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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,883 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,962 in Aarau, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,535 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,722 in Aarau, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,188 per month in Reykjavik vs $6,482 in Aarau, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 31% more than Aarau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Reykjavik and Aarau sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 190%, Aarau by 121%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.17 ISK 3,346

$30.10 CHF 23.81

-9.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 ISK 17.7K

$106 CHF 83.9

35.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.42 ISK 2,761

$19.44 CHF 15.38

15.33%

Cappuccino

$6.19 ISK 763

$6.35 CHF 5.02

-2.52%

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

$3.28 ISK 405

$3.34 CHF 2.64

-1.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ISK 311

$4.83 CHF 3.82

-47.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.11 ISK 1,615

$8.16 CHF 6.45

60.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.43 ISK 1,408

$7.32 CHF 5.79

56.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ISK 239

$2.17 CHF 1.71

-10.60%

White Bread (500g)

$4.29 ISK 528

$3.34 CHF 2.64

28.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.72 ISK 458

$2.54 CHF 2.01

46.46%

Eggs

$6.53 ISK 804

$7.00 CHF 5.54

-6.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.88 ISK 2,202

$28.84 CHF 22.81

-38.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.10 ISK 2,968

$36.39 CHF 28.79

-33.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.88 ISK 5,281

$43.90 CHF 34.73

-2.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ISK 412

$2.80 CHF 2.21

19.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ISK 309

$2.13 CHF 1.69

17.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ISK 385

$2.81 CHF 2.23

11.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.89 ISK 602

$5.67 CHF 4.49

-13.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.71 ISK 457

$2.26 CHF 1.78

64.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 ISK 285

$2.05 CHF 1.62

13.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 ISK 378

$2.51 CHF 1.99

22.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 ISK 246

$1.52 CHF 1.20

30.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.85 ISK 1,705

$10.41 CHF 8.23

33.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.47 ISK 2,891

$10.64 CHF 8.42

120.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.62 ISK 446

$2.23 CHF 1.76

62.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 ISK 416

$2.20 CHF 1.74

53.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.10 ISK 628

$4.19 CHF 3.31

21.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.4 ISK 10.5K

$149 CHF 118

-42.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 ISK 773

$8.66 CHF 6.85

-27.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.57 ISK 317

$5.60 CHF 4.43

-54.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.8 ISK 10.6K

$87.4 CHF 69.1

-1.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.52 ISK 310

$2.20 CHF 1.74

14.55%

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

$47.2K ISK 5.8M

$39.8K CHF 31.5K

18.56%

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

$51.8K ISK 6.4M

$41.5K CHF 32.8K

24.83%

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

$86.9 ISK 10.7K

$251 CHF 198

-65.35%

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

$26.94 ISK 3,317

$42.50 CHF 33.63

-36.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.9 ISK 10.6K

$59.9 CHF 47.36

43.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.4 ISK 10.3K

$66.3 CHF 52.5

25.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.54 ISK 4,623

$41.53 CHF 32.85

-9.61%

Cinema Ticket

$17.53 ISK 2,159

$22.96 CHF 18.16

-23.65%

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

$321 ISK 39.5K

$3,147 CHF 2,490

-89.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K ISK 3.7M

$25.0K CHF 19.8K

20.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 ISK 17.2K

$92.7 CHF 73.4

50.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ISK 7,456

$53.1 CHF 41.99

14.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.3K

$113 CHF 89.2

60.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$263 ISK 32.4K

$172 CHF 136

52.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,175 ISK 267.8K

$1,310 CHF 1,037

65.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,023 ISK 249.2K

$1,029 CHF 814

96.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,139 ISK 386.6K

$2,440 CHF 1,930

28.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,738 ISK 337.1K

$2,082 CHF 1,647

31.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,022 ISK 987.9K

$10.6K CHF 8,359

-24.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,223 ISK 766.3K

$12.6K CHF 9,944

-50.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,441 ISK 546.9K

$7,301 CHF 5,776

-39.18%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Aarau: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,175 in Reykjavik versus $1,310 in Aarau. 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 64% higher in Aarau, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in Reykjavik versus $106 in Aarau. Groceries tell a different story – $599 in Reykjavik vs $636 in Aarau – so Reykjavik 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

Reykjavik vs Aarau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Reykjavik costs about 31% more than Aarau, 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 $5,824 per month in Reykjavik and $4,443 in Aarau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 75% less in Aarau. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $321 per month in Reykjavik and $3,147 in Aarau. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,883 in Reykjavik and $2,962 in Aarau. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aarau costs $2,962 versus $3,883 in Reykjavik. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Aarau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Reykjavik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.