Cost of Living Comparison Between Hella and Akureyri Cost of Living Comparison Between Hella and Akureyri

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,637 per month in Hella vs $2,862 in Akureyri, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,843 per month in Hella vs $3,910 in Akureyri, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,048 per month in Hella vs $4,958 in Akureyri, rent included.

Hella is about 43% cheaper than Akureyri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hella and Akureyri sit above the global median – Hella by 22%, Akureyri by 114%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.19 ISK 3,329

$23.68 ISK 2,900

14.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 17.9K

$127 ISK 15.6K

15.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.26 ISK 2,726

$22.00 ISK 2,695

1.18%

Cappuccino

$6.27 ISK 768

$4.83 ISK 591

29.81%

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

$3.29 ISK 403

$3.43 ISK 420

-4.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ISK 306

$3.09 ISK 379

-19.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.92 ISK 1,583

$10.76 ISK 1,318

20.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.32 ISK 1,386

$9.30 ISK 1,138

21.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 237

$2.79 ISK 341

-30.82%

White Bread (500g)

$4.36 ISK 534

$2.25 ISK 276

93.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.61 ISK 442

$3.07 ISK 375

17.59%

Eggs

$6.31 ISK 773

$8.25 ISK 1,011

-23.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.91 ISK 2,193

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.63 ISK 2,893

$24.53 ISK 3,004

-3.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.77 ISK 5,238

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ISK 396

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 ISK 296

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 ISK 381

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 ISK 596

Potato (1kg)

$3.64 ISK 446

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 ISK 293

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 ISK 377

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 ISK 236

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.41 ISK 1,643

$13.19 ISK 1,616

1.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.12 ISK 2,832

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.64 ISK 445

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ISK 409

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 ISK 798

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.52 ISK 308

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.3 ISK 10.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.57 ISK 314

$2.54 ISK 311

1.18%

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

$48.2K ISK 5.9M

$39.8K ISK 4.9M

21.09%

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

$52.7K ISK 6.5M

$63.4K ISK 7.8M

-16.84%

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

$89.3 ISK 10.9K

$121 ISK 14.8K

-26.19%

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

$27.34 ISK 3,348

$25.36 ISK 3,106

7.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.0 ISK 10.7K

$160 ISK 19.6K

-45.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$84.2 ISK 10.3K

Cinema Ticket

$17.63 ISK 2,159

$14.88 ISK 1,823

18.48%

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

$318 ISK 39.0K

$357 ISK 43.8K

-11.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.3K

$78.9 ISK 9,665

78.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ISK 7,422

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.3K

$122 ISK 15.0K

49.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$262 ISK 32.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,792 ISK 219.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,803 ISK 220.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ISK 260.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,617 ISK 810.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,409 ISK 784.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

9.4

2.45%

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

Last update for Hella: April 28, 2026

Last update for Akureyri: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $147 in Hella versus $127 in Akureyri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $593 vs $218 – making Akureyri 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

Hella vs Akureyri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Akureyri is pricier by about 75%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,456 per month in Hella and $4,293 in Akureyri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $147 in Hella and $127 in Akureyri. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 171% cheaper in Akureyri – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Hella, where all-in costs run around $1,637, than in Akureyri at $2,862. In Hella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Akureyri it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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