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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,694 per month in Hella vs $4,054 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,923 per month in Hella vs $5,691 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Hella vs $7,329 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 24%, Reykjavik by 196%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.93 ISK 3,645

$30.01 ISK 3,655

-0.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$137 ISK 16.6K

$134 ISK 16.3K

2.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$26.99 ISK 3,287

$27.02 ISK 3,292

-0.11%

Cappuccino

$6.87 ISK 837

$7.03 ISK 857

-2.28%

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

$3.25 ISK 396

$3.36 ISK 410

-3.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ISK 392

$3.35 ISK 408

-4.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.88 ISK 1,690

$13.80 ISK 1,681

0.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.29 ISK 1,497

$12.17 ISK 1,482

0.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ISK 259

$2.03 ISK 248

4.43%

White Bread (500g)

$4.32 ISK 526

$4.29 ISK 522

0.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.69 ISK 450

$3.51 ISK 428

5.13%

Eggs

$7.01 ISK 854

$7.13 ISK 869

-1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.12 ISK 2,573

$21.15 ISK 2,576

-0.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.72 ISK 3,011

$25.14 ISK 3,062

-1.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.94 ISK 5,230

$42.98 ISK 5,234

-0.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ISK 408

$3.38 ISK 412

-0.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 ISK 356

$2.85 ISK 347

2.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 ISK 385

$3.33 ISK 406

-5.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.25 ISK 762

$6.30 ISK 767

-0.79%

Potato (1kg)

$4.13 ISK 504

$4.08 ISK 497

1.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 ISK 202

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.81 ISK 465

$3.66 ISK 446

4.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ISK 214

$1.76 ISK 215

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.87 ISK 1,690

$13.96 ISK 1,700

-0.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.10 ISK 2,936

$23.46 ISK 2,858

2.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.79 ISK 462

$3.73 ISK 455

1.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ISK 410

$3.49 ISK 425

-3.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.55 ISK 676

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.3 ISK 11.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 ISK 827

$6.56 ISK 799

3.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.83 ISK 345

$2.89 ISK 351

-2.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$74.9 ISK 9,118

$73.8 ISK 8,985

1.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 ISK 246

$2.00 ISK 243

1.00%

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

$50.8K ISK 6.2M

$50.6K ISK 6.2M

0.40%

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

$54.3K ISK 6.6M

$54.2K ISK 6.6M

0.30%

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

$88.2 ISK 10.7K

$88.8 ISK 10.8K

-0.71%

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

$32.75 ISK 3,989

$32.93 ISK 4,011

-0.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.8 ISK 10.2K

$83.1 ISK 10.1K

0.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.3 ISK 11.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.54 ISK 6,034

Cinema Ticket

$19.68 ISK 2,396

$19.82 ISK 2,414

-0.71%

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

$1,190 ISK 144.9K

$1,213 ISK 147.7K

-1.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.7M

$31.2K ISK 3.8M

-1.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$161 ISK 19.6K

$156 ISK 19.0K

3.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.1 ISK 8,170

$66.3 ISK 8,076

1.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.1K

$178 ISK 21.7K

1.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$252 ISK 30.6K

$247 ISK 30.1K

1.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,466 ISK 300.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 ISK 253.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,438 ISK 418.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,764 ISK 336.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,085 ISK 984.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,258 ISK 762.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,745 ISK 577.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.88

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

Last update for Hella: September 14, 2026

Last update for Reykjavik: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $137 in Hella versus $134 in Reykjavik. Groceries tell a different story – $627 in Hella vs $627 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: $1,694 in Hella, $4,054 in Reykjavik – roughly 139% apart. Reykjavik costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,541 per month in Hella and $6,080 in Reykjavik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,694 in Hella and $4,054 in Reykjavik. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,190 per month in Hella and $1,213 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 $1,694, than in Reykjavik at $4,054. 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 $1,694 in Hella to $4,054 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.