Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Bariloche

For one person, living is cheaper in Bariloche: $1,646 a month against $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $28,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,002
/mo nomad
Bariloche
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,646
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in Bariloche

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 Bariloche actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,002 in Reykjavik versus $1,646 in Bariloche.

  • Reykjavik $4,002
  • Bariloche $1,646

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,705 in Reykjavik versus $2,531 in Bariloche.

  • Reykjavik $5,705
  • Bariloche $2,531

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,407 in Reykjavik versus $3,416 in Bariloche.

  • Reykjavik $7,407
  • Bariloche $3,416

Living in Reykjavik is roughly 143% more expensive than in Bariloche, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Reykjavik 196% above, Bariloche 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Bariloche
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.56 ISK 3,828
$20.33 ARS 30.8K
55.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 ISK 14.8K
$59.1 ARS 89.7K
106.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$26.86 ISK 3,258
$14.16 ARS 21.5K
89.69%
Cappuccino
$6.81 ISK 827
$3.93 ARS 5,968
73.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 ISK 411
$1.68 ARS 2,548
101.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ISK 388
$1.84 ARS 2,786
73.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$14.14 ISK 1,715
$5.36 ARS 8,131
163.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.31 ISK 1,493
$4.56 ARS 6,916
169.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Bariloche
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.10 ISK 255
$1.38 ARS 2,097
52.17%
White Bread (500g)
$4.19 ISK 508
$2.12 ARS 3,223
97.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 ISK 451
$1.53 ARS 2,317
143.14%
Eggs
$7.05 ISK 856
$2.67 ARS 4,052
164.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.56 ISK 2,615
$15.14 ARS 23.0K
42.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.68 ISK 2,993
$10.35 ARS 15.7K
138.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.19 ISK 5,117
$13.30 ARS 20.2K
217.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ISK 392
$2.39 ARS 3,632
35.15%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 ISK 331
$2.59 ARS 3,934
5.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 ISK 384
$1.93 ARS 2,931
64.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.61 ISK 802
$2.64 ARS 4,002
150.38%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ISK 467
$0.98 ARS 1,492
292.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 ISK 201
$0.76 ARS 1,148
118.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.80 ISK 461
$2.05 ARS 3,115
85.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ISK 212
$1.28 ARS 1,947
36.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.71 ISK 1,662
$2.92 ARS 4,430
369.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.21 ISK 2,937
$7.48 ARS 11.3K
223.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 ISK 428
$1.82 ARS 2,761
93.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 ISK 402
$3.97 ARS 6,017
-16.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Bariloche
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.75 ISK 697
$1.01 ARS 1,539
469.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 ISK 11.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ISK 802
$0.99 ARS 1,505
567.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 ISK 352
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$79.2 ISK 9,602
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 ISK 253
$1.05 ARS 1,597
99.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$51.0K ISK 6.2M
$20.0K ARS 30.3M
155.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.3K ISK 6.5M
$32.3K ARS 49.1M
64.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Bariloche
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
$84.0 ARS 127.4K
13.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.35 ISK 3,923
$16.75 ARS 25.4K
93.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.5 ISK 10.6K
$24.11 ARS 36.6K
263.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Bariloche
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$102 ISK 12.4K
$49.66 ARS 75.4K
105.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1 ISK 6,074
$39.87 ARS 60.5K
25.61%
Cinema Ticket
$19.88 ISK 2,412
$8.25 ARS 12.5K
140.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Bariloche
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,194 ISK 144.8K
$296 ARS 449.9K
302.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.4K ISK 3.1M
$4,242 ARS 6.4M
498.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Bariloche
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$149 ISK 18.1K
$74.2 ARS 112.5K
100.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.6 ISK 8,080
$39.27 ARS 59.6K
69.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$180 ISK 21.8K
$112 ARS 170.0K
60.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$253 ISK 30.7K
$96.3 ARS 146.2K
162.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Bariloche
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,549 ISK 309.2K
$1,278 ARS 1.9M
99.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,056 ISK 249.4K
$706 ARS 1.1M
191.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,498 ISK 424.2K
$1,195 ARS 1.8M
192.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,764 ISK 335.2K
$1,171 ARS 1.8M
135.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,120 ISK 984.9K
$3,030 ARS 4.6M
168.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,254 ISK 758.5K
$2,498 ARS 3.8M
150.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Bariloche
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,573 ISK 554.6K
$953 ARS 1.4M
380.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
90
-90.21%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 12, 2026

Last update for Bariloche: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
$2.1K
Bariloche
$706 65.7% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
$623
Bariloche
$297 52.2% $325
Eating Out
Reykjavik
$536
Bariloche
$302 43.7% $234
Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
$292
Bariloche
$145 50.4% $147
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
$215
Bariloche
$125 42% $90
Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
$142
Bariloche
$66 53.3% $75
Getting Around
Reykjavik
$138
Bariloche
$5.1 * 96.3% $133

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,549 in Reykjavik and $1,278 in Bariloche. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Reykjavik pays 380% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $122 in Reykjavik vs $59.0 in Bariloche for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $623 vs $297 per month, with Bariloche cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🇦🇷 Bariloche
🕒 Local time
20:51 8:51 PM
17:51 5:51 PM
3 h behind Reykjavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,894 Capital
135,755
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.33 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,706 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Reykjavik Bariloche 12,480 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Reykjavik
  • Bariloche

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 Bariloche: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bariloche cheaper than Reykjavik?
Bariloche is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 143% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Reykjavik or Bariloche?
Average pay runs 380% higher in Reykjavik, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Reykjavik and Bariloche?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,549 in Reykjavik versus $1,278 in Bariloche. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,194 in Reykjavik versus $296 in Bariloche. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Reykjavik or in Bariloche?
Dining out is cheaper in Bariloche – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $122 in Reykjavik. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Reykjavik or in Bariloche?
At $1,646 in Bariloche versus $4,002 in Reykjavik, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Bariloche but tight or insufficient in Reykjavik. The gap between the two cities makes Bariloche the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Reykjavik or Bariloche more family-friendly?
For families, Bariloche is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Reykjavik, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Reykjavik or Bariloche?
Safety-wise, Reykjavik and Bariloche are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bariloche gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Reykjavik. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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