Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Keflavik and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,663 a month against $2,992 in Keflavik, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. The total is higher in Keflavik despite lower rent and utilities.

147

Cost of Living Index in Keflavik
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Keflavik Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Keflavik

🇮🇸 Iceland

$2,992

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Keflavik and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Keflavik and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,992 in Keflavik versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Keflavik $2,992
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,538 in Keflavik versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Keflavik $4,538
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,084 in Keflavik versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Keflavik $6,084
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Keflavik is roughly 12% more expensive than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Keflavik 122% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.71 ISK 2,997

$20.77 $20.77

18.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$124 ISK 15.0K

$84.6 $84.6

46.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.40 ISK 2,475

$12.32 $12.32

65.58%

Cappuccino

$4.06 ISK 493

$5.63 $5.63

-27.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ISK 386

$3.72 $3.72

-14.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 ISK 387

$2.50 $2.50

27.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.00 ISK 970

$8.05 $8.05

-0.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.34 ISK 1,012

$9.01 $9.01

-7.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ISK 255

$1.12 $1.12

87.50%

White Bread (500g)

$4.23 ISK 513

$3.75 $3.75

12.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.53 ISK 307

$3.26 $3.26

-22.39%

Eggs

$6.32 ISK 767

$4.17 $4.17

51.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.06 ISK 2,311

$12.90 $12.90

47.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.38 ISK 2,958

$14.16 $14.16

72.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.25 ISK 5,003

$16.22 $16.22

154.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 ISK 301

$4.33 $4.33

-42.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ISK 304

$1.46 $1.46

71.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.44 ISK 296

$4.51 $4.51

-45.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 ISK 486

$4.34 $4.34

-7.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 ISK 388

$2.58 $2.58

24.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 ISK 206

$2.35 $2.35

-27.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.84 ISK 465

$1.78 $1.78

115.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ISK 215

$2.22 $2.22

-19.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.97 ISK 1,695

$9.88 $9.88

41.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.58 ISK 2,012

$15.08 $15.08

9.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.61 ISK 438

$2.92 $2.92

23.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ISK 356

$3.46 $3.46

-15.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.68 ISK 446

$1.49 $1.49

146.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.6 ISK 9,407

$41.72 $41.72

85.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.63 ISK 804

$2.73 $2.73

142.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 ISK 312

$1.66 $1.66

55.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$80.2 ISK 9,727

$35.30 $35.30

127.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.10 ISK 255

$0.95 $0.95

121.05%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$50.1K ISK 6.1M

$36.0K $36.0K

39.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$54.7K ISK 6.6M

$27.1K $27.1K

101.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$94.8 ISK 11.5K

$229 $229

-58.60%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.29 ISK 4,038

$59.4 $59.4

-43.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.0 ISK 10.3K

$69.9 $69.9

21.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.5 ISK 9,526

$57.2 $57.2

37.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

Cinema Ticket

$19.48 ISK 2,363

$14.28 $14.28

36.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$407 ISK 49.3K

$1,506 $1,506

-73.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.7K ISK 3.1M

$21.5K $21.5K

19.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$152 ISK 18.4K

$52.8 $52.8

187.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.4 ISK 7,934

$43.82 $43.82

49.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.0K

$84.8 $84.8

114.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$191 ISK 23.1K

$103 $103

85.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,896 ISK 230.0K

$1,907 $1,907

-0.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 ISK 161.2K

$1,274 $1,274

4.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,516 ISK 305.1K

$3,664 $3,664

-31.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,061 ISK 250.0K

$2,538 $2,538

-18.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,752 ISK 455.0K

$5,121 $5,121

-26.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.81

6.79

29.75%

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

Last update for Keflavik: October 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Keflavik

$1.3K 44.4%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 4.1% $55

Groceries & Markets

Keflavik

$566 18.9%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 28.5% $161

Eating Out

Keflavik

$390 13%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 9.2% $36

Clothing & Footwear

Keflavik

$265 8.9%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 51.8% $137

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Keflavik

$213 7.1%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 68.1% $145

Sport & Entertainment

Keflavik

$118 3.9%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 27% $32

Getting Around

Keflavik

$112 3.7%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 47.5% $53

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,896 in Keflavik and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $124 in Keflavik vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $566 vs $405 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇮🇸 Keflavik

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

00:17 12:17 AM

19:17 7:17 PM

5 h behind Keflavik

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

15,000

974,447

💱 Currency

Icelandic Króna ISK kr

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD

1,000 ISK = 7.33 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇮🇸 Icelandic Króna (kr)

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.33 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to ISK in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Keflavik Austin, TX 6,300 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Keflavik
Austin, TX

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

Keflavik vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Keflavik. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,896 in Keflavik versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,992 per month in Keflavik versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 86% less than in Keflavik. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Keflavik and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Keflavik. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.