Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nova Friburgo and Reykjavik

For one person, living is cheaper in Nova Friburgo: $611 a month against $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $40,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Nova Friburgo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$611
/mo nomad
Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,002
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nova Friburgo and in Reykjavik

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $611 in Nova Friburgo versus $4,002 in Reykjavik.

  • Nova Friburgo $611
  • Reykjavik $4,002

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,026 in Nova Friburgo versus $5,705 in Reykjavik.

  • Nova Friburgo $1,026
  • Reykjavik $5,705

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,440 in Nova Friburgo versus $7,407 in Reykjavik.

  • Nova Friburgo $1,440
  • Reykjavik $7,407

Living in Nova Friburgo costs roughly 85% less than in Reykjavik, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nova Friburgo is 55% below, Reykjavik is 196% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nova Friburgo
Reykjavik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.87 R$29.44
$31.56 ISK 3,834
-81.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.15 R$151
$122 ISK 14.9K
-75.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.38 R$32.01
$26.86 ISK 3,263
-76.25%
Cappuccino
$1.76 R$8.84
$6.81 ISK 828
-74.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 R$4.42
$3.39 ISK 411
-74.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 R$2.89
$3.20 ISK 389
-81.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.19 R$5.95
$14.14 ISK 1,717
-91.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 R$12.30
$12.31 ISK 1,495
-80.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nova Friburgo
Reykjavik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 R$4.85
$2.10 ISK 255
-53.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 R$7.58
$4.19 ISK 509
-63.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 R$6.94
$3.72 ISK 452
-62.90%
Eggs
$1.94 R$9.75
$7.05 ISK 857
-72.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.21 R$46.22
$21.56 ISK 2,619
-57.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 R$17.16
$24.68 ISK 2,998
-86.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.52 R$47.79
$42.19 ISK 5,125
-77.44%
Apples (1kg)
$1.62 R$8.14
$3.23 ISK 393
-49.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 R$6.04
$2.73 ISK 332
-56.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.93 R$4.65
$3.17 ISK 385
-70.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 R$6.43
$6.61 ISK 804
-80.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 R$3.25
$3.85 ISK 467
-83.12%
Onion (1kg)
$0.81 R$4.04
$1.66 ISK 201
-51.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 R$2.82
$3.80 ISK 462
-85.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 R$3.83
$1.75 ISK 212
-56.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.58 R$7.94
$13.71 ISK 1,665
-88.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.07 R$30.43
$24.21 ISK 2,942
-74.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.07
$3.53 ISK 429
-71.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 R$7.12
$3.32 ISK 403
-57.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Nova Friburgo
Reykjavik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 R$4.83
$5.75 ISK 698
-83.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$93.8 ISK 11.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 R$6.11
$6.61 ISK 804
-81.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 R$2.79
$2.90 ISK 352
-80.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.87 R$34.45
$79.2 ISK 9,617
-91.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 R$6.27
$2.09 ISK 254
-40.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0K R$100.3K
$51.0K ISK 6.2M
-60.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K R$155.6K
$53.3K ISK 6.5M
-41.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nova Friburgo
Reykjavik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.63 R$209
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
-56.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.54 R$47.85
$32.35 ISK 3,929
-70.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.74 R$94.0
$87.5 ISK 10.6K
-78.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nova Friburgo
Reykjavik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.35 R$112
$102 ISK 12.4K
-78.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$50.1 ISK 6,083
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.77 R$33.95
$19.88 ISK 2,415
-65.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nova Friburgo
Reykjavik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$147 R$739
$1,194 ISK 145.0K
-87.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,693 R$13.5K
$25.4K ISK 3.1M
-89.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nova Friburgo
Reykjavik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.1 R$357
$149 ISK 18.1K
-52.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$84.5 R$424
$66.6 ISK 8,093
26.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.1 R$342
$180 ISK 21.9K
-62.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.77 R$240
$253 ISK 30.8K
-81.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nova Friburgo
Reykjavik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$161 R$809
$2,549 ISK 309.7K
-93.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$99.3 R$498
$2,056 ISK 249.8K
-95.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$396 R$1,987
$3,498 ISK 424.9K
-88.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 R$1,221
$2,764 ISK 335.7K
-91.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,604 R$8,050
$8,120 ISK 986.4K
-80.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$810 R$4,062
$6,254 ISK 759.7K
-87.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nova Friburgo
Reykjavik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$521 R$2,613
$4,573 ISK 555.5K
-88.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.67
8.81
21.11%

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

Last update for Nova Friburgo: October 10, 2026

Last update for Reykjavik: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Nova Friburgo
$172
Reykjavik
$623 262% $451
Clothing & Footwear
Nova Friburgo
$122
Reykjavik
$292 139% $170
Eating Out
Nova Friburgo
$104
Reykjavik
$536 416% $433
Accommodation & Living
Nova Friburgo
$99
Reykjavik
$2.1K 1972% $2K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nova Friburgo
$70
Reykjavik
$215 208% $145
Sport & Entertainment
Nova Friburgo
$36
Reykjavik
$142 295% $106
Getting Around
Nova Friburgo
$7.9 *
Reykjavik
$138 1657% $130

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $161 in Nova Friburgo and $2,549 in Reykjavik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Reykjavik pays 778% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Nova Friburgo vs $122 in Reykjavik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $623 per month, with Nova Friburgo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Nova Friburgo
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🕒 Local time
15:37 3:37 PM
18:37 6:37 PM
3 h ahead of Nova Friburgo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
189,939
136,894 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ISK, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 5.02 BRL (1 BRL = 0.199 USD). 1 EUR = 5.62 BRL (1 BRL = 0.178 EUR).

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.23 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.35 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nova Friburgo Reykjavik 9,780 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nova Friburgo
  • Reykjavik

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
Nova Friburgo vs Reykjavik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Nova Friburgo or Reykjavik?
Nova Friburgo wins on cost – living expenses run 555% lower than in Reykjavik. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nova Friburgo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Nova Friburgo or in Reykjavik?
On paper, salaries run 778% lower in Reykjavik. 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 Nova Friburgo compared to Reykjavik?
Rent for a central apartment: $161 in Nova Friburgo versus $2,549 in Reykjavik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Nova Friburgo or in Reykjavik?
Supermarket bills run roughly 262% higher in Reykjavik. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Nova Friburgo compared to Reykjavik?
All in, you'll spend $611 per month in Nova Friburgo versus $4,002 in Reykjavik – a 555% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Nova Friburgo or in Reykjavik?
At $611 in Nova Friburgo versus $4,002 in Reykjavik, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nova Friburgo but tight or insufficient in Reykjavik. The gap between the two cities makes Nova Friburgo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Nova Friburgo or Reykjavik?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nova Friburgo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $611 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nova Friburgo hard to pass up.
How safe is Nova Friburgo compared to Reykjavik?
Safety-wise, Nova Friburgo and Reykjavik are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nova Friburgo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 555% less than in Reykjavik. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Nova Friburgo vs other spots: cost of living compared

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