Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Gravataí

For one person, living is cheaper in Gravataí: $837 a month against $4,023 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $38,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,023
/mo nomad
Gravataí
🇧🇷 Brazil
$837
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in Gravataí

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,023 in Reykjavik versus $837 in Gravataí.

  • Reykjavik $4,023
  • Gravataí $837

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,708 in Reykjavik versus $1,280 in Gravataí.

  • Reykjavik $5,708
  • Gravataí $1,280

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,393 in Reykjavik versus $1,723 in Gravataí.

  • Reykjavik $7,393
  • Gravataí $1,723

Living in Reykjavik is roughly 381% more expensive than in Gravataí, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Reykjavik is 197% above, Gravataí is 38% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Gravataí
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.00 ISK 3,760
$3.86 R$19.58
703.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123 ISK 14.9K
$19.58 R$99.2
529.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$27.21 ISK 3,300
$8.04 R$40.76
238.43%
Cappuccino
$6.90 ISK 837
$2.08 R$10.52
231.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ISK 401
$1.55 R$7.88
112.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 ISK 384
$1.06 R$5.39
198.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.84 ISK 1,678
$2.03 R$10.28
581.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.46 ISK 1,512
$4.95 R$25.07
151.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Gravataí
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ISK 250
$0.98 R$4.99
110.20%
White Bread (500g)
$4.11 ISK 498
$2.37 R$12.04
73.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.68 ISK 446
$1.14 R$5.78
222.81%
Eggs
$7.27 ISK 882
$1.95 R$9.91
272.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.79 ISK 2,643
$12.44 R$63.1
75.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$23.95 ISK 2,905
$6.08 R$30.83
293.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.43 ISK 5,025
$9.15 R$46.36
352.79%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 ISK 414
$2.25 R$11.43
52.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 ISK 344
$1.28 R$6.49
121.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 ISK 391
$1.16 R$5.89
178.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.46 ISK 783
$1.51 R$7.64
327.81%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 ISK 491
$1.26 R$6.41
221.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 ISK 202
$1.06 R$5.38
56.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.86 ISK 468
$0.85 R$4.31
354.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ISK 223
$1.05 R$5.32
75.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.96 ISK 1,693
$2.17 R$10.99
543.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.76 ISK 2,882
$8.17 R$41.40
190.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54 ISK 430
$1.27 R$6.44
178.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 ISK 418
$2.10 R$10.64
63.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Gravataí
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.81 ISK 705
$1.40 R$7.10
315.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
$47.31 R$240
101.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.72 ISK 815
$1.35 R$6.84
397.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.81 ISK 340
$0.77 R$3.93
264.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$81.3 ISK 9,866
$8.90 R$45.10
813.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 ISK 257
$1.10 R$5.58
92.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$68.9K ISK 8.4M
$19.9K R$101.0K
245.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.8K ISK 6.8M
$26.8K R$135.7K
108.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Gravataí
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.8 ISK 11.6K
$76.1 R$386
25.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.11 ISK 4,016
$8.06 R$40.87
310.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.2 ISK 10.6K
$20.93 R$106
316.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Gravataí
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$101 ISK 12.3K
$25.50 R$129
296.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.7 ISK 6,155
$27.85 R$141
82.19%
Cinema Ticket
$19.85 ISK 2,407
$7.15 R$36.27
177.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Gravataí
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,195 ISK 144.9K
$159 R$808
649.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.2K ISK 3.2M
$7,110 R$36.0K
268.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Gravataí
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$148 ISK 18.0K
$54.4 R$276
172.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.8 ISK 8,096
$51.6 R$262
29.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$187 ISK 22.6K
$56.4 R$286
230.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$253 ISK 30.6K
$65.8 R$334
283.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Gravataí
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,579 ISK 312.8K
$271 R$1,375
850.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,080 ISK 252.3K
$200 R$1,013
941.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,455 ISK 419.0K
$502 R$2,547
587.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,752 ISK 333.8K
$339 R$1,719
711.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,933 ISK 962.2K
$1,652 R$8,377
380.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,377 ISK 773.5K
$1,182 R$5,992
439.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Gravataí
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,695 ISK 569.5K
$641 R$3,252
631.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
11
-19.91%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 20, 2026

Last update for Gravataí: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
$2.1K
Gravataí
$200 90.4% $1.9K
Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
$619
Gravataí
$221 64.3% $398
Eating Out
Reykjavik
$532
Gravataí
$110 79.3% $422
Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
$294
Gravataí
$103 65.1% $192
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
$216
Gravataí
$105 51.4% $111
Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
$141
Gravataí
$40 71.7% $101
Getting Around
Reykjavik
$139
Gravataí
$58 58.3% $81

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,579 in Reykjavik and $271 in Gravataí. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Reykjavik pays 632% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $123 in Reykjavik vs $20.00 in Gravataí for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $619 vs $221 per month, with Gravataí cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🇧🇷 Gravataí
🕒 Local time
21:01 9:01 PM
18:01 6:01 PM
3 h behind Reykjavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,894 Capital
265,074
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.33 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Reykjavik Gravataí 10,770 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Reykjavik
  • Gravataí

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 Gravataí: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gravataí cheaper than Reykjavik?
Gravataí is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 381% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Reykjavik or Gravataí?
Average pay runs 632% higher in Reykjavik, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Reykjavik and Gravataí?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,579 in Reykjavik versus $271 in Gravataí. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Reykjavik or in Gravataí?
Dining out is cheaper in Gravataí – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $123 in Reykjavik. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Reykjavik and in Gravataí?
All in, you'll spend $4,023 per month in Reykjavik versus $837 in Gravataí – a 381% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Reykjavik or in Gravataí?
At $837 in Gravataí versus $4,023 in Reykjavik, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gravataí but tight or insufficient in Reykjavik. The gap between the two cities makes Gravataí the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Reykjavik or Gravataí more family-friendly?
For families, Gravataí 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 Gravataí?
Safety-wise, Reykjavik and Gravataí 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 Gravataí gentler on the wallet – expenses run 381% less than in Reykjavik. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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