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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,619 per month in Hella vs $2,857 in Akureyri, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,788 per month in Hella vs $3,910 in Akureyri, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,958 per month in Hella vs $4,964 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 20%, Akureyri by 113%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.32 ISK 3,401

$23.84 ISK 2,969

14.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 ISK 18.0K

$129 ISK 16.0K

12.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.68 ISK 2,823

$22.40 ISK 2,789

1.25%

Cappuccino

$6.15 ISK 765

$4.95 ISK 617

24.24%

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

$3.35 ISK 417

$3.28 ISK 409

2.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ISK 316

$3.08 ISK 383

-17.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.72 ISK 1,583

$10.68 ISK 1,330

19.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.15 ISK 1,388

$9.04 ISK 1,125

23.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 241

$2.87 ISK 357

-32.75%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 ISK 522

$2.31 ISK 288

81.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.67 ISK 457

$3.02 ISK 376

21.52%

Eggs

$6.31 ISK 786

$7.92 ISK 986

-20.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.19 ISK 2,265

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.53 ISK 3,053

$24.30 ISK 3,026

0.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.71 ISK 5,193

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ISK 418

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ISK 312

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 378

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 ISK 611

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ISK 459

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 ISK 301

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 ISK 397

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 ISK 247

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.60 ISK 1,693

$13.20 ISK 1,643

3.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.47 ISK 2,922

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 ISK 463

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ISK 415

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 ISK 777

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 ISK 331

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.8 ISK 10.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.43 ISK 302

$2.50 ISK 311

-2.80%

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

$47.5K ISK 5.9M

$40.9K ISK 5.1M

16.19%

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

$51.3K ISK 6.4M

$63.6K ISK 7.9M

-19.35%

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

$89.4 ISK 11.1K

$120 ISK 14.9K

-25.29%

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

$27.68 ISK 3,446

$25.24 ISK 3,143

9.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.5 ISK 10.6K

$159 ISK 19.8K

-46.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.4 ISK 10.3K

Cinema Ticket

$17.43 ISK 2,170

$14.82 ISK 1,845

17.61%

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

$316 ISK 39.4K

$362 ISK 45.1K

-12.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.5K

$81.4 ISK 10.1K

72.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 ISK 7,609

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$186 ISK 23.1K

$119 ISK 14.9K

55.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$271 ISK 33.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,802 ISK 224.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 ISK 222.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,144 ISK 266.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,488 ISK 807.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 ISK 809.2K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Akureyri: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in Hella versus $129 in Akureyri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $597 vs $217 – 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 76%, 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 $2,428 per month in Hella and $4,285 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 $144 in Hella and $129 in Akureyri. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 175% 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 $1,619, than in Akureyri at $2,857. 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.