Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Petrolina

For one person, living is cheaper in Petrolina: $769 a month against $4,037 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $39,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,037
/mo nomad
Petrolina
🇧🇷 Brazil
$769
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in Petrolina

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 Petrolina actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,037 per month in Reykjavik vs $769 in Petrolina, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $4,037
  • Petrolina $769

A couple spends around $5,666 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,194 in Petrolina, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $5,666
  • Petrolina $1,194

A family of three spends $7,295 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,618 in Petrolina, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $7,295
  • Petrolina $1,618

Reykjavik costs about 425% more than Petrolina, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Reykjavik sits 201% above the global median, while Petrolina is 43% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Petrolina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.59 ISK 3,730
$5.64 R$28.13
442.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$136 ISK 16.5K
$30.86 R$154
339.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$27.08 ISK 3,302
$7.01 R$34.97
286.31%
Cappuccino
$6.72 ISK 819
$1.93 R$9.65
248.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ISK 399
$1.22 R$6.10
168.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 ISK 386
$0.72 R$3.61
338.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.91 ISK 1,696
$2.01 R$10.05
592.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.06 ISK 1,470
$2.88 R$14.38
318.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Petrolina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.04 ISK 248
$1.07 R$5.33
90.65%
White Bread (500g)
$4.32 ISK 527
$0.94 R$4.72
359.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.67 ISK 447
$1.14 R$5.69
221.93%
Eggs
$7.02 ISK 856
$1.60 R$7.98
338.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.01 ISK 2,684
$8.68 R$43.31
153.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.70 ISK 3,012
$3.63 R$18.12
580.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.66 ISK 5,202
$7.79 R$38.90
447.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 ISK 412
$2.31 R$11.56
45.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.85 ISK 347
$0.93 R$4.66
206.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 ISK 387
$1.13 R$5.67
180.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.39 ISK 779
$1.50 R$7.47
326.00%
Potato (1kg)
$4.01 ISK 489
$1.15 R$5.77
248.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 ISK 200
$0.76 R$3.78
115.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.80 ISK 463
$0.79 R$3.95
381.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ISK 212
$0.49 R$2.45
255.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.80 ISK 1,682
$2.38 R$11.88
479.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.38 ISK 2,851
$6.60 R$32.97
254.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 ISK 430
$1.18 R$5.91
199.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 ISK 420
$1.94 R$9.68
77.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Petrolina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.77 ISK 704
$0.98 R$4.89
488.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.1 ISK 11.6K
$41.82 R$209
127.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.63 ISK 808
$1.22 R$6.11
443.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.79 ISK 341
$0.88 R$4.40
217.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$81.4 ISK 9,923
$7.94 R$39.63
924.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 ISK 257
$1.27 R$6.32
66.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ISK 6.2M
$19.8K R$99.1K
156.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.7K ISK 6.4M
$24.9K R$124.5K
111.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Petrolina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.7 ISK 10.8K
$65.3 R$326
35.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.53 ISK 3,845
$8.87 R$44.26
255.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.6 ISK 10.3K
$11.59 R$57.9
630.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Petrolina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$100 ISK 12.2K
$17.69 R$88.3
467.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$48.20 ISK 5,877
$26.54 R$132
81.61%
Cinema Ticket
$19.87 ISK 2,424
$3.74 R$18.66
431.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Petrolina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,277 ISK 155.8K
$233 R$1,163
448.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.0K ISK 3.8M
$6,947 R$34.7K
345.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Petrolina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$161 ISK 19.6K
$18.84 R$94.0
753.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.9 ISK 7,914
$47.80 R$239
35.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$183 ISK 22.3K
$51.8 R$259
252.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$254 ISK 31.0K
$80.3 R$401
216.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Petrolina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,499 ISK 304.8K
$264 R$1,318
846.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,000 ISK 243.9K
$221 R$1,103
805.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,452 ISK 421.0K
$558 R$2,787
518.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,742 ISK 334.4K
$398 R$1,985
589.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,001 ISK 975.7K
$1,578 R$7,879
406.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,249 ISK 762.1K
$1,139 R$5,683
448.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Petrolina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,691 ISK 572.0K
$578 R$2,884
711.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
11
-19.91%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 4, 2026

Last update for Petrolina: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
$2K
Petrolina
$221 89% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
$625
Petrolina
$165 73.6% $460
Eating Out
Reykjavik
$526
Petrolina
$113 78.5% $413
Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
$298
Petrolina
$89 70% $209
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
$205
Petrolina
$86 58.1% $119
Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
$140
Petrolina
$25 82% $115
Getting Around
Reykjavik
$139
Petrolina
$51 63% $87

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,499 in Reykjavik versus $264 in Petrolina. 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 712% 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 $136 in Reykjavik versus $31.00 in Petrolina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $625 vs $165 – making Petrolina the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🇧🇷 Petrolina
🕒 Local time
07:47 7:47 AM
04:47 4:47 AM
3 h behind Reykjavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,894 Capital
386,791
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 122 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.2 USD). 1 EUR = 137 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.31 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.6 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Reykjavik Petrolina 8,320 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Reykjavik
  • Petrolina

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 Petrolina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Reykjavik or Petrolina?
Reykjavik costs about 425% more than Petrolina, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Reykjavik and in Petrolina?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,055 per month in Reykjavik and $1,154 in Petrolina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Reykjavik or Petrolina?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Petrolina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Reykjavik and in Petrolina?
Kindergarten costs $1,277 per month in Reykjavik and $233 in Petrolina. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Reykjavik or in Petrolina?
Groceries cost about 279% more in Reykjavik, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Reykjavik or in Petrolina?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Petrolina, where all-in costs run around $769, than in Reykjavik at $4,037. In Petrolina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reykjavik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Reykjavik or Petrolina?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Petrolina costs $769 versus $4,037 in Reykjavik. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Reykjavik compared to Petrolina?
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.
Should I move to Reykjavik or to Petrolina?
If budget matters most, go with Petrolina. 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.

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