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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,785 per month in Reykjavik vs $3,120 in Biel, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,438 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,725 in Biel, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,090 per month in Reykjavik vs $6,330 in Biel, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 21% more than Biel, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Reykjavik and Biel sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 184%, Biel by 134%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.53 ISK 3,296

$24.31 CHF 19.28

9.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 ISK 17.8K

$109 CHF 86.6

31.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.53 ISK 2,799

$16.01 CHF 12.70

40.72%

Cappuccino

$5.99 ISK 745

$6.15 CHF 4.88

-2.60%

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

$3.30 ISK 410

$5.31 CHF 4.21

-37.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 ISK 317

$4.87 CHF 3.87

-47.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.65 ISK 1,572

$7.65 CHF 6.06

65.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.23 ISK 1,396

$6.88 CHF 5.46

63.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ISK 231

$2.18 CHF 1.73

-14.68%

White Bread (500g)

$4.18 ISK 519

$3.77 CHF 2.99

10.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.58 ISK 445

$4.26 CHF 3.38

-15.96%

Eggs

$6.35 ISK 789

$7.54 CHF 5.98

-15.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.37 ISK 2,283

$30.72 CHF 24.37

-40.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.60 ISK 2,932

$34.92 CHF 27.69

-32.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.14 ISK 5,360

$51.7 CHF 41.01

-16.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 ISK 411

$3.36 CHF 2.66

-1.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 ISK 310

$2.24 CHF 1.78

11.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.02 ISK 375

$3.01 CHF 2.38

0.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 ISK 618

$4.11 CHF 3.26

20.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ISK 444

$2.48 CHF 1.97

43.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 ISK 291

$2.49 CHF 1.97

-6.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 ISK 384

$2.60 CHF 2.07

18.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 ISK 249

$0.90 CHF 0.71

122.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.80 ISK 1,714

$11.11 CHF 8.81

24.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.16 ISK 2,878

$13.56 CHF 10.76

70.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.70 ISK 459

$2.30 CHF 1.83

60.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ISK 415

$3.33 CHF 2.64

0.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.18 ISK 643

$4.42 CHF 3.50

17.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.4 ISK 10.7K

$110 CHF 87.3

-21.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.50 ISK 808

$12.54 CHF 9.94

-48.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 ISK 330

$4.23 CHF 3.36

-37.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$84.9 ISK 10.5K

$84.5 CHF 67.0

0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.53 ISK 315

$2.14 CHF 1.70

18.22%

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

$46.5K ISK 5.8M

$31.1K CHF 24.7K

49.61%

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

$53.3K ISK 6.6M

$28.6K CHF 22.6K

86.59%

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

$87.5 ISK 10.9K

$245 CHF 194

-64.27%

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

$27.40 ISK 3,404

$35.79 CHF 28.38

-23.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.4 ISK 10.5K

$56.0 CHF 44.44

50.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.6 ISK 10.3K

$113 CHF 90.0

-27.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.23 ISK 4,626

$73.6 CHF 58.4

-49.40%

Cinema Ticket

$17.91 ISK 2,225

$22.57 CHF 17.90

-20.65%

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

$315 ISK 39.1K

$2,933 CHF 2,326

-89.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K ISK 3.8M

$42.6K CHF 33.8K

-28.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 ISK 17.3K

$139 CHF 110

0.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 ISK 7,747

$46.95 CHF 37.24

32.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$184 ISK 22.9K

$132 CHF 105

39.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$269 ISK 33.4K

$160 CHF 127

68.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,233 ISK 277.5K

$1,289 CHF 1,022

73.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,004 ISK 249.0K

$1,155 CHF 916

73.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,240 ISK 402.5K

$2,303 CHF 1,826

40.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,791 ISK 346.8K

$1,821 CHF 1,444

53.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 ISK 957.8K

$10.2K CHF 8,071

-24.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,232 ISK 774.3K

$8,232 CHF 6,529

-24.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,544 ISK 564.6K

$7,807 CHF 6,191

-41.80%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Biel: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,233 in Reykjavik versus $1,289 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 72% 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 $143 in Reykjavik versus $109 in Biel. Groceries tell a different story – $594 in Reykjavik vs $670 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 21%, 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 $5,677 per month in Reykjavik and $4,679 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 27% less in Biel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $315 per month in Reykjavik and $2,933 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 $3,785 in Reykjavik and $3,120 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.