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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,694 per month in Hella vs $3,040 in Akureyri, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,923 per month in Hella vs $4,128 in Akureyri, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Hella vs $5,217 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 24%, Akureyri by 122%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.93 ISK 3,645

$24.77 ISK 3,017

20.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$137 ISK 16.6K

$130 ISK 15.8K

5.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$26.99 ISK 3,287

$22.81 ISK 2,779

18.33%

Cappuccino

$6.87 ISK 837

$4.92 ISK 599

39.63%

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

$3.25 ISK 396

$3.41 ISK 416

-4.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ISK 392

$3.02 ISK 368

6.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.88 ISK 1,690

$11.32 ISK 1,379

22.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.29 ISK 1,497

$9.57 ISK 1,165

28.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ISK 259

$2.87 ISK 350

-26.13%

White Bread (500g)

$4.32 ISK 526

$2.41 ISK 293

79.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.69 ISK 450

$3.20 ISK 389

15.31%

Eggs

$7.01 ISK 854

$7.80 ISK 950

-10.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.12 ISK 2,573

$15.74 ISK 1,917

34.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.72 ISK 3,011

$24.51 ISK 2,985

0.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.94 ISK 5,230

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ISK 408

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 ISK 356

$2.93 ISK 357

-0.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 ISK 385

$3.49 ISK 425

-9.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.25 ISK 762

$6.26 ISK 763

-0.16%

Potato (1kg)

$4.13 ISK 504

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 ISK 202

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.81 ISK 465

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ISK 214

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.87 ISK 1,690

$13.53 ISK 1,648

2.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.10 ISK 2,936

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.79 ISK 462

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ISK 410

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 ISK 827

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.83 ISK 345

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$74.9 ISK 9,118

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 ISK 246

$2.64 ISK 322

-23.48%

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

$50.8K ISK 6.2M

$41.4K ISK 5.0M

22.62%

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

$54.3K ISK 6.6M

$65.2K ISK 7.9M

-16.68%

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

$88.2 ISK 10.7K

$125 ISK 15.2K

-29.18%

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

$32.75 ISK 3,989

$25.76 ISK 3,137

27.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.8 ISK 10.2K

$166 ISK 20.2K

-49.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.9 ISK 10.6K

Cinema Ticket

$19.68 ISK 2,396

$15.40 ISK 1,876

27.79%

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

$1,190 ISK 144.9K

$367 ISK 44.7K

224.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$161 ISK 19.6K

$82.7 ISK 10.1K

94.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.1 ISK 8,170

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.1K

$125 ISK 15.2K

45.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$252 ISK 30.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 ISK 217.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,846 ISK 224.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,182 ISK 265.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,717 ISK 818.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,544 ISK 797.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.88

9.4

-5.53%

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

Last update for Hella: September 14, 2026

Last update for Akureyri: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $137 in Hella versus $130 in Akureyri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $627 vs $329 – 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 $2,541 per month in Hella and $4,560 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 $137 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 90% 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 $1,694, than in Akureyri at $3,040. 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.