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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,789 per month in Reykjavik vs $3,096 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,477 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,763 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,165 per month in Reykjavik vs $6,429 in Biel, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 22% more than Biel, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Reykjavik and Biel sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 183%, Biel by 131%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.55 ISK 3,251

$24.71 CHF 19.54

7.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 ISK 17.6K

$113 CHF 89.3

27.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.87 ISK 2,801

$16.03 CHF 12.68

42.67%

Cappuccino

$5.98 ISK 732

$6.33 CHF 5.01

-5.53%

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

$3.23 ISK 396

$5.32 CHF 4.21

-39.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 ISK 312

$5.06 CHF 4.00

-49.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.06 ISK 1,599

$7.79 CHF 6.16

67.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.07 ISK 1,356

$6.87 CHF 5.43

61.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ISK 229

$2.25 CHF 1.78

-16.89%

White Bread (500g)

$4.33 ISK 530

$3.72 CHF 2.94

16.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 ISK 444

$4.28 CHF 3.38

-15.19%

Eggs

$6.51 ISK 797

$7.51 CHF 5.94

-13.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.39 ISK 2,251

$30.27 CHF 23.95

-39.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.53 ISK 3,004

$35.98 CHF 28.46

-31.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.02 ISK 5,268

$50.9 CHF 40.22

-15.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ISK 399

$3.28 CHF 2.59

-0.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 ISK 296

$2.31 CHF 1.83

4.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 372

$2.98 CHF 2.36

2.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 ISK 622

$4.35 CHF 3.44

16.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ISK 437

$2.49 CHF 1.97

43.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 ISK 294

$2.39 CHF 1.89

0.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 ISK 379

$2.67 CHF 2.11

16.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 ISK 245

$0.89 CHF 0.70

124.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.44 ISK 1,646

$11.12 CHF 8.80

20.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.20 ISK 2,841

$12.63 CHF 9.99

83.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.73 ISK 456

$2.40 CHF 1.90

55.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ISK 412

$3.32 CHF 2.63

1.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.34 ISK 653

$4.47 CHF 3.53

19.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.5 ISK 10.7K

$109 CHF 86.3

-19.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.27 ISK 768

$12.54 CHF 9.92

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.56 ISK 313

$4.05 CHF 3.20

-36.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$87.5 ISK 10.7K

$82.4 CHF 65.2

6.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.48 ISK 303

$2.15 CHF 1.70

15.35%

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

$47.6K ISK 5.8M

$31.3K CHF 24.8K

52.07%

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

$51.8K ISK 6.3M

$28.5K CHF 22.5K

81.64%

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

$88.4 ISK 10.8K

$244 CHF 193

-63.77%

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

$27.80 ISK 3,404

$36.50 CHF 28.87

-23.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.6 ISK 10.5K

$55.6 CHF 43.97

54.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.2 ISK 10.2K

$114 CHF 90.3

-27.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.45 ISK 4,586

$73.2 CHF 57.9

-48.80%

Cinema Ticket

$17.88 ISK 2,190

$21.76 CHF 17.21

-17.83%

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

$322 ISK 39.5K

$2,865 CHF 2,266

-88.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K ISK 3.7M

$42.2K CHF 33.4K

-27.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.2K

$141 CHF 111

-0.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.2 ISK 7,611

$45.49 CHF 35.98

36.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$179 ISK 22.0K

$131 CHF 104

36.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$261 ISK 31.9K

$159 CHF 126

64.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,244 ISK 274.8K

$1,298 CHF 1,027

72.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,065 ISK 252.8K

$1,126 CHF 890

83.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,173 ISK 388.5K

$2,273 CHF 1,798

39.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 ISK 334.8K

$1,871 CHF 1,480

46.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,787 ISK 953.4K

$9,986 CHF 7,899

-22.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 ISK 796.5K

$8,438 CHF 6,674

-22.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,496 ISK 550.5K

$7,974 CHF 6,307

-43.62%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Biel: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,244 in Reykjavik versus $1,298 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 77% 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 $144 in Reykjavik versus $113 in Biel. Groceries tell a different story – $601 in Reykjavik vs $672 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 22%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,683 per month in Reykjavik and $4,644 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 $2,865 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 $3,789 in Reykjavik and $3,096 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.