Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Aarau Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Aarau

🙂 Solo nomad: Reykjavik is 9.9% cheaper than Aarau without rent, and 27.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Reykjavik is 5.8% more expensive than Aarau without rent, and 8.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.22 ISK 3,375
$29.93 CHF 23.44
-9.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$145 ISK 17.9K
$106 CHF 83.1
36.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$22.41 ISK 2,778
$19.08 CHF 14.94
17.45%
Cappuccino
$5.94 ISK 737
$6.24 CHF 4.88
-4.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 ISK 404
$3.51 CHF 2.74
-7.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 ISK 315
$4.98 CHF 3.90
-49.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.83 ISK 1,591
$8.24 CHF 6.45
55.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.46 ISK 1,421
$7.47 CHF 5.85
53.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 ISK 234
$2.12 CHF 1.66
-11.32%
White Bread (500g)
$4.33 ISK 537
$3.30 CHF 2.58
31.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.57 ISK 443
$2.46 CHF 1.92
45.12%
Eggs
$6.56 ISK 813
$6.86 CHF 5.38
-4.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.18 ISK 2,254
$29.02 CHF 22.72
-37.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.52 ISK 3,040
$35.44 CHF 27.75
-30.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.03 ISK 5,212
$45.08 CHF 35.30
-6.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.20 ISK 397
$2.76 CHF 2.16
15.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 ISK 300
$2.17 CHF 1.70
11.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.06 ISK 380
$2.82 CHF 2.21
8.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.86 ISK 603
$5.89 CHF 4.61
-17.49%
Potato (1kg)
$3.66 ISK 454
$2.25 CHF 1.76
62.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 ISK 290
$2.08 CHF 1.63
12.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.14 ISK 389
$2.53 CHF 1.98
24.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 ISK 251
$1.45 CHF 1.13
39.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.91 ISK 1,725
$10.65 CHF 8.34
30.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 ISK 2,944
$10.92 CHF 8.55
117.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.69 ISK 458
$2.33 CHF 1.82
58.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ISK 400
$2.29 CHF 1.79
41.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.29 ISK 656
$4.42 CHF 3.46
19.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.2 ISK 10.9K
$149 CHF 117
-40.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.54 ISK 811
$8.53 CHF 6.68
-23.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.60 ISK 323
$5.45 CHF 4.26
-52.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$85.8 ISK 10.6K
$86.6 CHF 67.8
-0.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.51 ISK 312
$2.21 CHF 1.73
13.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.1K ISK 5.8M
$40.2K CHF 31.5K
17.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.6K ISK 6.5M
$42.4K CHF 33.2K
23.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.2 ISK 11.1K
$244 CHF 191
-63.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.07 ISK 3,356
$42.69 CHF 33.43
-36.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.2 ISK 10.4K
$59.8 CHF 46.83
40.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.0 ISK 10.4K
$68.0 CHF 53.3
23.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.09 ISK 4,722
$42.03 CHF 32.91
-9.37%
Cinema Ticket
$17.42 ISK 2,160
$23.17 CHF 18.14
-24.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$324 ISK 40.1K
$3,231 CHF 2,530
-89.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.5K ISK 3.8M
$24.9K CHF 19.5K
22.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$141 ISK 17.5K
$93.1 CHF 72.9
51.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.6 ISK 7,765
$53.3 CHF 41.69
17.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$183 ISK 22.7K
$111 CHF 87.0
65.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$268 ISK 33.2K
$171 CHF 134
56.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,197 ISK 272.4K
$1,291 CHF 1,011
70.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,053 ISK 254.6K
$1,035 CHF 810
98.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,159 ISK 391.6K
$2,435 CHF 1,906
29.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,728 ISK 338.3K
$2,123 CHF 1,662
28.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,833 ISK 971.2K
$10.5K CHF 8,246
-25.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,268 ISK 777.2K
$12.6K CHF 9,884
-50.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,471 ISK 554.4K
$7,587 CHF 5,941
-41.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.63
2.5
285.20%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: March 3, 2026

Last update for Aarau: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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