Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Kirkjubaejarklaustur Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Kirkjubaejarklaustur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,789 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,600 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,477 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,802 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,165 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,003 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 137% more than Kirkjubaejarklaustur, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Reykjavik and Kirkjubaejarklaustur sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 183%, Kirkjubaejarklaustur by 19%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.55 ISK 3,251

$26.51 ISK 3,245

0.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 ISK 17.6K

$146 ISK 17.9K

-1.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.87 ISK 2,801

$22.08 ISK 2,703

3.58%

Cappuccino

$5.98 ISK 732

$6.05 ISK 741

-1.16%

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

$3.23 ISK 396

$3.39 ISK 415

-4.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 ISK 312

$2.60 ISK 318

-1.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.06 ISK 1,599

$12.70 ISK 1,555

2.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.07 ISK 1,356

$11.43 ISK 1,400

-3.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ISK 229

$1.94 ISK 238

-3.61%

White Bread (500g)

$4.33 ISK 530

$4.39 ISK 538

-1.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 ISK 444

$3.69 ISK 452

-1.63%

Eggs

$6.51 ISK 797

$6.54 ISK 800

-0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.39 ISK 2,251

$18.18 ISK 2,226

1.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.53 ISK 3,004

$24.46 ISK 2,995

0.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.02 ISK 5,268

$42.36 ISK 5,187

1.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ISK 399

$3.21 ISK 393

1.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 ISK 296

$2.44 ISK 299

-0.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 372

$3.08 ISK 377

-1.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 ISK 622

$5.09 ISK 623

-0.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ISK 437

$3.71 ISK 455

-3.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 ISK 294

$2.32 ISK 284

3.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 ISK 379

$3.07 ISK 376

0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 ISK 245

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.44 ISK 1,646

$13.46 ISK 1,648

-0.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.20 ISK 2,841

$23.32 ISK 2,856

-0.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.73 ISK 456

$3.58 ISK 438

4.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ISK 412

$3.24 ISK 396

4.01%

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

$6.29 ISK 770

-0.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.56 ISK 313

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$87.5 ISK 10.7K

$85.7 ISK 10.5K

2.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.48 ISK 303

$2.44 ISK 298

1.64%

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

$47.6K ISK 5.8M

$47.2K ISK 5.8M

0.84%

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

$51.8K ISK 6.3M

$52.6K ISK 6.4M

-1.55%

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

$88.4 ISK 10.8K

$86.5 ISK 10.6K

2.23%

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

$27.80 ISK 3,404

$27.60 ISK 3,379

0.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.6 ISK 10.5K

$86.0 ISK 10.5K

-0.45%

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

$17.56 ISK 2,150

1.82%

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

$322 ISK 39.5K

$326 ISK 39.9K

-1.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K ISK 3.7M

$30.3K ISK 3.7M

0.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.2K

$138 ISK 16.9K

2.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.2 ISK 7,611

$62.1 ISK 7,598

0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$179 ISK 22.0K

$180 ISK 22.1K

-0.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$261 ISK 31.9K

$267 ISK 32.7K

-2.22%

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 Kirkjubaejarklaustur: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in Reykjavik versus $146 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur. Groceries tell a different story – $601 in Reykjavik vs $600 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur – so Kirkjubaejarklaustur 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 Kirkjubaejarklaustur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Reykjavik is pricier by about 137%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,683 per month in Reykjavik and $2,400 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in Reykjavik and $146 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Reykjavik, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, where all-in costs run around $1,600, than in Reykjavik at $3,789. In Kirkjubaejarklaustur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reykjavik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kirkjubaejarklaustur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Kirkjubaejarklaustur. 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.