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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,849 per month in Reykjavik vs $3,095 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,457 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,727 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,065 per month in Reykjavik vs $6,358 in Biel, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 24% more than Biel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Reykjavik and Biel sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 189%, Biel by 133%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.85 ISK 3,319

$24.66 CHF 19.90

8.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 ISK 17.6K

$113 CHF 90.9

26.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.18 ISK 2,741

$16.23 CHF 13.10

36.66%

Cappuccino

$6.17 ISK 763

$6.19 CHF 4.99

-0.32%

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

$3.24 ISK 401

$5.18 CHF 4.18

-37.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 ISK 324

$4.84 CHF 3.91

-45.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.69 ISK 1,569

$7.53 CHF 6.07

68.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.39 ISK 1,408

$6.86 CHF 5.54

66.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ISK 231

$2.19 CHF 1.77

-14.61%

White Bread (500g)

$4.30 ISK 531

$3.73 CHF 3.01

15.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 ISK 440

$4.28 CHF 3.45

-16.82%

Eggs

$6.28 ISK 777

$7.30 CHF 5.89

-13.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.25 ISK 2,255

$30.19 CHF 24.37

-39.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.69 ISK 2,929

$35.60 CHF 28.73

-33.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.14 ISK 5,209

$51.2 CHF 41.34

-17.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 ISK 412

$3.37 CHF 2.72

-1.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.41 ISK 298

$2.22 CHF 1.79

8.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ISK 370

$3.01 CHF 2.43

-0.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.12 ISK 633

$4.25 CHF 3.43

20.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.58 ISK 442

$2.41 CHF 1.95

48.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 ISK 292

$2.51 CHF 2.03

-5.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.14 ISK 388

$2.68 CHF 2.17

17.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 ISK 251

$0.89 CHF 0.72

128.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.89 ISK 1,717

$11.14 CHF 8.99

24.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.38 ISK 2,890

$15.28 CHF 12.33

53.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.58 ISK 442

$2.33 CHF 1.88

53.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ISK 397

$3.34 CHF 2.69

-3.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.09 ISK 629

$4.34 CHF 3.51

17.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.7 ISK 10.7K

$109 CHF 87.8

-20.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.37 ISK 787

$12.20 CHF 9.84

-47.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.56 ISK 316

$4.10 CHF 3.31

-37.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.9 ISK 10.7K

$82.9 CHF 66.9

4.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.45 ISK 303

$2.24 CHF 1.80

9.37%

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

$48.1K ISK 5.9M

$30.9K CHF 25.0K

55.60%

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

$52.6K ISK 6.5M

$28.2K CHF 22.7K

86.71%

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

$87.4 ISK 10.8K

$250 CHF 202

-65.08%

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

$27.40 ISK 3,386

$36.83 CHF 29.72

-25.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.5 ISK 10.7K

$57.2 CHF 46.12

51.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.6 ISK 10.3K

$117 CHF 94.1

-28.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.79 ISK 4,671

$74.0 CHF 59.7

-48.94%

Cinema Ticket

$17.41 ISK 2,152

$22.35 CHF 18.04

-22.10%

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

$322 ISK 39.8K

$2,900 CHF 2,340

-88.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K ISK 3.7M

$42.9K CHF 34.6K

-29.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$137 ISK 16.9K

$136 CHF 110

0.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.0 ISK 7,536

$46.65 CHF 37.64

30.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.4K

$132 CHF 106

37.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$271 ISK 33.5K

$158 CHF 128

70.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 ISK 275.4K

$1,294 CHF 1,044

72.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 ISK 251.5K

$1,162 CHF 938

75.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,171 ISK 392.0K

$2,272 CHF 1,834

39.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,699 ISK 333.6K

$1,827 CHF 1,474

47.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,931 ISK 980.2K

$9,886 CHF 7,978

-19.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,333 ISK 782.8K

$7,956 CHF 6,420

-20.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,563 ISK 564.0K

$7,723 CHF 6,233

-40.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

1.88

412.23%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: July 28, 2026

Last update for Biel: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,228 in Reykjavik versus $1,294 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 69% 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 $142 in Reykjavik versus $113 in Biel. Groceries tell a different story – $593 in Reykjavik vs $674 in Biel – 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 Biel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Reykjavik is pricier by about 24%, 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 $5,774 per month in Reykjavik and $4,643 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 25% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $322 per month in Reykjavik and $2,900 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 $3,849 in Reykjavik and $3,095 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.