Cost of Living Comparison Between Iceland and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Iceland and China

😐 Solo nomad: Iceland is 257.2% more expensive than China without rent, and 362.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Iceland is 259.2% more expensive than China without rent, and 284.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iceland
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.87 ISK 3,353
$2.85 ¥20.46
842.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$126 ISK 15.7K
$23.97 ¥172
426.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.34 ISK 2,538
$4.96 ¥35.61
310.08%
Cappuccino
$6.09 ISK 760
$3.13 ¥22.47
94.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 ISK 419
$0.44 ¥3.18
663.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.7 ISK 337
$0.29 ¥2.1
831.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.07 ISK 1,506
$0.95 ¥6.83
1170.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.47 ISK 1,306
$2.14 ¥15.32
389.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iceland
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ISK 243
$1.85 ¥13.23
5.41%
White Bread (500g)
$4.07 ISK 508
$1.68 ¥12.06
142.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.48 ISK 434
$0.95 ¥6.81
266.32%
Eggs
$6.36 ISK 793
$1.55 ¥11.11
310.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.36 ISK 2,290
$13.25 ¥95.1
38.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.71 ISK 3,082
$3.28 ¥23.52
653.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.1 ISK 5,251
$10.85 ¥77.8
288.02%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 ISK 397
$1.77 ¥12.66
79.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.49 ISK 310
$1.26 ¥9.01
97.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 ISK 365
$1.5 ¥10.73
94.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.86 ISK 606
$1.19 ¥8.5
308.40%
Potato (1kg)
$3.68 ISK 460
$0.75 ¥5.4
390.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 ISK 281
$0.86 ¥6.15
162.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.17 ISK 396
$0.61 ¥4.37
419.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.2 ISK 274
$0.58 ¥4.14
279.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.05 ISK 1,753
$3.45 ¥24.74
307.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.13 ISK 3,010
$11.3 ¥81.1
113.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.63 ISK 453
$0.84 ¥6
332.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ISK 401
$1.68 ¥12.05
91.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Iceland
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.24 ISK 653
$0.4 ¥2.86
1210.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.3 ISK 10.5K
$20.83 ¥149
304.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.26 ISK 781
$1.36 ¥9.74
360.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 ISK 296
$0.35 ¥2.55
577.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$86.5 ISK 10.8K
$6.8 ¥48.75
1172.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.46 ISK 307
$1.12 ¥8.05
119.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.9K ISK 6M
$19.2K ¥137.7K
149.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54K ISK 6.7M
$16.7K ¥119.8K
223.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iceland
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.4 ISK 11.3K
$51.4 ¥369
75.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.54 ISK 3,435
$9.77 ¥70.1
181.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.9 ISK 10.7K
$11.34 ¥81.3
657.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iceland
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$81.8 ISK 10.2K
$39.55 ¥284
106.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.74 ISK 4,708
$14.89 ¥107
153.46%
Cinema Ticket
$17.35 ISK 2,164
$6.23 ¥44.71
178.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iceland
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$348 ISK 43.4K
$417 ¥2,989
-16.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.5K ISK 3.7M
$17.7K ¥126.8K
67.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iceland
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$137 ISK 17.1K
$45.65 ¥327
199.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.2 ISK 8,005
$33.49 ¥240
91.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$171 ISK 21.4K
$71.8 ¥515
138.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$254 ISK 31.6K
$72.9 ¥523
248.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iceland
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,216 ISK 276.4K
$445 ¥3,194
397.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,002 ISK 249.8K
$255 ¥1,830
685.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,148 ISK 392.7K
$915 ¥6,566
243.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,722 ISK 339.5K
$543 ¥3,895
401.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,550 ISK 941.9K
$6,142 ¥44.1K
22.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,306 ISK 786.7K
$2,860 ¥20.5K
120.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iceland
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,591 ISK 572.7K
$942 ¥6,755
387.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.88
4.06
143.35%

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

Last update for Iceland: October 28, 2025

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

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