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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,883 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $2,796 in Solothurn, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,451 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $4,518 in Solothurn, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,020 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $6,239 in Solothurn, rent included.

Hafnarfjordur costs about 39% more than Solothurn, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Hafnarfjordur and Solothurn sit above the global median – Hafnarfjordur by 184%, Solothurn by 104%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.94 ISK 3,646

$31.14 CHF 25.71

-3.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$138 ISK 16.8K

$144 CHF 119

-4.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.77 ISK 2,043

$18.62 CHF 15.37

-9.94%

Cappuccino

$6.76 ISK 824

$6.58 CHF 5.43

2.74%

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

$3.40 ISK 414

$5.37 CHF 4.43

-36.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 ISK 389

$5.37 CHF 4.43

-40.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$14.25 ISK 1,735

$6.91 CHF 5.70

106.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.40 ISK 1,510

$5.97 CHF 4.93

107.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ISK 209

$2.22 CHF 1.83

-22.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.27 ISK 521

$3.95 CHF 3.26

8.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.68 ISK 448

$3.56 CHF 2.94

3.37%

Eggs

$7.36 ISK 896

$8.47 CHF 6.99

-13.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.02 ISK 2,560

$22.62 CHF 18.67

-7.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$25.05 ISK 3,051

$26.36 CHF 21.75

-4.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.64 ISK 5,193

$60.9 CHF 50.3

-29.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ISK 410

$2.92 CHF 2.41

15.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 ISK 303

$1.45 CHF 1.19

71.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.21 ISK 391

$3.62 CHF 2.99

-11.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.43 ISK 783

$4.20 CHF 3.47

53.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.98 ISK 484

$1.67 CHF 1.38

138.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 ISK 201

$1.78 CHF 1.47

-7.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.79 ISK 461

$1.61 CHF 1.33

135.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ISK 221

$1.04 CHF 0.86

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 ISK 1,724

$10.89 CHF 8.99

29.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.99 ISK 2,922

$13.70 CHF 11.31

75.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 ISK 471

$2.73 CHF 2.26

41.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ISK 421

$3.15 CHF 2.60

9.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.33 ISK 649

$4.73 CHF 3.90

12.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.0 ISK 10.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.72 ISK 818

$8.16 CHF 6.73

-17.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.80 ISK 341

$4.59 CHF 3.79

-39.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$73.9 ISK 8,997

$90.8 CHF 74.9

-18.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 235

$2.31 CHF 1.91

-16.45%

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

$50.3K ISK 6.1M

$30.8K CHF 25.4K

63.19%

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

$53.7K ISK 6.5M

$36.6K CHF 30.2K

46.70%

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

$68.8 ISK 8,382

$98.8 CHF 81.6

-30.36%

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

$33.41 ISK 4,070

$30.93 CHF 25.53

8.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.7 ISK 10.3K

$57.4 CHF 47.41

47.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 ISK 8,067

$91.7 CHF 75.7

-27.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.03 CHF 14.05

Cinema Ticket

$16.76 ISK 2,042

$18.40 CHF 15.18

-8.91%

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

$1,190 ISK 145.0K

$3,627 CHF 2,994

-67.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.5K ISK 3.8M

$19.5K CHF 16.1K

61.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$124 ISK 15.1K

$143 CHF 118

-13.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.9 ISK 8,152

$42.32 CHF 34.93

58.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 ISK 14.8K

$164 CHF 136

-26.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$254 ISK 31.0K

$265 CHF 218

-3.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 ISK 297.8K

$1,163 CHF 960

110.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,055 ISK 250.4K

$1,037 CHF 856

98.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,353 ISK 408.4K

$1,852 CHF 1,529

81.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,683 ISK 326.7K

$1,751 CHF 1,445

53.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,113 ISK 866.4K

$9,663 CHF 7,976

-26.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,146 ISK 870.4K

$4,869 CHF 4,019

46.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,674 ISK 569.3K

$7,035 CHF 5,806

-33.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.88

2.07

328.99%

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

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: September 13, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,445 in Hafnarfjordur versus $1,163 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 51% 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 $138 in Hafnarfjordur versus $144 in Solothurn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $623 vs $626 – making Hafnarfjordur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 39% more than Solothurn, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,824 per month in Hafnarfjordur and $4,194 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 $3,883 in Hafnarfjordur and $2,796 in Solothurn. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,190 per month in Hafnarfjordur and $3,627 in Solothurn. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,883 in Hafnarfjordur and $2,796 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.