Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Avaré

For one person, living is cheaper in Avaré: $845 a month against $4,023 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $38,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,023
/mo nomad
Avaré
🇧🇷 Brazil
$845
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in Avaré

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,023 in Reykjavik versus $845 in Avaré.

  • Reykjavik $4,023
  • Avaré $845

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,708 in Reykjavik versus $1,408 in Avaré.

  • Reykjavik $5,708
  • Avaré $1,408

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,393 in Reykjavik versus $1,971 in Avaré.

  • Reykjavik $7,393
  • Avaré $1,971

Living in Reykjavik is roughly 376% more expensive than in Avaré, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Reykjavik is 197% above, Avaré is 38% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Avaré
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.00 ISK 3,760
$4.06 R$20.57
663.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123 ISK 14.9K
$49.85 R$253
147.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$27.21 ISK 3,300
$5.15 R$26.08
428.35%
Cappuccino
$6.90 ISK 837
$1.96 R$9.96
252.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ISK 401
$0.58 R$2.96
468.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 ISK 384
$0.42 R$2.12
652.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.84 ISK 1,678
$1.36 R$6.89
917.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.46 ISK 1,512
$1.94 R$9.85
542.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Avaré
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ISK 250
$1.23 R$6.25
67.48%
White Bread (500g)
$4.11 ISK 498
$1.90 R$9.65
116.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.68 ISK 446
$1.45 R$7.35
153.79%
Eggs
$7.27 ISK 882
$2.23 R$11.29
226.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.79 ISK 2,643
$7.74 R$39.22
181.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$23.95 ISK 2,905
$3.33 R$16.90
619.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.43 ISK 5,025
$7.07 R$35.83
486.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 ISK 414
$2.82 R$14.32
21.28%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 ISK 344
$1.85 R$9.35
53.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 ISK 391
$1.56 R$7.90
107.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.46 ISK 783
$1.99 R$10.07
224.62%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 ISK 491
$1.24 R$6.26
226.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 ISK 202
$1.27 R$6.41
30.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.86 ISK 468
$1.27 R$6.43
203.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ISK 223
$0.58 R$2.92
217.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.96 ISK 1,693
$2.98 R$15.13
368.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.76 ISK 2,882
$10.20 R$51.7
132.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54 ISK 430
$0.89 R$4.51
297.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 ISK 418
$2.49 R$12.60
38.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Avaré
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.81 ISK 705
$1.00 R$5.07
481.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
$44.96 R$228
112.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.72 ISK 815
$1.84 R$9.32
265.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.81 ISK 340
$1.03 R$5.22
172.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$81.3 ISK 9,866
$10.16 R$51.5
700.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 ISK 257
$1.09 R$5.51
94.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$68.9K ISK 8.4M
$23.8K R$120.8K
189.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.8K ISK 6.8M
$26.3K R$133.5K
111.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Avaré
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.8 ISK 11.6K
$50.5 R$256
89.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.11 ISK 4,016
$9.89 R$50.2
234.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.2 ISK 10.6K
$19.82 R$100
339.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Avaré
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$101 ISK 12.3K
$25.84 R$131
291.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.7 ISK 6,155
$27.79 R$141
82.58%
Cinema Ticket
$19.85 ISK 2,407
$5.16 R$26.16
284.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Avaré
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,195 ISK 144.9K
$574 R$2,908
108.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.2K ISK 3.2M
$16.8K R$85.1K
56.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Avaré
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$148 ISK 18.0K
$65.9 R$334
125.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.8 ISK 8,096
$62.7 R$318
6.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$187 ISK 22.6K
$101 R$512
84.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$253 ISK 30.6K
$93.1 R$472
171.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Avaré
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,579 ISK 312.8K
$353 R$1,788
631.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,080 ISK 252.3K
$244 R$1,239
751.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,455 ISK 419.0K
$662 R$3,354
422.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,752 ISK 333.8K
$474 R$2,403
480.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,933 ISK 962.2K
$1,692 R$8,577
368.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,377 ISK 773.5K
$1,205 R$6,109
429.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Avaré
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,695 ISK 569.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
11.68
-24.57%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 20, 2026

Last update for Avaré: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
$2.1K
Avaré
$244 88.3% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
$619
Avaré
$197 68.3% $423
Eating Out
Reykjavik
$532
Avaré
$86 83.8% $446
Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
$294
Avaré
$145 50.7% $149
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
$216
Avaré
$80 62.9% $136
Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
$141
Avaré
$36 74.3% $105
Getting Around
Reykjavik
$139
Avaré
$56 59.9% $83

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,579 in Reykjavik and $353 in Avaré. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $123 in Reykjavik vs $50.0 in Avaré for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $619 vs $197 per month, with Avaré cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🇧🇷 Avaré
🕒 Local time
03:36 3:36 AM
00:36 12:36 AM
3 h behind Reykjavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,894 Capital
92,805
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.33 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Reykjavik Avaré 9,980 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Reykjavik
  • Avaré

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
Reykjavik vs Avaré: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Reykjavik and in Avaré?
Reykjavik and Avaré differ by about 376% in total monthly costs ($4,023 vs $845 including rent). Avaré is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Reykjavik compared to Avaré?
You'd need roughly $6,034 in Reykjavik and $1,267 in Avaré to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Reykjavik and in Avaré?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,579 in Reykjavik versus $353 in Avaré. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Reykjavik and in Avaré?
A monthly transit pass in Avaré runs roughly 112% less than in Reykjavik. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Reykjavik and Avaré?
Childcare runs $1,195 in Reykjavik versus $574 in Avaré. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $845 in Avaré versus $4,023 in Reykjavik, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Avaré but tight or insufficient in Reykjavik. The gap between the two cities makes Avaré the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Reykjavik and Avaré?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Reykjavik or Avaré safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Reykjavik and Avaré are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Reykjavik or Avaré?
Expats usually find Avaré gentler on the wallet – expenses run 376% less than in Reykjavik. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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