Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Iceland and Budapest
For one person, living is cheaper in Budapest: $1,621 a month against $3,841 in Iceland, rent and utilities included – about $26,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
-
Iceland Living Index185Cost of Living Index in IcelandLearn more -
Budapest Living Index79Cost of Living Index in BudapestLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Iceland is 110% more expensive than Budapest without rent, and 136.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Iceland is 111.1% more expensive than Budapest without rent, and 102.3% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Iceland
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.37 ISK 3,337
$13.99 Ft 4,551
95.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$125 ISK 15.2K
$60.3 Ft 19.6K
106.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$24.08 ISK 2,937
$9.96 Ft 3,241
141.77%
Cappuccino
$6.19 ISK 755
$3.38 Ft 1,100
83.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 ISK 384
$2.13 Ft 692
47.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ISK 365
$1.87 Ft 608
59.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.47 ISK 1,521
$3.75 Ft 1,221
232.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.50 ISK 1,524
$3.57 Ft 1,162
250.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iceland
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.11 ISK 258
$1.13 Ft 368
86.73%
White Bread (500g)
$4.09 ISK 499
$1.84 Ft 599
122.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.45 ISK 421
$2.39 Ft 777
44.35%
Eggs
$7.23 ISK 882
$3.83 Ft 1,245
88.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.83 ISK 2,541
$11.33 Ft 3,686
83.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.61 ISK 3,001
$6.74 Ft 2,192
265.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.36 ISK 5,166
$14.69 Ft 4,780
188.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 ISK 387
$1.84 Ft 597
72.28%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 ISK 332
$2.01 Ft 653
35.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.20 ISK 390
$2.36 Ft 767
35.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.94 ISK 724
$3.77 Ft 1,226
57.56%
Potato (1kg)
$3.96 ISK 483
$0.96 Ft 313
312.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 ISK 226
$1.03 Ft 334
79.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.62 ISK 441
$1.56 Ft 509
132.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 ISK 236
$0.66 Ft 216
192.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.12 ISK 1,721
$7.96 Ft 2,591
77.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.36 ISK 2,849
$6.01 Ft 1,954
288.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.72 ISK 454
$1.30 Ft 421
186.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 ISK 396
$2.08 Ft 676
56.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Iceland
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.54 ISK 676
$1.50 Ft 489
269.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.7 ISK 11.3K
$27.61 Ft 8,982
235.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.87 ISK 838
$3.30 Ft 1,074
108.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 ISK 354
$1.30 Ft 424
123.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$81.6 ISK 9,947
$19.78 Ft 6,436
312.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.36 ISK 288
$1.81 Ft 591
30.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.2K ISK 6.1M
$29.3K Ft 9.5M
71.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.5K ISK 6.5M
$34.1K Ft 11.1M
56.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iceland
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.5 ISK 11.8K
$170 Ft 55.3K
-43.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.37 ISK 3,704
$23.98 Ft 7,802
26.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88.0 ISK 10.7K
$23.42 Ft 7,621
275.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iceland
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.8 ISK 11.0K
$66.2 Ft 21.6K
35.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.7 ISK 6,183
$19.18 Ft 6,239
164.34%
Cinema Ticket
$18.98 ISK 2,314
$9.52 Ft 3,098
99.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iceland
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,053 ISK 128.4K
$537 Ft 174.6K
96.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.4K ISK 3.7M
$16.6K Ft 5.4M
83.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iceland
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$154 ISK 18.8K
$101 Ft 33.0K
52.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.13 ISK 5,869
$42.99 Ft 14.0K
11.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$175 ISK 21.4K
$113 Ft 36.7K
55.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$231 ISK 28.2K
$119 Ft 38.6K
94.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iceland
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,476 ISK 301.9K
$805 Ft 262.0K
207.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,968 ISK 240.0K
$629 Ft 204.7K
212.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,333 ISK 406.4K
$1,549 Ft 504.1K
115.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,708 ISK 330.2K
$1,167 Ft 379.7K
132.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,695 ISK 938.4K
$5,618 Ft 1.8M
36.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,295 ISK 767.7K
$3,968 Ft 1.3M
58.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iceland
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,795 ISK 584.8K
$1,626 Ft 529.0K
194.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.29
6.43
44.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iceland: October 3, 2026
Last update for Budapest: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Iceland $2K 51.6%
Budapest $629 38.7% 68% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Iceland $617 16.2%
Budapest $258 15.8% 58.3% $360
Eating Out
Iceland $477 12.5%
Budapest $224 13.8% 53% $253
Clothing & Footwear
Iceland $274 7.2%
Budapest $169 10.4% 38.3% $105
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iceland $215 5.6%
Budapest $217 13.4% 1.2% $2.5
Getting Around
Iceland $136 3.6%
Budapest $43 2.7% 68.1% $93
Sport & Entertainment
Iceland $128 3.4%
Budapest $85 5.2% 33.3% $43
Accommodation & Living
Iceland $2.7K 37.8%
Budapest $1.2K 34.1% 56.9% $1.5K
Groceries & Markets
Iceland $1.4K 20.1%
Budapest $607 17.7% 57.7% $828
Eating Out
Iceland $1.6K 22%
Budapest $753 22% 52.1% $820
Clothing & Footwear
Iceland $609 8.5%
Budapest $376 11% 38.3% $233
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iceland $245 3.4%
Budapest $241 7.1% 1.6% $3.9
Getting Around
Iceland $284 4%
Budapest $90 2.6% 68.3% $194
Sport & Entertainment
Iceland $306 4.3%
Budapest $190 5.5% 38.1% $117
Good to know
🇮🇸 Iceland
🇭🇺 Budapest
Weather
Population
364,260
1,686,222 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Iceland Budapest 3,070 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
- Iceland
- Budapest
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Similar countries
185
Cost of Living Index in Sint Maarten
Learn more
🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands
190
Cost of Living Index in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Learn more