Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Curico

For one person, living is cheaper in Curico: $976 a month against $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $36,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,002
/mo nomad
Curico
🇨🇱 Chile
$976
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in Curico

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 Curico actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,002 in Reykjavik versus $976 in Curico.

  • Reykjavik $4,002
  • Curico $976

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,705 in Reykjavik versus $1,426 in Curico.

  • Reykjavik $5,705
  • Curico $1,426

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,407 in Reykjavik versus $1,876 in Curico.

  • Reykjavik $7,407
  • Curico $1,876

Living in Reykjavik is roughly 310% more expensive than in Curico, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Reykjavik is 196% above, Curico is 28% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Curico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.56 ISK 3,834
$5.53 CLP 5,439
470.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 ISK 14.9K
$45.99 CLP 45.2K
166.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$26.86 ISK 3,263
$8.92 CLP 8,771
201.12%
Cappuccino
$6.81 ISK 828
$3.29 CLP 3,233
106.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 ISK 411
$1.75 CLP 1,718
93.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ISK 389
$1.28 CLP 1,256
150.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$14.14 ISK 1,717
$2.79 CLP 2,744
406.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.31 ISK 1,495
$2.60 CLP 2,555
373.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Curico
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.10 ISK 255
$1.25 CLP 1,232
68.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.19 ISK 509
$1.86 CLP 1,826
125.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 ISK 452
$1.60 CLP 1,575
132.50%
Eggs
$7.05 ISK 857
$2.17 CLP 2,137
224.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.56 ISK 2,619
$11.12 CLP 10.9K
93.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.68 ISK 2,998
$6.84 CLP 6,729
260.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.19 ISK 5,125
$10.81 CLP 10.6K
290.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ISK 393
$2.02 CLP 1,988
59.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 ISK 332
$1.51 CLP 1,483
80.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 ISK 385
$1.60 CLP 1,577
98.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.61 ISK 804
$1.69 CLP 1,658
291.12%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ISK 467
$1.07 CLP 1,049
259.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 ISK 201
$1.48 CLP 1,457
12.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.80 ISK 462
$1.18 CLP 1,164
222.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ISK 212
$0.89 CLP 873
96.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.71 ISK 1,665
$5.36 CLP 5,269
155.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.21 ISK 2,942
$5.92 CLP 5,821
308.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 ISK 429
$1.55 CLP 1,520
127.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 ISK 403
$2.40 CLP 2,362
38.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Curico
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.75 ISK 698
$0.70 CLP 693
721.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 ISK 11.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ISK 804
$0.39 CLP 386
1594.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 ISK 352
$0.88 CLP 868
229.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$79.2 ISK 9,617
$11.83 CLP 11.6K
569.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 ISK 254
$1.35 CLP 1,327
54.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$51.0K ISK 6.2M
$17.5K CLP 17.2M
190.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.3K ISK 6.5M
$21.9K CLP 21.5M
143.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Curico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
$152 CLP 149.2K
-37.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.35 ISK 3,929
$10.34 CLP 10.2K
212.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.5 ISK 10.6K
$18.80 CLP 18.5K
365.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Curico
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$102 ISK 12.4K
$20.62 CLP 20.3K
393.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1 ISK 6,083
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.88 ISK 2,415
$7.36 CLP 7,235
170.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Curico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,194 ISK 145.0K
$416 CLP 409.3K
186.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.4K ISK 3.1M
$11.0K CLP 10.8M
131.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Curico
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$149 ISK 18.1K
$49.98 CLP 49.1K
198.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.6 ISK 8,093
$28.82 CLP 28.3K
131.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$180 ISK 21.9K
$35.90 CLP 35.3K
401.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$253 ISK 30.8K
$46.51 CLP 45.7K
444.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Curico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,549 ISK 309.7K
$428 CLP 420.8K
495.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,056 ISK 249.8K
$311 CLP 306.2K
560.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,498 ISK 424.9K
$692 CLP 680.8K
405.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,764 ISK 335.7K
$407 CLP 400.2K
578.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,120 ISK 986.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,254 ISK 759.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Curico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,573 ISK 555.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
5.39
63.45%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 12, 2026

Last update for Curico: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
$2.1K
Curico
$311 84.9% $1.7K
Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
$623
Curico
$226 63.7% $397
Eating Out
Reykjavik
$536
Curico
$142 73.6% $395
Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
$292
Curico
$73 75.2% $219
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
$215
Curico
$181 15.9% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
$142
Curico
$35 75.1% $106
Getting Around
Reykjavik
$138
Curico
$7.6 * 94.5% $130

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,549 in Reykjavik and $428 in Curico. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $122 in Reykjavik vs $46.00 in Curico for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $623 vs $226 per month, with Curico cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🇨🇱 Curico
🕒 Local time
02:24 2:24 AM
23:24 11:24 PM
3 h behind Reykjavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,894 Capital
125,275
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.23 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.35 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 983 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,101 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Reykjavik Curico 11,840 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Reykjavik
  • Curico

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 Curico: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Curico cheaper than Reykjavik?
Curico is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 310% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $6,003 in Reykjavik and $1,464 in Curico to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Reykjavik and Curico?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,549 in Reykjavik versus $428 in Curico. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,194 in Reykjavik versus $416 in Curico. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Reykjavik or in Curico?
Dining out is cheaper in Curico – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $122 in Reykjavik. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Reykjavik or in Curico?
At $976 in Curico versus $4,002 in Reykjavik, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Curico but tight or insufficient in Reykjavik. The gap between the two cities makes Curico the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Reykjavik or Curico more family-friendly?
For families, Curico is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Reykjavik, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Reykjavik or Curico?
Safety-wise, Reykjavik and Curico are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Curico gentler on the wallet – expenses run 310% less than in Reykjavik. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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