Cost of Living Comparison Between Hafnarfjordur and Reykjavik Cost of Living Comparison Between Hafnarfjordur and Reykjavik

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,667 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $3,789 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,242 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $5,477 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,816 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $7,165 in Reykjavik, rent included.

Hafnarfjordur is about 3% cheaper than Reykjavik, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Hafnarfjordur and Reykjavik sit above the global median – Hafnarfjordur by 174%, Reykjavik by 183%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.49 ISK 3,243

$26.55 ISK 3,251

-0.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 ISK 17.7K

$144 ISK 17.6K

0.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.93 ISK 1,950

$22.87 ISK 2,801

-30.35%

Cappuccino

$6.21 ISK 760

$5.98 ISK 732

3.85%

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

$3.37 ISK 413

$3.23 ISK 396

4.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ISK 322

$2.55 ISK 312

3.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.82 ISK 1,569

$13.06 ISK 1,599

-1.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.07 ISK 1,356

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ISK 198

$1.87 ISK 229

-13.90%

White Bread (500g)

$4.26 ISK 521

$4.33 ISK 530

-1.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.70 ISK 453

$3.63 ISK 444

1.93%

Eggs

$6.29 ISK 770

$6.51 ISK 797

-3.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.50 ISK 2,265

$18.39 ISK 2,251

0.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.21 ISK 2,965

$24.53 ISK 3,004

-1.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.07 ISK 5,151

$43.02 ISK 5,268

-2.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ISK 396

$3.26 ISK 399

-0.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 ISK 294

$2.42 ISK 296

-0.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ISK 367

$3.04 ISK 372

-1.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.93 ISK 603

$5.08 ISK 622

-2.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.51 ISK 430

$3.57 ISK 437

-1.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 ISK 285

$2.40 ISK 294

-3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.16 ISK 386

$3.10 ISK 379

1.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 ISK 237

$2.00 ISK 245

-3.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.78 ISK 1,687

$13.44 ISK 1,646

2.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.71 ISK 2,781

$23.20 ISK 2,841

-2.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.71 ISK 454

$3.73 ISK 456

-0.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 ISK 406

$3.37 ISK 412

-1.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.00 ISK 612

$5.34 ISK 653

-6.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.2 ISK 10.2K

$87.5 ISK 10.7K

-4.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 ISK 772

$6.27 ISK 768

0.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.61 ISK 319

$2.56 ISK 313

1.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$87.5 ISK 10.7K

0.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.51 ISK 308

$2.48 ISK 303

1.21%

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

$47.6K ISK 5.8M

-0.11%

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

$52.6K ISK 6.4M

$51.8K ISK 6.3M

1.56%

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

$69.6 ISK 8,521

$88.4 ISK 10.8K

-21.31%

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

$27.48 ISK 3,365

$27.80 ISK 3,404

-1.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.3 ISK 10.3K

$85.6 ISK 10.5K

-1.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 ISK 7,729

$83.2 ISK 10.2K

-24.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.45 ISK 4,586

Cinema Ticket

$16.36 ISK 2,003

$17.88 ISK 2,190

-8.50%

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

$318 ISK 38.9K

$322 ISK 39.5K

-1.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K ISK 3.7M

$30.5K ISK 3.7M

-0.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$120 ISK 14.7K

$141 ISK 17.2K

-14.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ISK 7,421

$62.2 ISK 7,611

-2.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ISK 14.8K

$179 ISK 22.0K

-32.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$263 ISK 32.3K

$261 ISK 31.9K

1.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,442 ISK 299.1K

$2,244 ISK 274.8K

8.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,047 ISK 250.7K

$2,065 ISK 252.8K

-0.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,209 ISK 393.0K

$3,173 ISK 388.5K

1.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,523 ISK 308.9K

$2,734 ISK 334.8K

-7.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,916 ISK 846.8K

$7,787 ISK 953.4K

-11.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,027 ISK 860.4K

$6,505 ISK 796.5K

8.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,789 ISK 586.4K

$4,496 ISK 550.5K

6.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

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

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: April 26, 2026

Last update for Reykjavik: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,442 in Hafnarfjordur versus $2,244 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 7% higher in Hafnarfjordur, 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 $145 in Hafnarfjordur versus $144 in Reykjavik. Groceries tell a different story – $590 in Hafnarfjordur vs $601 in Reykjavik – so Hafnarfjordur 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

Hafnarfjordur vs Reykjavik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Reykjavik costs about 3% more than Hafnarfjordur, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,501 per month in Hafnarfjordur and $5,683 in Reykjavik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,667 in Hafnarfjordur and $3,789 in Reykjavik. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 5% less in Hafnarfjordur. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,667 in Hafnarfjordur and $3,789 in Reykjavik. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hafnarfjordur costs $3,667 versus $3,789 in Reykjavik. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Hafnarfjordur. 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.