Cost of Living Comparison Between Nassau and Hafnarfjordur Cost of Living Comparison Between Nassau and Hafnarfjordur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,686 per month in Nassau vs $3,751 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,137 per month in Nassau vs $5,336 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,587 per month in Nassau vs $6,921 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

Nassau is about 2% cheaper than Hafnarfjordur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Nassau and Hafnarfjordur sit above the global median – Nassau by 175%, Hafnarfjordur by 180%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$40.79 BSD 40.79

$26.98 ISK 3,327

51.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$199 BSD 199

$142 ISK 17.5K

40.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.34 BSD 11.34

$16.42 ISK 2,025

-30.94%

Cappuccino

$5.79 BSD 5.79

$5.96 ISK 735

-2.85%

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

$2.31 BSD 2.31

$3.35 ISK 413

-31.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 BSD 1.80

$2.61 ISK 322

-31.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 BSD 5.09

$13.00 ISK 1,603

-60.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.41 BSD 7.41

$11.19 ISK 1,379

-33.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.88 BSD 4.88

$1.69 ISK 208

188.76%

White Bread (500g)

$5.84 BSD 5.84

$4.26 ISK 525

37.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.32 BSD 6.32

$3.70 ISK 456

70.81%

Eggs

$7.69 BSD 7.69

$6.51 ISK 803

18.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.65 BSD 8.65

$18.40 ISK 2,269

-52.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.92 BSD 11.92

$24.15 ISK 2,978

-50.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.95 BSD 20.95

$42.23 ISK 5,206

-50.39%

Apples (1kg)

$5.38 BSD 5.38

$3.37 ISK 415

59.64%

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 BSD 3.49

$2.33 ISK 288

49.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.78 BSD 4.78

$3.12 ISK 385

53.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.07 BSD 7.07

$5.09 ISK 628

38.90%

Potato (1kg)

$5.03 BSD 5.03

$3.58 ISK 442

40.50%

Onion (1kg)

$4.51 BSD 4.51

$2.44 ISK 301

84.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.54 BSD 3.54

$3.13 ISK 386

13.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.05 BSD 3.05

$2.02 ISK 250

50.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.76 BSD 13.76

$13.45 ISK 1,659

2.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$34.32 BSD 34.32

$23.69 ISK 2,921

44.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.97 BSD 3.97

$3.71 ISK 458

7.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 BSD 4.50

$3.36 ISK 414

33.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.35 BSD 1.35

$5.16 ISK 636

-73.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.74 BSD 45.74

$82.5 ISK 10.2K

-44.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 BSD 6.17

$6.43 ISK 793

-4.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.24 BSD 3.24

$2.62 ISK 323

23.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$99.5 BSD 99.5

$85.8 ISK 10.6K

16.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 BSD 1.41

$2.46 ISK 303

-42.68%

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

$37.1K BSD 37.1K

$47.6K ISK 5.9M

-22.18%

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

$43.4K BSD 43.4K

$52.1K ISK 6.4M

-16.64%

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

$297 BSD 297

$69.4 ISK 8,556

327.55%

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

$71.4 BSD 71.4

$26.97 ISK 3,326

164.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 BSD 102

$85.3 ISK 10.5K

19.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$133 BSD 133

$63.1 ISK 7,780

111.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.0 BSD 59.0

Cinema Ticket

$19.79 BSD 19.79

$16.25 ISK 2,003

21.78%

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

$711 BSD 711

$323 ISK 39.8K

120.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.3K BSD 15.3K

$30.5K ISK 3.8M

-49.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.1 BSD 65.1

$120 ISK 14.8K

-45.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.8 BSD 76.8

$61.4 ISK 7,567

25.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 BSD 115

$121 ISK 14.9K

-4.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 BSD 129

$265 ISK 32.7K

-51.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,840 BSD 1,840

$2,445 ISK 301.5K

-24.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,780 BSD 1,780

$1,973 ISK 243.2K

-9.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,716 BSD 3,716

$3,196 ISK 394.1K

16.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,638 BSD 3,638

$2,608 ISK 321.5K

39.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,233 BSD 4,233

$6,957 ISK 857.8K

-39.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,220 BSD 3,220

$6,897 ISK 850.4K

-53.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,382 BSD 3,382

$4,717 ISK 581.6K

-28.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.05

9.63

-26.79%

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

Last update for Nassau: May 30, 2026

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,840 in Nassau versus $2,445 in Hafnarfjordur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 39% higher in Hafnarfjordur, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $199 in Nassau versus $142 in Hafnarfjordur. Groceries tell a different story – $586 in Nassau vs $597 in Hafnarfjordur – so Nassau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Nassau vs Hafnarfjordur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hafnarfjordur costs about 2% more than Nassau, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,529 per month in Nassau and $5,627 in Hafnarfjordur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nassau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,686 in Nassau and $3,751 in Hafnarfjordur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 80% less in Nassau. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,686 in Nassau and $3,751 in Hafnarfjordur. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Nassau – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Nassau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hafnarfjordur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.