Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Pelotas

For one person, living is cheaper in Pelotas: $759 a month against $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $38,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

193

Cost of Living Index in Reykjavik
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Reykjavik Living Index
37

Cost of Living Index in Pelotas
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Pelotas Living Index

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Reykjavik

🇮🇸 Iceland

$4,002

/mo nomad

Pelotas

🇧🇷 Brazil

$759

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in Pelotas

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Reykjavik and in Pelotas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,002 per month in Reykjavik vs $759 in Pelotas, rent included.

Reykjavik $4,002
Pelotas $759

A couple spends around $5,705 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,178 in Pelotas, rent included.

Reykjavik $5,705
Pelotas $1,178

A family of three spends $7,407 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,598 in Pelotas, rent included.

Reykjavik $7,407
Pelotas $1,598

Reykjavik costs about 427% more than Pelotas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Reykjavik sits 196% above the global median, while Pelotas is 44% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.56 ISK 3,828

$6.16 R$31.21

412.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 ISK 14.8K

$17.70 R$89.7

591.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$26.86 ISK 3,258

$6.66 R$33.78

303.30%

Cappuccino

$6.81 ISK 827

$2.49 R$12.64

173.49%

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

$3.39 ISK 411

$1.35 R$6.86

151.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ISK 388

$0.72 R$3.65

344.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$14.14 ISK 1,715

$1.46 R$7.41

868.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.31 ISK 1,493

$1.55 R$7.87

694.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ISK 255

$0.88 R$4.47

138.64%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 ISK 508

$1.19 R$6.03

252.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.72 ISK 451

$0.91 R$4.61

308.79%

Eggs

$7.05 ISK 856

$2.31 R$11.69

205.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.56 ISK 2,615

$10.16 R$51.5

112.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.68 ISK 2,993

$4.72 R$23.91

422.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.19 ISK 5,117

$9.74 R$49.37

333.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ISK 392

$2.47 R$12.54

30.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.73 ISK 331

$1.19 R$6.01

129.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.17 ISK 384

$1.40 R$7.11

126.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.61 ISK 802

$1.22 R$6.19

441.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.85 ISK 467

$1.21 R$6.15

218.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 ISK 201

$0.98 R$4.98

69.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.80 ISK 461

$0.87 R$4.41

336.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 ISK 212

$0.51 R$2.59

243.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.71 ISK 1,662

$2.38 R$12.08

476.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.21 ISK 2,937

$7.50 R$38.01

222.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.53 ISK 428

$0.68 R$3.44

419.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 ISK 402

$1.01 R$5.14

228.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.75 ISK 697

$1.23 R$6.25

367.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.8 ISK 11.4K

$52.5 R$266

78.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 ISK 802

$1.31 R$6.66

404.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.90 ISK 352

$0.80 R$4.03

262.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$79.2 ISK 9,602

$8.27 R$41.92

857.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.09 ISK 253

$1.28 R$6.50

63.28%

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

$51.0K ISK 6.2M

$23.5K R$119.3K

116.80%

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

$53.3K ISK 6.5M

$33.8K R$171.4K

57.58%

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

$95.3 ISK 11.6K

$77.7 R$394

22.54%

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

$32.35 ISK 3,923

$7.73 R$39.19

318.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.5 ISK 10.6K

$20.15 R$102

334.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$102 ISK 12.4K

$19.80 R$100

414.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.1 ISK 6,074

$20.13 R$102

148.78%

Cinema Ticket

$19.88 ISK 2,412

$4.95 R$25.08

301.62%

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

$1,194 ISK 144.8K

$573 R$2,902

108.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.4K ISK 3.1M

$24.2K R$122.5K

5.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$149 ISK 18.1K

$35.20 R$178

323.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.6 ISK 8,080

$30.28 R$154

120.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$180 ISK 21.8K

$60.6 R$307

196.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$253 ISK 30.7K

$81.0 R$410

212.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,549 ISK 309.2K

$237 R$1,202

974.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,056 ISK 249.4K

$166 R$843

1136.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,498 ISK 424.2K

$390 R$1,978

796.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,764 ISK 335.2K

$316 R$1,603

773.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,120 ISK 984.9K

$1,579 R$8,004

414.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,254 ISK 758.5K

$802 R$4,065

679.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,573 ISK 554.6K

$460 R$2,331

894.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.81

11.5

-23.39%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 12, 2026

Last update for Pelotas: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Reykjavik

$2.1K 51.4%

Pelotas

$166 21.9% 91.9% $1.9K

Groceries & Markets

Reykjavik

$623 15.6%

Pelotas

$184 24.2% 70.5% $439

Eating Out

Reykjavik

$536 13.4%

Pelotas

$118 15.5% 78% $419

Clothing & Footwear

Reykjavik

$292 7.3%

Pelotas

$93 12.3% 68.1% $199

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Reykjavik

$215 5.4%

Pelotas

$106 13.9% 50.9% $110

Sport & Entertainment

Reykjavik

$142 3.5%

Pelotas

$30 3.9% 79% $112

Getting Around

Reykjavik

$138 3.5%

Pelotas

$63 8.3% 54.6% $75

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,549 in Reykjavik versus $237 in Pelotas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 894% higher in Reykjavik, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in Reykjavik versus $18.00 in Pelotas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $623 vs $184 – making Pelotas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇮🇸 Reykjavik

🇧🇷 Pelotas

🕒 Local time

15:06 3:06 PM

12:06 12:06 PM

3 h behind Reykjavik

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

136,894 Capital

325,685

💱 Currency

Icelandic Króna ISK kr

Brazilian Real BRL R$

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD

1,000 ISK = 7.33 EUR

1 BRL = 0.197 USD

1 BRL = 0.175 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇮🇸 Icelandic Króna (kr)

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.33 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

USD to ISK in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Reykjavik Pelotas 10,990 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight

From you

Reykjavik
Pelotas

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Pelotas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,002 in Reykjavik, $759 in Pelotas – roughly 427% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,003 per month in Reykjavik and $1,139 in Pelotas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pelotas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,194 per month in Reykjavik and $573 in Pelotas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 239% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pelotas, where all-in costs run around $759, than in Reykjavik at $4,002. In Pelotas 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 $759 in Pelotas to $4,002 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 Pelotas. 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.