Cost of Living Comparison Between Hella and Reykjavik Cost of Living Comparison Between Hella and Reykjavik

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,619 per month in Hella vs $3,824 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,788 per month in Hella vs $5,556 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,958 per month in Hella vs $7,289 in Reykjavik, rent included.

Hella is about 58% cheaper than Reykjavik, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Hella and Reykjavik sit above the global median – Hella by 20%, Reykjavik by 184%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.32 ISK 3,401

$27.13 ISK 3,378

0.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 ISK 18.0K

$147 ISK 18.3K

-1.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.68 ISK 2,823

$22.15 ISK 2,757

2.39%

Cappuccino

$6.15 ISK 765

$6.08 ISK 756

1.15%

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

$3.35 ISK 417

$3.24 ISK 404

3.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ISK 316

$2.60 ISK 324

-2.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.72 ISK 1,583

$13.07 ISK 1,627

-2.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.15 ISK 1,388

$11.14 ISK 1,387

0.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 241

$1.86 ISK 231

3.76%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 ISK 522

$4.34 ISK 541

-3.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.67 ISK 457

$3.63 ISK 451

1.10%

Eggs

$6.31 ISK 786

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.19 ISK 2,265

$18.05 ISK 2,247

0.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.53 ISK 3,053

$24.02 ISK 2,990

2.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.71 ISK 5,193

$43.15 ISK 5,372

-3.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ISK 418

$3.26 ISK 406

3.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ISK 312

$2.45 ISK 304

2.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 378

$3.11 ISK 387

-2.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 ISK 611

$4.87 ISK 606

0.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ISK 459

$3.68 ISK 459

0.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 ISK 301

$2.34 ISK 291

3.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 ISK 397

$3.04 ISK 379

4.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 ISK 247

$1.92 ISK 239

3.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.60 ISK 1,693

$13.59 ISK 1,692

0.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.47 ISK 2,922

$23.29 ISK 2,900

0.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 ISK 463

$3.71 ISK 462

0.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ISK 415

$3.30 ISK 411

1.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.08 ISK 633

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.4 ISK 11.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 ISK 777

$6.30 ISK 784

-0.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 ISK 331

$2.64 ISK 328

0.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.8 ISK 10.7K

$86.7 ISK 10.8K

-1.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.43 ISK 302

$2.48 ISK 308

-2.02%

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

$47.5K ISK 5.9M

$46.4K ISK 5.8M

2.35%

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

$51.3K ISK 6.4M

$52.0K ISK 6.5M

-1.29%

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

$89.4 ISK 11.1K

$89.0 ISK 11.1K

0.38%

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

$27.68 ISK 3,446

$27.11 ISK 3,376

2.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.5 ISK 10.6K

$83.7 ISK 10.4K

2.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.2 ISK 10.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.19 ISK 4,630

Cinema Ticket

$17.43 ISK 2,170

$17.41 ISK 2,167

0.11%

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

$316 ISK 39.4K

$319 ISK 39.7K

-0.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K ISK 3.7M

$29.8K ISK 3.7M

0.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.5K

$138 ISK 17.1K

2.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 ISK 7,609

$60.8 ISK 7,569

0.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$186 ISK 23.1K

$181 ISK 22.5K

2.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$271 ISK 33.8K

$269 ISK 33.5K

0.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,246 ISK 279.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,025 ISK 252.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,220 ISK 400.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,728 ISK 339.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,686 ISK 957.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,267 ISK 780.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,442 ISK 553.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

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

Last update for Hella: June 7, 2026

Last update for Reykjavik: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in Hella versus $147 in Reykjavik. Groceries tell a different story – $597 in Hella vs $596 in Reykjavik – so Reykjavik wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Reykjavik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,619 in Hella, $3,824 in Reykjavik – roughly 136% apart. Reykjavik costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,428 per month in Hella and $5,735 in Reykjavik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,619 in Hella and $3,824 in Reykjavik. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Hella and $319 in Reykjavik. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Hella, where all-in costs run around $1,619, than in Reykjavik at $3,824. In Hella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reykjavik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Reykjavik has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,619 in Hella to $3,824 in Reykjavik. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Reykjavik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.