Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Iceland and Cape Town
For one person, living is cheaper in Cape Town: $1,568 a month against $3,841 in Iceland, rent and utilities included – about $27,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Iceland Living Index185Cost of Living Index in IcelandLearn more -
Cape Town Living Index76Cost of Living Index in Cape TownLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Iceland is 127.4% more expensive than Cape Town without rent, and 145% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Iceland is 143% more expensive than Cape Town without rent, and 113.4% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Iceland
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.37 ISK 3,337
$11.78 R 194
132.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$125 ISK 15.2K
$46.55 R 768
168.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$24.08 ISK 2,937
$5.96 R 98.4
304.03%
Cappuccino
$6.19 ISK 755
$2.47 R 40.80
150.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 ISK 384
$1.33 R 21.91
136.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ISK 365
$1.03 R 16.99
190.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.47 ISK 1,521
$3.01 R 49.72
314.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.50 ISK 1,524
$3.66 R 60.4
241.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iceland
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.11 ISK 258
$1.39 R 22.96
51.80%
White Bread (500g)
$4.09 ISK 499
$1.19 R 19.60
243.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.45 ISK 421
$2.11 R 34.84
63.51%
Eggs
$7.23 ISK 882
$3.01 R 49.58
140.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.83 ISK 2,541
$8.96 R 148
132.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.61 ISK 3,001
$6.65 R 110
270.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.36 ISK 5,166
$9.29 R 153
355.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 ISK 387
$1.83 R 30.13
73.22%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 ISK 332
$1.90 R 31.31
43.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.20 ISK 390
$1.75 R 28.83
82.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.94 ISK 724
$2.09 R 34.41
184.21%
Potato (1kg)
$3.96 ISK 483
$1.55 R 25.64
155.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 ISK 226
$1.49 R 24.53
24.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.62 ISK 441
$1.30 R 21.41
178.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 ISK 236
$1.16 R 19.19
66.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.12 ISK 1,721
$3.71 R 61.2
280.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.36 ISK 2,849
$6.06 R 100
285.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.72 ISK 454
$1.39 R 22.85
167.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 ISK 396
$2.20 R 36.32
47.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Iceland
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.54 ISK 676
$1.51 R 24.98
266.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.7 ISK 11.3K
$61.0 R 1,006
52.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.87 ISK 838
$0.63 R 10.33
990.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 ISK 354
$1.53 R 25.29
89.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$81.6 ISK 9,947
$4.81 R 79.4
1595.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.36 ISK 288
$1.58 R 26.08
49.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.2K ISK 6.1M
$35.5K R 585.7K
41.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.5K ISK 6.5M
$31.7K R 523.8K
68.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iceland
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.5 ISK 11.8K
$116 R 1,920
-17.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.37 ISK 3,704
$28.37 R 468
7.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88.0 ISK 10.7K
$40.69 R 671
116.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iceland
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.8 ISK 11.0K
$48.85 R 806
83.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.7 ISK 6,183
$11.13 R 184
355.53%
Cinema Ticket
$18.98 ISK 2,314
$8.83 R 146
114.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iceland
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,053 ISK 128.4K
$261 R 4,314
302.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.4K ISK 3.7M
$6,702 R 110.6K
353.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iceland
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$154 ISK 18.8K
$55.4 R 914
178.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.13 ISK 5,869
$32.27 R 532
49.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$175 ISK 21.4K
$118 R 1,939
49.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$231 ISK 28.2K
$107 R 1,766
115.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iceland
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,476 ISK 301.9K
$1,015 R 16.7K
143.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,968 ISK 240.0K
$715 R 11.8K
175.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,333 ISK 406.4K
$1,801 R 29.7K
85.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,708 ISK 330.2K
$1,330 R 22.0K
103.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,695 ISK 938.4K
$2,331 R 38.5K
230.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,295 ISK 767.7K
$1,513 R 25.0K
316.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iceland
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,795 ISK 584.8K
$1,636 R 27.0K
193.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.29
10.97
-15.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iceland: October 3, 2026
Last update for Cape Town: October 4, 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%
Cape Town $715 45.3% 63.6% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Iceland $617 16.2%
Cape Town $222 14.1% 64% $395
Eating Out
Iceland $477 12.5%
Cape Town $174 11% 63.6% $304
Clothing & Footwear
Iceland $274 7.2%
Cape Town $141 8.9% 48.7% $134
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iceland $215 5.6%
Cape Town $185 11.7% 13.7% $29
Getting Around
Iceland $136 3.6%
Cape Town $75 4.8% 44.7% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Iceland $128 3.4%
Cape Town $67 4.2% 48% $61
Accommodation & Living
Iceland $2.7K 37.8%
Cape Town $1.3K 40.8% 50.9% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
Iceland $1.4K 20.1%
Cape Town $516 15.9% 64% $919
Eating Out
Iceland $1.6K 22%
Cape Town $587 18% 62.7% $986
Clothing & Footwear
Iceland $609 8.5%
Cape Town $312 9.6% 48.7% $297
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iceland $245 3.4%
Cape Town $214 6.6% 12.8% $31
Getting Around
Iceland $284 4%
Cape Town $154 4.7% 45.8% $130
Sport & Entertainment
Iceland $306 4.3%
Cape Town $144 4.4% 52.9% $162
Good to know
🇮🇸 Iceland
🇿🇦 Cape Town
Weather
Population
364,260
3,740,026 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Iceland Cape Town 11,460 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
- Iceland
- Cape Town
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
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