Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Keflavik and Saint Helier

For one person, living is cheaper in Keflavik: $3,018 a month against $3,375 in Saint Helier, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Saint Helier outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Keflavik, Iceland
Saint Helier, Jersey
Keflavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$3,018
/mo nomad
Saint Helier
🇯🇪 Jersey
$3,375
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Keflavik and in Saint Helier

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 Saint Helier actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,018 in Keflavik versus $3,375 in Saint Helier.

  • Keflavik $3,018
  • Saint Helier $3,375

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,529 in Keflavik versus $4,992 in Saint Helier.

  • Keflavik $4,529
  • Saint Helier $4,992

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,041 in Keflavik versus $6,608 in Saint Helier.

  • Keflavik $6,041
  • Saint Helier $6,608

Living in Keflavik costs roughly 11% less than in Saint Helier, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Keflavik 122% above, Saint Helier 148% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Keflavik
Saint Helier
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.11 ISK 2,927
$40.25 JEP 30.07
-40.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121 ISK 14.7K
$122 JEP 90.8
-0.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.25 ISK 2,458
$10.76 JEP 8.04
88.20%
Cappuccino
$4.22 ISK 513
$4.95 JEP 3.70
-14.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 ISK 408
$3.34 JEP 2.50
0.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 ISK 368
$2.51 JEP 1.88
20.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.25 ISK 1,001
$8.08 JEP 6.04
2.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.15 ISK 990
$6.29 JEP 4.70
29.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Keflavik
Saint Helier
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.11 ISK 256
$2.30 JEP 1.72
-8.26%
White Bread (500g)
$4.21 ISK 512
$2.82 JEP 2.11
49.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.50 ISK 303
$3.83 JEP 2.86
-34.73%
Eggs
$6.55 ISK 796
$6.16 JEP 4.60
6.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ISK 2,391
$7.24 JEP 5.41
172.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$23.90 ISK 2,902
$11.94 JEP 8.92
100.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.71 ISK 5,063
$18.58 JEP 13.88
124.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.44 ISK 296
$4.20 JEP 3.14
-41.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.41 ISK 292
$3.54 JEP 2.65
-31.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.50 ISK 303
$4.13 JEP 3.08
-39.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.16 ISK 504
$4.46 JEP 3.33
-6.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.12 ISK 378
$3.24 JEP 2.42
-3.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 ISK 199
$3.14 JEP 2.35
-47.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.62 ISK 440
$1.91 JEP 1.43
89.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 ISK 219
$2.57 JEP 1.92
-29.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.85 ISK 1,681
$19.77 JEP 14.77
-29.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.32 ISK 1,981
$10.79 JEP 8.06
51.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.73 ISK 453
$4.54 JEP 3.39
-17.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 ISK 341
$7.87 JEP 5.88
-64.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Keflavik
Saint Helier
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.68 ISK 447
$3.39 JEP 2.53
8.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.2 ISK 9,366
$69.7 JEP 52.0
10.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.35 ISK 771
$5.39 JEP 4.03
17.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.59 ISK 314
$2.42 JEP 1.81
7.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$80.2 ISK 9,738
$52.5 JEP 39.22
52.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 ISK 243
$2.12 JEP 1.59
-5.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$68.2K ISK 8.3M
$26.4K JEP 19.7K
157.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.2K ISK 6.7M
$37.2K JEP 27.8K
48.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Keflavik
Saint Helier
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.8 ISK 11.6K
$318 JEP 237
-69.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.13 ISK 3,900
$44.74 JEP 33.42
-28.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.5 ISK 10.3K
$74.6 JEP 55.7
13.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Keflavik
Saint Helier
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 ISK 9,316
$76.7 JEP 57.3
0.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.22 JEP 21.08
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.58 ISK 2,377
$19.74 JEP 14.74
-0.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Keflavik
Saint Helier
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$406 ISK 49.3K
$2,272 JEP 1,697
-82.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.4K ISK 3.2M
$12.0K JEP 8,980
119.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Keflavik
Saint Helier
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$148 ISK 18.0K
$105 JEP 78.3
41.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.8 ISK 8,104
$72.1 JEP 53.9
-7.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$184 ISK 22.4K
$119 JEP 89.0
54.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$190 ISK 23.1K
$207 JEP 155
-8.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Keflavik
Saint Helier
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,862 ISK 226.0K
$1,873 JEP 1,399
-0.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,359 ISK 165.0K
$1,581 JEP 1,181
-14.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,527 ISK 306.7K
$3,115 JEP 2,327
-18.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ISK 247.7K
$2,550 JEP 1,905
-19.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$11.7K JEP 8,752
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$10.5K JEP 7,827
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Keflavik
Saint Helier
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,819 ISK 463.6K
$4,623 JEP 3,453
-17.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
4.08
115.93%

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

Last update for Keflavik: October 26, 2026

Last update for Saint Helier: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Keflavik
$1.4K
Saint Helier
$1.6K 16.3% $221
Groceries & Markets
Keflavik
$566
Saint Helier
$424 25.1% $142
Eating Out
Keflavik
$387
Saint Helier
$490 26.5% $103
Clothing & Footwear
Keflavik
$265
Saint Helier
$227 14.6% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Keflavik
$212
Saint Helier
$437 106% $225
Sport & Entertainment
Keflavik
$116
Saint Helier
$116 0.3% $0.3
Getting Around
Keflavik
$111
Saint Helier
$101 9.4% $10

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,862 in Keflavik and $1,873 in Saint Helier. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Helier pays 21% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $121 in Keflavik vs $122 in Saint Helier. Groceries flip the comparison at $566 vs $424, with Saint Helier cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Keflavik
🇯🇪 Saint Helier
🕒 Local time
01:06 1:06 AM
01:06 1:06 AM
Same time as Keflavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,000
32,522 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JEP, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.38 EUR).

Jersey Pound exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.747 JEP (1 JEP = 1.34 USD). 1 EUR = 0.834 JEP (1 JEP = 1.2 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Keflavik Saint Helier 2,050 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Keflavik
  • Saint Helier

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 Saint Helier: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Keflavik or Saint Helier?
Keflavik wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Saint Helier. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Keflavik the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Keflavik or in Saint Helier?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Keflavik. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Keflavik compared to Saint Helier?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,862 in Keflavik versus $1,873 in Saint Helier. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Keflavik or in Saint Helier?
Shoppers in Saint Helier pay roughly 25% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Keflavik compared to Saint Helier?
All in, you’ll spend $3,018 per month in Keflavik versus $3,375 in Saint Helier – Keflavik is about 11% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Keflavik or in Saint Helier?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Keflavik is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Keflavik or Saint Helier?
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.
How safe is Keflavik compared to Saint Helier?
Safety-wise, Keflavik and Saint Helier are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Should I move to Keflavik or to Saint Helier?
It comes down to priorities – Keflavik wins on affordability, Saint Helier on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Keflavik vs other spots: cost of living compared

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