Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Reykjahlid Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Reykjahlid

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,824 in Reykjavik versus $174 in Reykjahlid.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,556 in Reykjavik versus $259 in Reykjahlid.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,289 in Reykjavik versus $344 in Reykjahlid.

Living in Reykjavik is roughly 2093% more expensive than Reykjahlid, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Reykjavik is 184% above, Reykjahlid is 87% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.13 ISK 3,378

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 18.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.15 ISK 2,757

Cappuccino

$6.08 ISK 756

$5.99 ISK 745

1.50%

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

$3.24 ISK 404

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ISK 324

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.07 ISK 1,627

$11.67 ISK 1,453

12.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.14 ISK 1,387

$11.73 ISK 1,460

-5.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ISK 231

$2.36 ISK 293

-21.19%

White Bread (500g)

$4.34 ISK 541

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 ISK 451

Eggs

$6.31 ISK 786

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.05 ISK 2,247

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.02 ISK 2,990

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.15 ISK 5,372

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ISK 406

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 ISK 304

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 ISK 387

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 ISK 606

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 ISK 459

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 ISK 291

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 ISK 379

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 ISK 239

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.59 ISK 1,692

Wine (Bottle)

$23.29 ISK 2,900

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.71 ISK 462

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ISK 411

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 ISK 328

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.7 ISK 10.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.48 ISK 308

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

$46.4K ISK 5.8M

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

$52.0K ISK 6.5M

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

$89.0 ISK 11.1K

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

$27.11 ISK 3,376

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.7 ISK 10.4K

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

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

$319 ISK 39.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 ISK 17.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 ISK 7,569

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$269 ISK 33.5K

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 Reykjahlid: June 8, 2026

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 Reykjahlid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Reykjavik and Reykjahlid differ by about 2093% in total monthly costs ($3,824 vs $174 including rent). Reykjahlid is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,735 in Reykjavik and $262 in Reykjahlid to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2429% higher in Reykjavik. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,824 per month in Reykjavik versus $174 in Reykjahlid – a 2093% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $174 in Reykjahlid versus $3,824 in Reykjavik, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Reykjahlid but tight or insufficient in Reykjavik. The gap between the two cities makes Reykjahlid the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Reykjavik and Reykjahlid are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Reykjahlid gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2093% less than in Reykjavik. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.