Cost of Living Comparison Between Iceland and Brazil Cost of Living Comparison Between Iceland and Brazil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,713 per month in Iceland vs $765 in Brazil, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,544 per month in Iceland vs $1,224 in Brazil, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,375 per month in Iceland vs $1,682 in Brazil, rent included.

The cost of living in Iceland is about 124% higher than in Brazil on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Iceland sits 28% above the global median, while Brazil is 43% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.73 ISK 3,331
$5.26 R$26.89
408.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$129 ISK 16.1K
$29.40 R$150
339.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.72 ISK 2,457
$6.32 R$32.30
212.03%
Cappuccino
$6.00 ISK 748
$1.71 R$8.75
250.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ISK 412
$1.08 R$5.54
205.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 ISK 329
$0.71 R$3.65
271.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.00 ISK 1,495
$1.76 R$8.99
581.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.46 ISK 1,304
$2.67 R$13.66
291.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 ISK 244
$0.97 R$4.96
102.06%
White Bread (500g)
$4.14 ISK 516
$1.48 R$7.55
179.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.48 ISK 434
$1.22 R$6.26
185.25%
Eggs
$6.59 ISK 821
$2.10 R$10.72
213.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.61 ISK 2,319
$8.58 R$43.85
116.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.58 ISK 3,063
$3.69 R$18.86
566.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$43.45 ISK 5,414
$7.53 R$38.47
477.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 ISK 377
$2.10 R$10.76
43.81%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 ISK 309
$1.29 R$6.57
92.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.87 ISK 358
$1.19 R$6.06
141.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.93 ISK 614
$1.42 R$7.25
247.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.61 ISK 449
$1.17 R$5.98
208.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 ISK 276
$1.09 R$5.59
102.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.16 ISK 393
$0.70 R$3.60
351.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 ISK 275
$0.66 R$3.36
234.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.04 ISK 1,749
$2.20 R$11.26
538.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.88 ISK 2,726
$7.79 R$39.83
180.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.78 ISK 470
$1.19 R$6.07
217.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 ISK 379
$2.20 R$11.25
38.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.37 ISK 669
$0.86 R$4.38
524.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.5 ISK 10.5K
$40.96 R$209
106.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 ISK 782
$1.11 R$5.65
465.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.25 ISK 281
$0.88 R$4.48
155.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$86.0 ISK 10.7K
$7.15 R$36.53
1102.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.53 ISK 315
$1.09 R$5.56
132.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.5K ISK 5.9M
$21.6K R$110.3K
119.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.4K ISK 6.7M
$28.0K R$143.3K
90.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.9 ISK 11.2K
$68.7 R$351
30.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.33 ISK 3,406
$13.97 R$71.4
95.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.2 ISK 10.7K
$18.99 R$97.1
353.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$81.5 ISK 10.2K
$22.60 R$116
260.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.90 ISK 4,723
$22.90 R$117
65.50%
Cinema Ticket
$17.71 ISK 2,207
$6.45 R$32.94
174.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$345 ISK 43.0K
$283 R$1,447
21.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.3K ISK 3.8M
$7,455 R$38.1K
306.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$140 ISK 17.4K
$48.29 R$247
189.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.7 ISK 8,064
$43.14 R$220
50.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$172 ISK 21.5K
$74.9 R$383
130.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$251 ISK 31.3K
$62.1 R$318
304.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 ISK 271.6K
$327 R$1,672
566.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 ISK 253.1K
$227 R$1,158
796.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,177 ISK 395.8K
$650 R$3,320
388.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,700 ISK 336.4K
$450 R$2,301
499.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,642 ISK 952.2K
$1,866 R$9,538
309.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,054 ISK 754.3K
$1,259 R$6,433
380.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,559 ISK 568.0K
$527 R$2,693
765.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.88
11.16
-11.47%

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

Last update for Iceland: July 11, 2026

Last update for Brazil: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $531 in Iceland vs $305 in Brazil. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,254 in Reykjavik and $409 in Brasilia.

Average salary: $4,859 in Iceland vs $484 in Brazil. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 74% higher in Iceland.

Dining out costs 211% more in Iceland.

Public transport is 105% more expensive in Brazil.

Salaries are 904% higher in Iceland, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Iceland.

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
Iceland vs Brazil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and Iceland compare in cost of living?
Brazil is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 138% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Brazil and Iceland?
Housing costs more in Iceland, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Iceland consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Brazil or Iceland?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Brazil, contributing to the overall 138% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $2,000 go in Brazil compared to Iceland?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Brazil, but in Iceland it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and in Iceland?
Brazil is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Iceland vs other spots: cost of living compared

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