Cost of Living Comparison Between Hafnarfjordur and Solothurn Cost of Living Comparison Between Hafnarfjordur and Solothurn

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,743 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $2,859 in Solothurn, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,243 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $4,521 in Solothurn, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,742 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $6,182 in Solothurn, rent included.

Hafnarfjordur costs about 31% more than Solothurn, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Hafnarfjordur and Solothurn sit above the global median – Hafnarfjordur by 181%, Solothurn by 115%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.51 ISK 3,277

$30.42 CHF 24.56

-12.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 ISK 18.0K

$144 CHF 117

0.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.15 ISK 1,997

$21.32 CHF 17.21

-24.25%

Cappuccino

$5.95 ISK 735

$6.33 CHF 5.11

-6.00%

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

$3.26 ISK 403

$5.52 CHF 4.46

-40.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ISK 323

$5.40 CHF 4.36

-51.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.64 ISK 1,562

$6.73 CHF 5.43

87.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.36 ISK 1,404

$6.00 CHF 4.85

89.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ISK 209

$2.23 CHF 1.80

-24.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.31 ISK 532

$3.40 CHF 2.74

26.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 ISK 440

$3.33 CHF 2.69

6.91%

Eggs

$6.21 ISK 767

$7.47 CHF 6.03

-16.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.06 ISK 2,232

$29.13 CHF 23.52

-38.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.82 ISK 2,944

$30.68 CHF 24.77

-22.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.07 ISK 5,324

$39.30 CHF 31.73

9.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ISK 414

$4.25 CHF 3.43

-21.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.34 ISK 289

$2.93 CHF 2.37

-20.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.14 ISK 388

$3.13 CHF 2.53

0.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 ISK 622

$4.21 CHF 3.40

19.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 ISK 453

$1.87 CHF 1.51

96.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 ISK 296

$1.95 CHF 1.58

23.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 ISK 380

$2.51 CHF 2.02

22.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 ISK 237

$1.09 CHF 0.88

76.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.77 ISK 1,703

$11.24 CHF 9.07

22.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.38 ISK 2,890

$9.62 CHF 7.77

143.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.64 ISK 450

$2.71 CHF 2.19

34.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ISK 397

$2.43 CHF 1.96

32.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.19 ISK 642

$3.67 CHF 2.96

41.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.2 ISK 10.3K

$99.2 CHF 80.1

-16.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.47 ISK 800

$7.77 CHF 6.27

-16.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.52 ISK 312

$4.21 CHF 3.40

-40.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.7 ISK 10.6K

$74.0 CHF 59.8

15.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.45 ISK 303

$2.30 CHF 1.86

6.52%

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

$46.5K ISK 5.7M

$37.3K CHF 30.2K

24.45%

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

$52.0K ISK 6.4M

$38.6K CHF 31.2K

34.72%

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

$69.5 ISK 8,589

$99.0 CHF 79.9

-29.82%

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

$27.05 ISK 3,344

$31.26 CHF 25.24

-13.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.3 ISK 10.7K

$57.8 CHF 46.64

49.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.1 ISK 7,917

$74.9 CHF 60.4

-14.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.46 CHF 19.75

Cinema Ticket

$16.45 ISK 2,033

$24.76 CHF 19.99

-33.56%

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

$321 ISK 39.7K

$3,429 CHF 2,768

-90.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K ISK 3.7M

$19.3K CHF 15.6K

55.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$118 ISK 14.6K

$142 CHF 115

-16.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.9 ISK 7,527

$43.17 CHF 34.86

41.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ISK 15.0K

$99.1 CHF 80.0

22.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$271 ISK 33.4K

$185 CHF 149

46.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,379 ISK 294.1K

$1,242 CHF 1,003

91.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,013 ISK 248.8K

$1,053 CHF 850

91.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,196 ISK 395.0K

$1,821 CHF 1,470

75.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,588 ISK 319.9K

$1,797 CHF 1,451

44.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,883 ISK 850.7K

$9,940 CHF 8,026

-30.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,652 ISK 822.2K

$4,798 CHF 3,874

38.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,538 ISK 560.9K

$6,775 CHF 5,470

-33.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

2.09

360.77%

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

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: July 27, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,379 in Hafnarfjordur versus $1,242 in Solothurn. 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 49% higher in Solothurn, 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 Solothurn. Groceries tell a different story – $593 in Hafnarfjordur vs $601 in Solothurn – 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 Solothurn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hafnarfjordur costs about 31% more than Solothurn, 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 $5,615 per month in Hafnarfjordur and $4,288 in Solothurn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Solothurn, 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 $3,743 in Hafnarfjordur and $2,859 in Solothurn. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 19% less in Solothurn. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,743 in Hafnarfjordur and $2,859 in Solothurn. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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