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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,869 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,999 in Aarau, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,475 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,746 in Aarau, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,081 per month in Reykjavik vs $6,493 in Aarau, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 29% more than Aarau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Reykjavik and Aarau sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 190%, Aarau by 124%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.43 ISK 3,418

$29.41 CHF 23.78

-6.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 ISK 17.7K

$108 CHF 86.9

32.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.54 ISK 2,809

$18.71 CHF 15.13

20.47%

Cappuccino

$6.05 ISK 754

$6.23 CHF 5.04

-2.89%

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

$3.22 ISK 402

$3.36 CHF 2.72

-4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ISK 314

$4.96 CHF 4.01

-49.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.93 ISK 1,611

$8.04 CHF 6.50

60.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.39 ISK 1,420

$7.33 CHF 5.92

55.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ISK 235

$2.09 CHF 1.69

-9.57%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 ISK 522

$3.21 CHF 2.60

30.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 ISK 441

$2.51 CHF 2.03

41.04%

Eggs

$6.31 ISK 786

$6.79 CHF 5.49

-7.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.00 ISK 2,243

$28.96 CHF 23.41

-37.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.46 ISK 3,048

$36.04 CHF 29.14

-32.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.94 ISK 5,226

$44.72 CHF 36.16

-6.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 ISK 415

$2.79 CHF 2.26

19.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 ISK 300

$2.10 CHF 1.69

14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 ISK 377

$2.78 CHF 2.25

8.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.13 ISK 639

$5.89 CHF 4.76

-12.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.66 ISK 455

$2.26 CHF 1.83

61.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 ISK 302

$2.09 CHF 1.69

15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.17 ISK 394

$2.52 CHF 2.04

25.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 ISK 241

$1.45 CHF 1.17

33.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.76 ISK 1,714

$10.39 CHF 8.40

32.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.67 ISK 2,825

$10.41 CHF 8.42

117.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.75 ISK 467

$2.32 CHF 1.88

61.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 ISK 406

$2.18 CHF 1.76

49.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.30 ISK 661

$4.39 CHF 3.55

20.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.2 ISK 11.0K

$148 CHF 120

-40.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 ISK 811

$8.57 CHF 6.93

-24.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.57 ISK 321

$5.52 CHF 4.46

-53.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.4 ISK 10.8K

$88.5 CHF 71.5

-2.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.52 ISK 314

$2.23 CHF 1.80

13.00%

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

$47.7K ISK 5.9M

$41.2K CHF 33.3K

15.88%

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

$51.8K ISK 6.5M

$42.9K CHF 34.7K

20.91%

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

$87.1 ISK 10.9K

$250 CHF 202

-65.16%

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

$27.13 ISK 3,380

$43.25 CHF 34.97

-37.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.4 ISK 10.6K

$58.2 CHF 47.04

46.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$84.0 ISK 10.5K

$67.4 CHF 54.5

24.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.12 ISK 4,750

$41.92 CHF 33.89

-9.06%

Cinema Ticket

$17.35 ISK 2,162

$23.86 CHF 19.29

-27.28%

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

$319 ISK 39.8K

$3,189 CHF 2,578

-89.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.7K ISK 3.8M

$25.2K CHF 20.4K

21.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 ISK 17.1K

$92.1 CHF 74.5

49.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.8 ISK 7,821

$54.2 CHF 43.85

15.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.7K

$109 CHF 88.1

67.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$269 ISK 33.5K

$172 CHF 139

56.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 ISK 280.8K

$1,298 CHF 1,049

73.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,008 ISK 250.2K

$1,058 CHF 855

89.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,231 ISK 402.6K

$2,490 CHF 2,013

29.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,756 ISK 343.4K

$2,075 CHF 1,677

32.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,955 ISK 991.2K

$10.2K CHF 8,286

-22.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,156 ISK 767.1K

$12.1K CHF 9,744

-48.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,438 ISK 553.0K

$7,069 CHF 5,716

-37.22%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Aarau: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,254 in Reykjavik versus $1,298 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 59% 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 $142 in Reykjavik versus $108 in Aarau. Groceries tell a different story – $593 in Reykjavik vs $634 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 29% 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 $5,803 per month in Reykjavik and $4,498 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 68% less in Aarau. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $319 per month in Reykjavik and $3,189 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 $3,869 in Reykjavik and $2,999 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 $2,999 versus $3,869 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.