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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,849 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,605 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,457 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,789 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,065 per month in Reykjavik vs $3,974 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 140% more than Kirkjubaejarklaustur, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Reykjavik and Kirkjubaejarklaustur sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 189%, Kirkjubaejarklaustur by 21%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.85 ISK 3,319

$27.24 ISK 3,367

-1.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 ISK 17.6K

-0.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.18 ISK 2,741

$22.93 ISK 2,834

-3.27%

Cappuccino

$6.17 ISK 763

$6.07 ISK 751

1.65%

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

$3.24 ISK 401

$3.33 ISK 412

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 ISK 324

$2.61 ISK 323

0.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.69 ISK 1,569

$12.84 ISK 1,587

-1.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.39 ISK 1,408

$11.35 ISK 1,403

0.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ISK 231

$1.89 ISK 234

-1.06%

White Bread (500g)

$4.30 ISK 531

$4.22 ISK 522

1.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 ISK 440

$3.55 ISK 439

0.28%

Eggs

$6.28 ISK 777

$6.32 ISK 781

-0.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.25 ISK 2,255

$17.84 ISK 2,205

2.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.69 ISK 2,929

$23.94 ISK 2,959

-1.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.14 ISK 5,209

$42.75 ISK 5,283

-1.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 ISK 412

$3.25 ISK 402

2.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.41 ISK 298

$2.44 ISK 301

-1.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ISK 370

$3.11 ISK 384

-3.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.12 ISK 633

$5.02 ISK 620

1.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.58 ISK 442

$3.60 ISK 445

-0.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 ISK 292

$2.31 ISK 286

2.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.14 ISK 388

$3.13 ISK 387

0.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 ISK 251

$2.00 ISK 247

1.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.89 ISK 1,717

$13.70 ISK 1,694

1.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.38 ISK 2,890

$22.77 ISK 2,814

2.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.58 ISK 442

$3.57 ISK 441

0.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ISK 397

$3.34 ISK 412

-3.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.09 ISK 629

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.7 ISK 10.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.37 ISK 787

$6.41 ISK 793

-0.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.56 ISK 316

$2.63 ISK 325

-2.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.9 ISK 10.7K

$87.0 ISK 10.8K

-0.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.45 ISK 303

$2.57 ISK 318

-4.67%

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

$48.1K ISK 5.9M

$46.9K ISK 5.8M

2.58%

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

$52.6K ISK 6.5M

$53.1K ISK 6.6M

-0.99%

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

$87.4 ISK 10.8K

$88.1 ISK 10.9K

-0.84%

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

$27.40 ISK 3,386

$27.34 ISK 3,379

0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.5 ISK 10.7K

$84.6 ISK 10.5K

2.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.6 ISK 10.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.79 ISK 4,671

Cinema Ticket

$17.41 ISK 2,152

$17.76 ISK 2,196

-1.97%

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

$322 ISK 39.8K

$324 ISK 40.1K

-0.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K ISK 3.7M

$30.6K ISK 3.8M

-1.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$137 ISK 16.9K

$140 ISK 17.2K

-2.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.0 ISK 7,536

$62.1 ISK 7,674

-1.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.4K

$182 ISK 22.5K

-0.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$271 ISK 33.5K

$265 ISK 32.8K

2.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 ISK 275.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 ISK 251.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,171 ISK 392.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,699 ISK 333.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,931 ISK 980.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,333 ISK 782.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,563 ISK 564.0K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kirkjubaejarklaustur: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $142 in Reykjavik versus $142 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $593 vs $593 – making Reykjavik the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 140%, 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 $5,774 per month in Reykjavik and $2,407 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 $142 in Reykjavik and $142 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 $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, where all-in costs run around $1,605, than in Reykjavik at $3,849. 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.