Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Bathurst

For one person, living is cheaper in Bathurst: $1,735 a month against $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $27,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,002
/mo nomad
Bathurst
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,735
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in Bathurst

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

A single person spends $4,002 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,735 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $4,002
  • Bathurst $1,735

A couple spends around $5,705 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,012 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $5,705
  • Bathurst $2,012

A family of three spends $7,407 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,289 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $7,407
  • Bathurst $2,289

Reykjavik costs about 131% more than Bathurst, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Reykjavik and Bathurst sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 196%, Bathurst by 29%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Bathurst
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.56 ISK 3,834
$16.04 CA$22.81
96.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 ISK 14.9K
$41.48 CA$59.0
194.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$26.86 ISK 3,263
$11.34 CA$16.12
136.86%
Cappuccino
$6.81 ISK 828
$3.36 CA$4.78
102.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 ISK 411
$1.90 CA$2.70
78.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ISK 389
$1.56 CA$2.21
105.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$14.14 ISK 1,717
$5.02 CA$7.14
181.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.31 ISK 1,495
$5.02 CA$7.14
145.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Bathurst
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.10 ISK 255
$1.76 CA$2.50
19.32%
White Bread (500g)
$4.19 ISK 509
$2.59 CA$3.69
61.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 ISK 452
$2.47 CA$3.52
50.61%
Eggs
$7.05 ISK 857
$3.57 CA$5.08
97.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.56 ISK 2,619
$10.86 CA$15.44
98.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.68 ISK 2,998
$9.22 CA$13.10
167.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.19 ISK 5,125
$6.33 CA$9.00
566.51%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ISK 393
$4.36 CA$6.20
-25.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 ISK 332
$1.58 CA$2.24
72.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 ISK 385
$4.57 CA$6.50
-30.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.61 ISK 804
$1.88 CA$2.67
251.60%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ISK 467
$2.53 CA$3.59
52.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 ISK 201
$1.49 CA$2.11
11.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.80 ISK 462
$2.10 CA$2.98
80.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ISK 212
$1.62 CA$2.30
8.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.71 ISK 1,665
$9.68 CA$13.77
41.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.21 ISK 2,942
$12.03 CA$17.10
101.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 ISK 429
$3.13 CA$4.45
12.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 ISK 403
$4.39 CA$6.24
-24.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Bathurst
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.75 ISK 698
$3.43 CA$4.88
67.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 ISK 11.4K
$61.8 CA$87.9
51.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ISK 804
$2.87 CA$4.08
130.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 ISK 352
$1.35 CA$1.92
114.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$79.2 ISK 9,617
$20.81 CA$29.58
280.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 ISK 254
$1.20 CA$1.70
74.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$51.0K ISK 6.2M
$28.2K CA$40.1K
80.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.3K ISK 6.5M
$18.8K CA$26.7K
183.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Bathurst
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
$101 CA$143
-5.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.35 ISK 3,929
$68.9 CA$97.9
-53.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.5 ISK 10.6K
$60.0 CA$85.4
45.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Bathurst
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$102 ISK 12.4K
$44.21 CA$62.9
130.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1 ISK 6,083
$31.92 CA$45.39
56.89%
Cinema Ticket
$19.88 ISK 2,415
$9.03 CA$12.84
120.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Bathurst
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,194 ISK 145.0K
$565 CA$803
111.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.4K ISK 3.1M
$1,662 CA$2,363
1428.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Bathurst
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$149 ISK 18.1K
$48.48 CA$68.9
207.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.6 ISK 8,093
$39.24 CA$55.8
69.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$180 ISK 21.9K
$75.8 CA$108
137.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$253 ISK 30.8K
$79.1 CA$113
220.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Bathurst
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,549 ISK 309.7K
$724 CA$1,030
252.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,056 ISK 249.8K
$686 CA$976
199.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,498 ISK 424.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,764 ISK 335.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,120 ISK 986.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,254 ISK 759.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Bathurst
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,573 ISK 555.5K
$1,998 CA$2,841
128.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
4.77
84.70%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 12, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
$2.1K
Bathurst
$686 66.6% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
$623
Bathurst
$311 50% $312
Eating Out
Reykjavik
$536
Bathurst
$252 53.1% $285
Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
$292
Bathurst
$109 62.6% $183
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
$215
Bathurst
$230 6.8% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
$142
Bathurst
$62 56% $79
Getting Around
Reykjavik
$138
Bathurst
$85 38.3% $53

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,549 in Reykjavik versus $724 in Bathurst. 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 129% higher in Reykjavik, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Reykjavik versus $41.00 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $623 vs $311 – making Bathurst the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🇨🇦 Bathurst
🕒 Local time
21:42 9:42 PM
18:42 6:42 PM
3 h behind Reykjavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,894 Capital
12,157
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.23 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.35 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Reykjavik Bathurst 3,190 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Reykjavik
  • Bathurst

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 Bathurst: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bathurst cheaper than Reykjavik?
Yes – Reykjavik is pricier by about 131%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,003 per month in Reykjavik and $2,603 in Bathurst. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bathurst, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Reykjavik and in Bathurst?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,002 in Reykjavik and $1,735 in Bathurst. That's a gap of about 131%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 52% less in Bathurst. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Reykjavik or in Bathurst?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bathurst, where all-in costs run around $1,735, than in Reykjavik at $4,002. In Bathurst it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reykjavik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Reykjavik or Bathurst more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bathurst – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Reykjavik or Bathurst?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bathurst. 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.

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