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

🙂 Solo nomad: Reykjavik is 2.7% cheaper than Aarau without rent, and 26.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Reykjavik is 7.3% cheaper than Aarau without rent, and 10.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.9 ISK 3,355
$29.1 CHF 23.66
-7.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$146 ISK 18.3K
$108 CHF 88.1
35.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$22.18 ISK 2,767
$18.73 CHF 15.23
18.42%
Cappuccino
$6.08 ISK 758
$6.52 CHF 5.3
-6.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.4 ISK 424
$3.39 CHF 2.76
0.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.5 ISK 312
$4.81 CHF 3.91
-48.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.96 ISK 1,617
$7.94 CHF 6.45
63.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.05 ISK 1,379
$7.52 CHF 6.11
46.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 ISK 234
$2.08 CHF 1.69
-9.62%
White Bread (500g)
$4.26 ISK 531
$3.24 CHF 2.64
31.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.67 ISK 458
$2.53 CHF 2.06
45.06%
Eggs
$6.51 ISK 813
$7.08 CHF 5.75
-8.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.83 ISK 2,224
$28.91 CHF 23.51
-38.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.1 ISK 3,006
$35.92 CHF 29.21
-32.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$43.22 ISK 5,391
$44.89 CHF 36.5
-3.72%
Apples (1kg)
$3.19 ISK 397
$2.85 CHF 2.32
11.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.54 ISK 317
$2.12 CHF 1.72
19.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.09 ISK 386
$2.79 CHF 2.27
10.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.03 ISK 628
$5.89 CHF 4.79
-14.60%
Potato (1kg)
$3.59 ISK 447
$2.3 CHF 1.87
56.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.4 ISK 300
$1.97 CHF 1.6
21.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.08 ISK 384
$2.57 CHF 2.09
19.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 ISK 250
$1.47 CHF 1.2
36.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.9 ISK 1,734
$10.52 CHF 8.55
32.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.87 ISK 2,978
$16.39 CHF 13.33
45.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62 ISK 452
$2.23 CHF 1.81
62.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 ISK 414
$2.16 CHF 1.76
53.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.27 ISK 658
$4.26 CHF 3.46
23.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.4 ISK 10.8K
$151 CHF 122
-42.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.26 ISK 781
$8.4 CHF 6.83
-25.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.53 ISK 316
$5.5 CHF 4.47
-54.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$85.2 ISK 10.6K
$88 CHF 71.6
-3.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.57 ISK 321
$2.23 CHF 1.81
15.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.8K ISK 6M
$39.8K CHF 32.4K
19.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.4K ISK 6.5M
$42.3K CHF 34.4K
23.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.5 ISK 10.8K
$244 CHF 199
-64.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.91 ISK 3,357
$41.88 CHF 34.05
-35.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.9 ISK 10.6K
$59 CHF 47.97
43.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.7 ISK 10.3K
$65.9 CHF 53.6
25.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.2 ISK 4,765
$41.97 CHF 34.12
-8.98%
Cinema Ticket
$17.83 ISK 2,225
$23.32 CHF 18.96
-23.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$318 ISK 39.7K
$3,228 CHF 2,625
-90.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.9K ISK 3.7M
$24.7K CHF 20.1K
21.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$141 ISK 17.6K
$91.5 CHF 74.4
54.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.4 ISK 7,785
$53.4 CHF 43.44
16.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$183 ISK 22.9K
$110 CHF 89.1
67.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$267 ISK 33.3K
$169 CHF 138
57.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,179 ISK 271.8K
$1,301 CHF 1,058
67.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,000 ISK 249.6K
$1,033 CHF 840
93.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,152 ISK 393.2K
$2,421 CHF 1,968
30.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,726 ISK 340.1K
$2,070 CHF 1,683
31.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,821 ISK 975.7K
$10.3K CHF 8,382
-24.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,501 ISK 811K
$12.5K CHF 10.2K
-48.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Aarau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,376 ISK 546K
$7,155 CHF 5,817
-38.83%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Aarau: October 27, 2025

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