Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Biel Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Biel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,054 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,838 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,691 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,540 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,329 per month in Reykjavik vs $6,243 in Biel, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 43% more than Biel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Reykjavik and Biel sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 196%, Biel by 107%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.01 ISK 3,639

$30.12 CHF 24.78

-0.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$134 ISK 16.2K

$108 CHF 88.8

23.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$27.02 ISK 3,277

$18.09 CHF 14.88

49.36%

Cappuccino

$7.03 ISK 853

$6.26 CHF 5.15

12.30%

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

$3.36 ISK 408

$5.21 CHF 4.29

-35.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 ISK 406

$4.12 CHF 3.39

-18.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.80 ISK 1,674

$7.90 CHF 6.50

74.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.17 ISK 1,475

$4.76 CHF 3.91

155.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ISK 247

$2.11 CHF 1.74

-3.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.29 ISK 520

$4.08 CHF 3.35

5.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.51 ISK 426

$3.40 CHF 2.79

3.24%

Eggs

$7.13 ISK 865

$7.31 CHF 6.01

-2.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.15 ISK 2,565

$22.90 CHF 18.84

-7.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$25.14 ISK 3,049

$27.64 CHF 22.74

-9.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.98 ISK 5,212

$40.13 CHF 33.01

7.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 ISK 410

$3.16 CHF 2.60

6.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 ISK 346

$2.13 CHF 1.75

33.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.33 ISK 404

$2.59 CHF 2.13

28.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.30 ISK 764

$3.15 CHF 2.59

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$4.08 ISK 494

$1.45 CHF 1.20

181.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 ISK 201

$1.86 CHF 1.53

-10.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.66 ISK 444

$2.00 CHF 1.64

83.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ISK 214

$1.08 CHF 0.89

62.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.96 ISK 1,693

$10.97 CHF 9.02

27.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.46 ISK 2,845

$15.20 CHF 12.50

54.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.73 ISK 453

$0.93 CHF 0.77

301.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 ISK 423

$1.87 CHF 1.54

86.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.55 ISK 673

$4.87 CHF 4.00

13.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.3 ISK 11.4K

$94.4 CHF 77.7

-0.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 ISK 796

$7.84 CHF 6.45

-16.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.89 ISK 350

$4.71 CHF 3.87

-38.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$73.8 ISK 8,946

$85.1 CHF 70.0

-13.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.00 ISK 242

$2.23 CHF 1.83

-10.31%

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

$50.6K ISK 6.1M

$43.6K CHF 35.9K

15.92%

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

$54.2K ISK 6.6M

$34.8K CHF 28.6K

55.85%

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

$88.8 ISK 10.8K

$138 CHF 113

-35.57%

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

$32.93 ISK 3,994

$35.83 CHF 29.48

-8.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.1 ISK 10.1K

$49.71 CHF 40.89

67.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.3 ISK 11.7K

$78.5 CHF 64.6

22.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.54 ISK 6,008

Cinema Ticket

$19.82 ISK 2,404

$21.82 CHF 17.95

-9.17%

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

$1,213 ISK 147.1K

$2,717 CHF 2,235

-55.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.2K ISK 3.8M

$37.5K CHF 30.8K

-16.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$156 ISK 19.0K

$110 CHF 90.2

42.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.3 ISK 8,041

$48.01 CHF 39.49

38.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$178 ISK 21.6K

$142 CHF 117

25.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$247 ISK 29.9K

$216 CHF 178

14.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,466 ISK 299.0K

$1,281 CHF 1,054

92.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 ISK 252.0K

$1,120 CHF 921

85.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,438 ISK 416.9K

$2,267 CHF 1,865

51.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,764 ISK 335.1K

$2,019 CHF 1,661

36.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,085 ISK 980.5K

$9,859 CHF 8,110

-17.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,258 ISK 758.9K

$8,094 CHF 6,658

-22.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,745 ISK 575.4K

$5,781 CHF 4,756

-17.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.88

1.68

428.57%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: September 13, 2026

Last update for Biel: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,466 in Reykjavik versus $1,281 in Biel. 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 22% higher in Biel, 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 $134 in Reykjavik versus $108 in Biel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $627 vs $555 – making Biel the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Biel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Reykjavik is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,080 per month in Reykjavik and $4,256 in Biel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 0% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,213 per month in Reykjavik and $2,717 in Biel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,054 in Reykjavik and $2,838 in Biel. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Biel – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Biel. 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.