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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,627 per month in Hella vs $3,849 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,850 per month in Hella vs $5,457 in Reykjavik, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,074 per month in Hella vs $7,065 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 22%, Reykjavik by 189%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.50 ISK 3,276

$26.85 ISK 3,319

-1.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 18.2K

$142 ISK 17.6K

3.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.27 ISK 2,753

$22.18 ISK 2,741

0.41%

Cappuccino

$6.01 ISK 743

$6.17 ISK 763

-2.59%

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

$3.26 ISK 403

$3.24 ISK 401

0.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ISK 312

$2.62 ISK 324

-3.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.63 ISK 1,561

$12.69 ISK 1,569

-0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.04 ISK 1,365

$11.39 ISK 1,408

-3.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ISK 240

$1.87 ISK 231

3.74%

White Bread (500g)

$4.30 ISK 532

$4.30 ISK 531

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 ISK 462

$3.56 ISK 440

5.06%

Eggs

$6.40 ISK 791

$6.28 ISK 777

1.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.20 ISK 2,250

$18.25 ISK 2,255

-0.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.23 ISK 2,995

$23.69 ISK 2,929

2.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.93 ISK 5,183

$42.14 ISK 5,209

-0.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 ISK 398

$3.33 ISK 412

-3.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 ISK 314

$2.41 ISK 298

5.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 375

$3.00 ISK 370

1.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 ISK 612

$5.12 ISK 633

-3.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ISK 439

$3.58 ISK 442

-0.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 ISK 286

$2.36 ISK 292

-2.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 ISK 387

$3.14 ISK 388

-0.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 ISK 241

$2.03 ISK 251

-3.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.41 ISK 1,658

$13.89 ISK 1,717

-3.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.81 ISK 2,820

$23.38 ISK 2,890

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 ISK 439

$3.58 ISK 442

-0.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 ISK 416

$3.21 ISK 397

4.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.09 ISK 629

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.7 ISK 10.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ISK 803

$6.37 ISK 787

1.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.61 ISK 323

$2.56 ISK 316

1.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$84.9 ISK 10.5K

$86.9 ISK 10.7K

-2.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.47 ISK 305

$2.45 ISK 303

0.82%

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

$48.2K ISK 6.0M

$48.1K ISK 5.9M

0.10%

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

$52.6K ISK 6.5M

0.17%

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

$88.7 ISK 11.0K

$87.4 ISK 10.8K

1.52%

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

$27.34 ISK 3,380

$27.40 ISK 3,386

-0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.8 ISK 10.4K

$86.5 ISK 10.7K

-3.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.6 ISK 10.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.79 ISK 4,671

Cinema Ticket

$17.86 ISK 2,208

$17.41 ISK 2,152

2.58%

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

$317 ISK 39.1K

$322 ISK 39.8K

-1.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K ISK 3.7M

$30.1K ISK 3.7M

0.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 ISK 17.4K

$137 ISK 16.9K

2.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.7 ISK 7,748

$61.0 ISK 7,536

2.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.4K

-0.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$261 ISK 32.2K

$271 ISK 33.5K

-3.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 ISK 275.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 ISK 251.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,171 ISK 392.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,699 ISK 333.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,931 ISK 980.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,333 ISK 782.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,563 ISK 564.0K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Reykjavik: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $147 in Hella versus $142 in Reykjavik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $594 vs $593 – making Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,627 in Hella, $3,849 in Reykjavik – roughly 137% apart. Reykjavik costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,440 per month in Hella and $5,774 in Reykjavik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,627 in Hella and $3,849 in Reykjavik. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $317 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 $1,627, than in Reykjavik at $3,849. 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 $1,627 in Hella to $3,849 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.