23.29
$14.49 ISK 1,778
-76.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.67 ¥80.5
$23.38 ISK 2,869
-50.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ¥5.38
$3.58 ISK 440
-78.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ¥11.52
$3.09 ISK 379
-45.95%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Iceland
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.97
$5.35 ISK 656
-91.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.93 ¥144
$82.3 ISK 10.1K
-74.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ¥9.72
$6.52 ISK 800
-78.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.44
$2.28 ISK 279
-84.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.48 ¥44.71
$84.9 ISK 10.4K
-92.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ¥8.03
$2.57 ISK 316
-54.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K ¥132.9K
$46.8K ISK 5.7M
-58.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K ¥117.2K
$53.6K ISK 6.6M
-68.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Iceland
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.3 ¥354
$90.2 ISK 11.1K
-43.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.84 ¥67.9
$27.47 ISK 3,370
-64.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.49 ¥79.3
$87.5 ISK 10.7K
-86.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Iceland
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.28 ¥278
$82.0 ISK 10.1K
-50.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78 ¥102
$37.43 ISK 4,592
-60.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41 ¥44.24
$17.29 ISK 2,122
-62.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Iceland
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$403 ¥2,783
$351 ISK 43.0K
14.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.9K ¥123.3K
$29.9K ISK 3.7M
-40.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Iceland
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.91 ¥317
$137 ISK 16.8K
-66.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.39 ¥223
$64.8 ISK 7,946
-49.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.2 ¥492
$174 ISK 21.4K
-59.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ¥510
$255 ISK 31.3K
-71.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Iceland
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$436 ¥3,008
$2,207 ISK 270.8K
-80.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$254 ¥1,750
$2,013 ISK 247.0K
-87.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$900 ¥6,210
$3,123 ISK 383.2K
-71.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$548 ¥3,781
$2,712 ISK 332.8K
-79.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,140 ¥35.5K
$7,651 ISK 938.7K
-32.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,676 ¥18.5K
$6,259 ISK 767.9K
-57.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Iceland
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,024 ¥7,068
$4,671 ISK 573.1K
-78.07%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Iceland: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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