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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $2,798 in Solothurn, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,235 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $4,498 in Solothurn, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,808 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $6,199 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 172%, Solothurn by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.17 ISK 3,383

$30.86 CHF 24.50

-11.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 ISK 18.0K

$139 CHF 110

4.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.06 ISK 2,000

$20.65 CHF 16.40

-22.23%

Cappuccino

$6.26 ISK 779

$6.64 CHF 5.27

-5.72%

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

$3.33 ISK 414

$5.62 CHF 4.46

-40.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ISK 312

$5.25 CHF 4.16

-52.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.85 ISK 1,599

$6.89 CHF 5.47

86.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.35 ISK 1,413

$6.31 CHF 5.01

79.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 ISK 209

$2.26 CHF 1.79

-25.66%

White Bread (500g)

$4.25 ISK 529

$3.28 CHF 2.60

29.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 ISK 443

$3.42 CHF 2.72

4.09%

Eggs

$6.51 ISK 810

$7.20 CHF 5.72

-9.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.32 ISK 2,281

$29.35 CHF 23.30

-37.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.43 ISK 3,042

$30.62 CHF 24.31

-20.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.97 ISK 5,225

$38.81 CHF 30.81

8.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ISK 417

$4.11 CHF 3.27

-18.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 ISK 306

$2.89 CHF 2.30

-14.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.02 ISK 376

$3.13 CHF 2.49

-3.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.05 ISK 629

$4.21 CHF 3.34

19.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ISK 444

$1.93 CHF 1.53

84.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ISK 305

$1.96 CHF 1.56

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 ISK 397

$2.58 CHF 2.04

23.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 ISK 250

$1.11 CHF 0.88

81.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.54 ISK 1,686

$10.89 CHF 8.65

24.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.20 ISK 2,888

$10.17 CHF 8.07

128.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.70 ISK 460

$2.74 CHF 2.18

35.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ISK 405

$2.48 CHF 1.97

31.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.09 ISK 634

$3.66 CHF 2.90

39.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.4 ISK 10.5K

$100 CHF 79.7

-15.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.25 ISK 778

$7.82 CHF 6.20

-20.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 ISK 328

$4.13 CHF 3.28

-36.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.6 ISK 10.7K

$75.3 CHF 59.8

13.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.49 ISK 311

$2.26 CHF 1.80

10.18%

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

$48.1K ISK 6.0M

$37.9K CHF 30.1K

26.71%

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

$52.4K ISK 6.5M

$37.9K CHF 30.1K

38.24%

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

$68.0 ISK 8,465

$99.0 CHF 78.6

-31.32%

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

$27.22 ISK 3,389

$30.75 CHF 24.41

-11.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 ISK 10.7K

$58.3 CHF 46.25

47.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.7 ISK 8,053

$74.9 CHF 59.5

-13.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.92 CHF 19.78

Cinema Ticket

$16.66 ISK 2,074

$24.82 CHF 19.70

-32.88%

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

$325 ISK 40.5K

$3,421 CHF 2,716

-90.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.8M

$19.7K CHF 15.6K

55.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$119 ISK 14.8K

$141 CHF 112

-15.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.5 ISK 7,778

$42.94 CHF 34.09

45.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ISK 14.8K

$99.8 CHF 79.2

19.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$266 ISK 33.1K

$188 CHF 149

41.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,423 ISK 301.6K

$1,281 CHF 1,017

89.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 ISK 253.6K

$1,079 CHF 857

88.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,250 ISK 404.7K

$1,883 CHF 1,495

72.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,547 ISK 317.0K

$1,764 CHF 1,401

44.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,850 ISK 852.8K

$10.1K CHF 7,986

-31.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,826 ISK 849.8K

$5,039 CHF 4,000

35.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,665 ISK 580.8K

$6,884 CHF 5,465

-32.24%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,423 in Hafnarfjordur versus $1,281 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 48% 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 $139 in Solothurn. Groceries tell a different story – $595 in Hafnarfjordur vs $599 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 $5,492 per month in Hafnarfjordur and $4,197 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 $3,661 in Hafnarfjordur and $2,798 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 $3,661 in Hafnarfjordur and $2,798 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.