Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Ciudad del Este

For one person, living is cheaper in Ciudad del Este: $799 a month against $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $38,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,002
/mo nomad
Ciudad del Este
🇵🇾 Paraguay
$799
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in Ciudad del Este

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 Ciudad del Este actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,002 per month in Reykjavik vs $799 in Ciudad del Este, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $4,002
  • Ciudad del Este $799

A couple spends around $5,705 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,500 in Ciudad del Este, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $5,705
  • Ciudad del Este $1,500

A family of three spends $7,407 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,201 in Ciudad del Este, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $7,407
  • Ciudad del Este $2,201

Reykjavik costs about 401% more than Ciudad del Este, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Reykjavik sits 196% above the global median, while Ciudad del Este is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.56 ISK 3,828
$6.08 ₲34.6K
419.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 ISK 14.8K
$22.70 ₲129.1K
438.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$26.86 ISK 3,258
$5.87 ₲33.4K
357.58%
Cappuccino
$6.81 ISK 827
$2.31 ₲13.1K
194.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 ISK 411
$0.99 ₲5,638
242.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ISK 388
$0.61 ₲3,492
424.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$14.14 ISK 1,715
$1.03 ₲5,838
1272.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.31 ISK 1,493
$1.74 ₲9,914
607.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.10 ISK 255
$1.13 ₲6,405
85.84%
White Bread (500g)
$4.19 ISK 508
$1.55 ₲8,812
170.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 ISK 451
$1.27 ₲7,206
192.91%
Eggs
$7.05 ISK 856
$2.21 ₲12.6K
219.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.56 ISK 2,615
$9.15 ₲52.0K
135.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.68 ISK 2,993
$3.89 ₲22.1K
534.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.19 ISK 5,117
$8.35 ₲47.5K
405.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ISK 392
$2.05 ₲11.7K
57.56%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 ISK 331
$1.27 ₲7,249
114.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 ISK 384
$0.98 ₲5,596
223.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.61 ISK 802
$1.27 ₲7,231
420.47%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ISK 467
$0.93 ₲5,284
313.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 ISK 201
$0.94 ₲5,368
76.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.80 ISK 461
$0.49 ₲2,797
675.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ISK 212
$0.42 ₲2,399
316.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.71 ISK 1,662
$1.37 ₲7,814
900.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.21 ISK 2,937
$5.40 ₲30.7K
348.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 ISK 428
$0.75 ₲4,286
370.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 ISK 402
$1.74 ₲9,881
90.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Ciudad del Este
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.75 ISK 697
$0.91 ₲5,160
531.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 ISK 11.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ISK 802
$1.55 ₲8,801
326.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 ISK 352
$1.57 ₲8,923
84.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$79.2 ISK 9,602
$10.48 ₲59.6K
655.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 ISK 253
$1.22 ₲6,955
71.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$51.0K ISK 6.2M
$17.5K ₲99.2M
192.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.3K ISK 6.5M
$17.3K ₲98.2M
208.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
$51.9 ₲295.2K
83.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.35 ISK 3,923
$17.90 ₲101.8K
80.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.5 ISK 10.6K
$18.98 ₲107.9K
361.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$102 ISK 12.4K
$29.72 ₲169.0K
242.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1 ISK 6,074
$14.30 ₲81.3K
250.21%
Cinema Ticket
$19.88 ISK 2,412
$6.20 ₲35.3K
220.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,194 ISK 144.8K
$185 ₲1.1M
545.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.4K ISK 3.1M
$1,909 ₲10.9M
1231.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$149 ISK 18.1K
$64.1 ₲364.6K
132.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.6 ISK 8,080
$33.87 ₲192.6K
96.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$180 ISK 21.8K
$99.6 ₲566.4K
80.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$253 ISK 30.7K
$56.8 ₲323.2K
345.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Ciudad del Este
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,549 ISK 309.2K
$354 ₲2.0M
619.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,056 ISK 249.4K
$261 ₲1.5M
688.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,498 ISK 424.2K
$744 ₲4.2M
370.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,764 ISK 335.2K
$980 ₲5.6M
181.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,120 ISK 984.9K
$1,923 ₲10.9M
322.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,254 ISK 758.5K
$1,420 ₲8.1M
340.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,573 ISK 554.6K
$610 ₲3.5M
650.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
10.15
-13.20%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 12, 2026

Last update for Ciudad del Este: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
$2.1K
Ciudad del Este
$261 87.3% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
$623
Ciudad del Este
$171 72.6% $452
Eating Out
Reykjavik
$536
Ciudad del Este
$109 79.7% $427
Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
$292
Ciudad del Este
$115 60.8% $177
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
$215
Ciudad del Este
$89 58.7% $126
Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
$142
Ciudad del Este
$42 70.3% $100
Getting Around
Reykjavik
$138
Ciudad del Este
$13 * 90.6% $125

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,549 in Reykjavik versus $354 in Ciudad del Este. 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 650% 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 $23.00 in Ciudad del Este. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $623 vs $171 – making Ciudad del Este the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🇵🇾 Ciudad del Este
🕒 Local time
23:55 11:55 PM
20:55 8:55 PM
3 h behind Reykjavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,894 Capital
320,782
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PYG, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.33 EUR).

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 5,686 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 6,393 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.56 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Reykjavik Ciudad del Este 10,370 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Reykjavik
  • Ciudad del Este

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 Ciudad del Este: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ciudad del Este cheaper than Reykjavik?
Yes – Reykjavik is pricier by about 401%, 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 $1,198 in Ciudad del Este. 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 Ciudad del Este, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Reykjavik or in Ciudad del Este?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Reykjavik and $23.00 in Ciudad del Este. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Reykjavik and in Ciudad del Este?
Groceries cost about 265% more in Reykjavik, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Reykjavik or in Ciudad del Este?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ciudad del Este, where all-in costs run around $799, than in Reykjavik at $4,002. In Ciudad del Este it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reykjavik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Reykjavik or Ciudad del Este more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ciudad del Este – 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 Ciudad del Este?
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 Ciudad del Este. 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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