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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,627 per month in Hella vs $2,916 in Akureyri, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,850 per month in Hella vs $3,931 in Akureyri, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,074 per month in Hella vs $4,946 in Akureyri, rent included.

Hella is about 44% cheaper than Akureyri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hella and Akureyri sit above the global median – Hella by 22%, Akureyri by 119%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.50 ISK 3,276

$23.95 ISK 2,961

10.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 18.2K

$130 ISK 16.0K

13.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.27 ISK 2,753

$21.94 ISK 2,711

1.50%

Cappuccino

$6.01 ISK 743

$4.86 ISK 601

23.66%

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

$3.26 ISK 403

$3.30 ISK 408

-1.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ISK 312

$2.94 ISK 363

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.63 ISK 1,561

$10.68 ISK 1,320

18.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.04 ISK 1,365

$9.31 ISK 1,150

18.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ISK 240

$2.76 ISK 341

-29.71%

White Bread (500g)

$4.30 ISK 532

$2.37 ISK 293

81.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 ISK 462

$3.13 ISK 387

19.49%

Eggs

$6.40 ISK 791

$7.80 ISK 964

-17.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.20 ISK 2,250

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.23 ISK 2,995

$23.90 ISK 2,954

1.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.93 ISK 5,183

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 ISK 398

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 ISK 314

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 375

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 ISK 612

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ISK 439

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 ISK 286

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 ISK 387

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 ISK 241

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.41 ISK 1,658

$13.24 ISK 1,637

1.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.81 ISK 2,820

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 ISK 439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 ISK 416

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ISK 803

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.61 ISK 323

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$84.9 ISK 10.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.47 ISK 305

$2.54 ISK 314

-2.76%

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

$48.2K ISK 6.0M

$40.7K ISK 5.0M

18.48%

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

$52.6K ISK 6.5M

$64.5K ISK 8.0M

-18.39%

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

$88.7 ISK 11.0K

$121 ISK 15.0K

-26.71%

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

$27.34 ISK 3,380

$25.49 ISK 3,151

7.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.8 ISK 10.4K

$159 ISK 19.7K

-47.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.4 ISK 10.2K

Cinema Ticket

$17.86 ISK 2,208

$14.79 ISK 1,828

20.76%

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

$317 ISK 39.1K

$361 ISK 44.7K

-12.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 ISK 17.4K

$79.9 ISK 9,872

75.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.7 ISK 7,748

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.4K

$119 ISK 14.7K

51.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$261 ISK 32.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 ISK 217.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,790 ISK 221.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,143 ISK 264.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,491 ISK 802.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,302 ISK 778.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Akureyri: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $147 in Hella versus $130 in Akureyri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $594 vs $214 – 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 79%, 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 $2,440 per month in Hella and $4,375 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 $130 in Akureyri. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 177% 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 $1,627, than in Akureyri at $2,916. 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.