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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,637 per month in Hella vs $3,789 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,843 per month in Hella vs $5,477 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,048 per month in Hella vs $7,165 in Reykjavik, rent included.

Hella is about 57% cheaper than Reykjavik, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Hella and Reykjavik sit above the global median – Hella by 22%, Reykjavik by 183%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.19 ISK 3,329

$26.55 ISK 3,251

2.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 17.9K

$144 ISK 17.6K

1.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.26 ISK 2,726

$22.87 ISK 2,801

-2.67%

Cappuccino

$6.27 ISK 768

$5.98 ISK 732

4.85%

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

$3.29 ISK 402

$3.23 ISK 396

1.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ISK 306

$2.55 ISK 312

-1.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.92 ISK 1,582

$13.06 ISK 1,599

-1.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.32 ISK 1,386

$11.07 ISK 1,356

2.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 237

$1.87 ISK 229

3.21%

White Bread (500g)

$4.36 ISK 534

$4.33 ISK 530

0.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.61 ISK 442

$3.63 ISK 444

-0.55%

Eggs

$6.31 ISK 773

$6.51 ISK 797

-3.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.91 ISK 2,193

$18.39 ISK 2,251

-2.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.63 ISK 2,893

$24.53 ISK 3,004

-3.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.77 ISK 5,237

$43.02 ISK 5,268

-0.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ISK 396

$3.26 ISK 399

-0.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 ISK 296

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 ISK 381

$3.04 ISK 372

2.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 ISK 596

$5.08 ISK 622

-4.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.64 ISK 446

$3.57 ISK 437

1.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 ISK 293

$2.40 ISK 294

-0.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 ISK 376

$3.10 ISK 379

-0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 ISK 236

$2.00 ISK 245

-3.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.41 ISK 1,642

$13.44 ISK 1,646

-0.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.12 ISK 2,831

$23.20 ISK 2,841

-0.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.64 ISK 445

$3.73 ISK 456

-2.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ISK 409

$3.37 ISK 412

-0.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.34 ISK 653

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.5 ISK 10.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 ISK 798

$6.27 ISK 768

3.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.52 ISK 308

$2.56 ISK 313

-1.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.3 ISK 10.6K

$87.5 ISK 10.7K

-1.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.57 ISK 314

$2.48 ISK 303

3.63%

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

$48.2K ISK 5.9M

$47.6K ISK 5.8M

1.13%

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

$52.7K ISK 6.5M

$51.8K ISK 6.3M

1.91%

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

$89.3 ISK 10.9K

$88.4 ISK 10.8K

0.98%

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

$27.34 ISK 3,347

$27.80 ISK 3,404

-1.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.0 ISK 10.6K

$85.6 ISK 10.5K

1.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.2 ISK 10.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.45 ISK 4,586

Cinema Ticket

$17.63 ISK 2,159

$17.88 ISK 2,190

-1.40%

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

$318 ISK 38.9K

$322 ISK 39.5K

-1.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.7M

$30.5K ISK 3.7M

0.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.3K

$141 ISK 17.2K

0.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ISK 7,420

$62.2 ISK 7,611

-2.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.3K

$179 ISK 22.0K

1.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$262 ISK 32.1K

$261 ISK 31.9K

0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,244 ISK 274.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,065 ISK 252.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,173 ISK 388.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 ISK 334.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,787 ISK 953.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 ISK 796.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,496 ISK 550.5K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Reykjavik: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $147 in Hella versus $144 in Reykjavik. Groceries tell a different story – $593 in Hella vs $601 in Reykjavik – so Hella 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: $1,637 in Hella, $3,789 in Reykjavik – roughly 131% apart. Reykjavik costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,456 per month in Hella and $5,683 in Reykjavik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,637 in Hella and $3,789 in Reykjavik. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $318 per month in Hella and $322 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 $1,637, than in Reykjavik at $3,789. 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 $1,637 in Hella to $3,789 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.