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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,824 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,633 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,556 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,856 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,289 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,080 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 134% more than Kirkjubaejarklaustur, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Reykjavik and Kirkjubaejarklaustur sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 184%, Kirkjubaejarklaustur by 21%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.13 ISK 3,378

$26.79 ISK 3,335

1.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 18.3K

$145 ISK 18.1K

1.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.15 ISK 2,757

$22.20 ISK 2,764

-0.23%

Cappuccino

$6.08 ISK 756

$6.14 ISK 765

-0.98%

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

$3.24 ISK 404

$3.23 ISK 402

0.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ISK 324

$2.63 ISK 327

-1.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.07 ISK 1,627

$13.12 ISK 1,633

-0.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.14 ISK 1,387

$11.36 ISK 1,414

-1.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ISK 231

$1.85 ISK 231

0.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.34 ISK 541

$4.17 ISK 519

4.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 ISK 451

$3.70 ISK 461

-1.89%

Eggs

$6.31 ISK 786

$6.46 ISK 804

-2.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.05 ISK 2,247

$18.09 ISK 2,253

-0.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.02 ISK 2,990

$23.74 ISK 2,956

1.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.15 ISK 5,372

$43.18 ISK 5,376

-0.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ISK 406

$3.25 ISK 404

0.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 ISK 304

$2.44 ISK 304

0.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 ISK 387

$3.01 ISK 375

3.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 ISK 606

$4.90 ISK 610

-0.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 ISK 459

$3.55 ISK 441

3.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 ISK 291

$2.36 ISK 293

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 ISK 379

$3.19 ISK 397

-4.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 ISK 239

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.59 ISK 1,692

$13.83 ISK 1,722

-1.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.29 ISK 2,900

$22.93 ISK 2,854

1.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.71 ISK 462

$3.61 ISK 449

2.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ISK 411

$3.36 ISK 418

-1.79%

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

$6.17 ISK 768

2.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 ISK 328

$2.62 ISK 326

0.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.7 ISK 10.8K

$86.8 ISK 10.8K

-0.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.48 ISK 308

$2.45 ISK 306

1.22%

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

$46.4K ISK 5.8M

$47.5K ISK 5.9M

-2.34%

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

$52.0K ISK 6.5M

$52.2K ISK 6.5M

-0.42%

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

$89.0 ISK 11.1K

$88.9 ISK 11.1K

0.16%

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

$27.11 ISK 3,376

$27.40 ISK 3,412

-1.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.7 ISK 10.4K

$85.5 ISK 10.7K

-2.14%

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

$17.91 ISK 2,230

-2.79%

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

$319 ISK 39.7K

$325 ISK 40.5K

-1.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K ISK 3.7M

$30.1K ISK 3.7M

-0.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 ISK 17.1K

$138 ISK 17.2K

-0.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 ISK 7,569

$61.1 ISK 7,602

-0.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.5K

$183 ISK 22.7K

-0.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$269 ISK 33.5K

$270 ISK 33.6K

-0.16%

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 Kirkjubaejarklaustur: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $147 in Reykjavik versus $145 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $596 vs $593 – making Kirkjubaejarklaustur 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 134%, 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 $5,735 per month in Reykjavik and $2,449 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 $147 in Reykjavik and $145 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% 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 $1,633, than in Reykjavik at $3,824. 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.