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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,803 per month in Iceland vs $846 in Brazil, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,687 per month in Iceland vs $1,346 in Brazil, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,570 per month in Iceland vs $1,845 in Brazil, rent included.

The cost of living in Iceland is about 113% higher than in Brazil on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Iceland sits 31% above the global median, while Brazil is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.87 ISK 3,477
$6.47 R$33.16
346.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 ISK 14.7K
$33.65 R$173
262.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$23.81 ISK 2,867
$7.92 R$40.59
200.63%
Cappuccino
$6.49 ISK 781
$2.07 R$10.61
213.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 ISK 400
$1.26 R$6.48
163.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 ISK 379
$0.74 R$3.77
325.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.32 ISK 1,484
$1.92 R$9.86
541.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.38 ISK 1,492
$2.94 R$15.09
321.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ISK 247
$1.08 R$5.52
89.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.00 ISK 482
$1.74 R$8.92
129.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.61 ISK 435
$1.30 R$6.69
177.69%
Eggs
$6.98 ISK 841
$2.23 R$11.42
213.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.45 ISK 2,463
$9.16 R$46.94
123.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$25.49 ISK 3,070
$4.33 R$22.22
488.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.73 ISK 5,027
$8.46 R$43.35
393.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 ISK 380
$2.22 R$11.37
42.34%
Banana (1kg)
$2.79 ISK 336
$1.33 R$6.81
109.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.09 ISK 372
$1.20 R$6.16
157.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.95 ISK 716
$1.52 R$7.78
291.45%
Potato (1kg)
$3.89 ISK 469
$1.19 R$6.13
226.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 ISK 234
$1.07 R$5.47
81.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.75 ISK 452
$0.84 R$4.30
346.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 ISK 234
$0.80 R$4.09
142.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.21 ISK 1,712
$2.39 R$12.27
494.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.35 ISK 2,812
$7.62 R$39.06
206.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.75 ISK 452
$1.36 R$6.98
175.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 ISK 407
$2.32 R$11.89
45.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.71 ISK 688
$1.02 R$5.23
459.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.5 ISK 11.4K
$44.47 R$228
112.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.59 ISK 794
$1.30 R$6.66
406.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.87 ISK 346
$0.94 R$4.83
205.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$74.2 ISK 8,933
$8.03 R$41.15
823.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 ISK 276
$1.25 R$6.39
83.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.4K ISK 6.1M
$23.0K R$117.7K
119.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.2K ISK 6.7M
$31.6K R$161.8K
74.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.0 ISK 11.9K
$81.0 R$415
22.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.11 ISK 3,867
$12.79 R$65.6
151.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.1 ISK 10.5K
$20.82 R$107
318.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.8 ISK 10.8K
$25.51 R$131
252.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$51.5 ISK 6,207
$26.17 R$134
96.94%
Cinema Ticket
$19.34 ISK 2,329
$6.99 R$35.81
176.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$958 ISK 115.4K
$337 R$1,725
184.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.6K ISK 3.8M
$8,862 R$45.4K
256.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$157 ISK 18.9K
$53.1 R$272
195.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.70 ISK 5,986
$48.80 R$250
1.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$171 ISK 20.6K
$88.6 R$454
93.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$239 ISK 28.8K
$68.5 R$351
248.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,439 ISK 293.8K
$377 R$1,933
546.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,988 ISK 239.5K
$244 R$1,250
715.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,409 ISK 410.6K
$724 R$3,713
370.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,698 ISK 325.0K
$477 R$2,445
465.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,754 ISK 933.9K
$1,846 R$9,462
320.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,360 ISK 766.1K
$1,262 R$6,469
404.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iceland
Brazil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,935 ISK 594.4K
$524 R$2,686
841.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.3
11.19
-16.89%

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

Last update for Iceland: September 6, 2026

Last update for Brazil: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $559 in Iceland vs $341 in Brazil. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,489 in Reykjavik and $479 in Brasilia.

Average salary: $5,043 in Iceland vs $487 in Brazil. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 64% higher in Iceland.

Dining out costs 163% more in Iceland.

Public transport is 105% more expensive in Brazil.

Salaries are 936% 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 97% 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 97% 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.

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