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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,824 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,619 in Hella, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,556 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,788 in Hella, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,289 per month in Reykjavik vs $3,958 in Hella, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 136% more than Hella, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Reykjavik and Hella sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 184%, Hella by 20%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.13 ISK 3,378

$27.32 ISK 3,401

-0.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 18.3K

$144 ISK 18.0K

1.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.15 ISK 2,757

$22.68 ISK 2,823

-2.34%

Cappuccino

$6.08 ISK 756

$6.15 ISK 765

-1.14%

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

$3.24 ISK 404

$3.35 ISK 417

-3.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ISK 324

$2.54 ISK 316

2.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.07 ISK 1,627

$12.72 ISK 1,583

2.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.14 ISK 1,387

$11.15 ISK 1,388

-0.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ISK 231

$1.93 ISK 241

-3.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.34 ISK 541

$4.19 ISK 522

3.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 ISK 451

$3.67 ISK 457

-1.09%

Eggs

$6.31 ISK 786

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.05 ISK 2,247

$18.19 ISK 2,265

-0.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.02 ISK 2,990

$24.53 ISK 3,053

-2.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.15 ISK 5,372

$41.71 ISK 5,193

3.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ISK 406

$3.36 ISK 418

-2.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 ISK 304

$2.51 ISK 312

-2.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 ISK 387

$3.04 ISK 378

2.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 ISK 606

$4.91 ISK 611

-0.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 ISK 459

$3.69 ISK 459

-0.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 ISK 291

$2.42 ISK 301

-3.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 ISK 379

$3.19 ISK 397

-4.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 ISK 239

$1.99 ISK 247

-3.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.59 ISK 1,692

$13.60 ISK 1,693

-0.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.29 ISK 2,900

$23.47 ISK 2,922

-0.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.71 ISK 462

$3.72 ISK 463

-0.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ISK 411

$3.34 ISK 415

-1.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.08 ISK 633

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.4 ISK 11.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.30 ISK 784

$6.24 ISK 777

0.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 ISK 328

$2.66 ISK 331

-0.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.7 ISK 10.8K

$85.8 ISK 10.7K

1.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.48 ISK 308

$2.43 ISK 302

2.06%

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

$46.4K ISK 5.8M

$47.5K ISK 5.9M

-2.29%

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

$52.0K ISK 6.5M

$51.3K ISK 6.4M

1.30%

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

$89.0 ISK 11.1K

$89.4 ISK 11.1K

-0.38%

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

$27.11 ISK 3,376

$27.68 ISK 3,446

-2.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.7 ISK 10.4K

$85.5 ISK 10.6K

-2.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.2 ISK 10.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.19 ISK 4,630

Cinema Ticket

$17.41 ISK 2,167

$17.43 ISK 2,170

-0.11%

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

$319 ISK 39.7K

$316 ISK 39.4K

0.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K ISK 3.7M

$29.9K ISK 3.7M

-0.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 ISK 17.1K

$141 ISK 17.5K

-2.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 ISK 7,569

$61.1 ISK 7,609

-0.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.5K

$186 ISK 23.1K

-2.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$269 ISK 33.5K

$271 ISK 33.8K

-0.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,246 ISK 279.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,025 ISK 252.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,220 ISK 400.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,728 ISK 339.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,686 ISK 957.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,267 ISK 780.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,442 ISK 553.0K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Hella: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $147 in Reykjavik versus $144 in Hella. Groceries tell a different story – $596 in Reykjavik vs $597 in Hella – 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 Hella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,824 in Reykjavik, $1,619 in Hella – roughly 136% apart. Reykjavik costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,735 per month in Reykjavik and $2,428 in Hella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,824 in Reykjavik and $1,619 in Hella. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $319 per month in Reykjavik and $316 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 $1,619, than in Reykjavik at $3,824. 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 $1,619 in Hella to $3,824 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.