Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Hella Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Hella

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,789 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,637 in Hella, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,477 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,843 in Hella, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,165 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,048 in Hella, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 131% more than Hella, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Reykjavik and Hella sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 183%, Hella by 22%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.55 ISK 3,251

$27.19 ISK 3,329

-2.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 ISK 17.6K

$147 ISK 17.9K

-1.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.87 ISK 2,801

$22.26 ISK 2,726

2.74%

Cappuccino

$5.98 ISK 732

$6.27 ISK 768

-4.63%

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

$3.23 ISK 396

$3.29 ISK 402

-1.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 ISK 312

$2.50 ISK 306

2.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.06 ISK 1,599

$12.92 ISK 1,582

1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.07 ISK 1,356

$11.32 ISK 1,386

-2.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ISK 229

$1.93 ISK 237

-3.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.33 ISK 530

$4.36 ISK 534

-0.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 ISK 444

$3.61 ISK 442

0.55%

Eggs

$6.51 ISK 797

$6.31 ISK 773

3.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.39 ISK 2,251

$17.91 ISK 2,193

2.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.53 ISK 3,004

$23.63 ISK 2,893

3.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.02 ISK 5,268

$42.77 ISK 5,237

0.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ISK 399

$3.24 ISK 396

0.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 ISK 296

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 372

$3.11 ISK 381

-2.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 ISK 622

$4.87 ISK 596

4.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ISK 437

$3.64 ISK 446

-1.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 ISK 294

$2.39 ISK 293

0.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 ISK 379

$3.07 ISK 376

0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 ISK 245

$1.93 ISK 236

3.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.44 ISK 1,646

$13.41 ISK 1,642

0.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.20 ISK 2,841

$23.12 ISK 2,831

0.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.73 ISK 456

$3.64 ISK 445

2.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ISK 412

$3.34 ISK 409

0.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.34 ISK 653

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.5 ISK 10.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.27 ISK 768

$6.51 ISK 798

-3.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.56 ISK 313

$2.52 ISK 308

1.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$87.5 ISK 10.7K

$86.3 ISK 10.6K

1.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.48 ISK 303

$2.57 ISK 314

-3.50%

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

$47.6K ISK 5.8M

$48.2K ISK 5.9M

-1.12%

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

$51.8K ISK 6.3M

$52.7K ISK 6.5M

-1.87%

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

$88.4 ISK 10.8K

$89.3 ISK 10.9K

-0.97%

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

$27.80 ISK 3,404

$27.34 ISK 3,347

1.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.6 ISK 10.5K

$87.0 ISK 10.6K

-1.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.2 ISK 10.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.45 ISK 4,586

Cinema Ticket

$17.88 ISK 2,190

$17.63 ISK 2,159

1.42%

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

$322 ISK 39.5K

$318 ISK 38.9K

1.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K ISK 3.7M

$30.6K ISK 3.7M

-0.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.2K

$141 ISK 17.3K

-0.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.2 ISK 7,611

$60.6 ISK 7,420

2.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$179 ISK 22.0K

$182 ISK 22.3K

-1.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$261 ISK 31.9K

$262 ISK 32.1K

-0.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,244 ISK 274.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,065 ISK 252.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,173 ISK 388.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 ISK 334.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,787 ISK 953.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,505 ISK 796.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,496 ISK 550.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

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

Last update for Reykjavik: April 26, 2026

Last update for Hella: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in Reykjavik versus $147 in Hella. Groceries tell a different story – $601 in Reykjavik vs $593 in Hella – so Hella 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 Hella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,789 in Reykjavik, $1,637 in Hella – roughly 131% apart. Reykjavik costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,683 per month in Reykjavik and $2,456 in Hella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,789 in Reykjavik and $1,637 in Hella. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $322 per month in Reykjavik and $318 in Hella. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Hella, where all-in costs run around $1,637, than in Reykjavik at $3,789. In Hella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reykjavik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Reykjavik has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,637 in Hella to $3,789 in Reykjavik. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Hella. 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.