Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Rio das Ostras

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio das Ostras: $715 a month against $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $39,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,002
/mo nomad
Rio das Ostras
🇧🇷 Brazil
$715
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in Rio das Ostras

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 Rio das Ostras actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,002 per month in Reykjavik vs $715 in Rio das Ostras, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $4,002
  • Rio das Ostras $715

A couple spends around $5,705 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,208 in Rio das Ostras, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $5,705
  • Rio das Ostras $1,208

A family of three spends $7,407 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,701 in Rio das Ostras, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $7,407
  • Rio das Ostras $1,701

Reykjavik costs about 460% more than Rio das Ostras, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Reykjavik sits 196% above the global median, while Rio das Ostras is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Rio das Ostras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.56 ISK 3,828
$6.03 R$30.59
423.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 ISK 14.8K
$29.90 R$152
309.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$26.86 ISK 3,258
$6.99 R$35.45
284.26%
Cappuccino
$6.81 ISK 827
$1.80 R$9.10
278.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 ISK 411
$1.36 R$6.89
149.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ISK 388
$0.62 R$3.12
416.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$14.14 ISK 1,715
$1.17 R$5.91
1108.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.31 ISK 1,493
$3.10 R$15.70
297.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Rio das Ostras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.10 ISK 255
$1.02 R$5.19
105.88%
White Bread (500g)
$4.19 ISK 508
$1.58 R$8.02
165.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 ISK 451
$1.25 R$6.35
197.60%
Eggs
$7.05 ISK 856
$1.94 R$9.86
263.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.56 ISK 2,615
$7.98 R$40.43
170.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.68 ISK 2,993
$3.55 R$18.02
595.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.19 ISK 5,117
$8.67 R$43.97
386.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ISK 392
$1.87 R$9.50
72.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 ISK 331
$1.16 R$5.89
135.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 ISK 384
$0.97 R$4.94
226.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.61 ISK 802
$1.27 R$6.44
420.47%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ISK 467
$0.65 R$3.31
492.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 ISK 201
$0.80 R$4.07
107.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.80 ISK 461
$0.52 R$2.66
630.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ISK 212
$0.73 R$3.68
139.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.71 ISK 1,662
$2.16 R$10.93
534.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.21 ISK 2,937
$8.78 R$44.53
175.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 ISK 428
$2.09 R$10.59
68.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 ISK 402
$1.42 R$7.18
133.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Rio das Ostras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.75 ISK 697
$0.99 R$5.01
480.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 ISK 11.4K
$41.72 R$211
124.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ISK 802
$1.42 R$7.22
365.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 ISK 352
$0.78 R$3.97
271.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$79.2 ISK 9,602
$7.95 R$40.29
895.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 ISK 253
$1.18 R$5.99
77.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$51.0K ISK 6.2M
$21.6K R$109.4K
136.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.3K ISK 6.5M
$31.4K R$159.2K
69.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Rio das Ostras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
$68.8 R$349
38.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.35 ISK 3,923
$10.09 R$51.2
220.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.5 ISK 10.6K
$19.47 R$98.7
349.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Rio das Ostras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$102 ISK 12.4K
$23.99 R$122
324.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1 ISK 6,074
$27.80 R$141
80.14%
Cinema Ticket
$19.88 ISK 2,412
$6.52 R$33.08
204.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Rio das Ostras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,194 ISK 144.8K
$328 R$1,662
264.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.4K ISK 3.1M
$7,823 R$39.7K
224.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Rio das Ostras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$149 ISK 18.1K
$55.5 R$281
168.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.6 ISK 8,080
$28.36 R$144
134.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$180 ISK 21.8K
$67.9 R$344
165.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$253 ISK 30.7K
$48.75 R$247
419.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Rio das Ostras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,549 ISK 309.2K
$204 R$1,036
1146.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,056 ISK 249.4K
$149 R$757
1276.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,498 ISK 424.2K
$540 R$2,738
547.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,764 ISK 335.2K
$413 R$2,095
568.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,120 ISK 984.9K
$1,714 R$8,689
373.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,254 ISK 758.5K
$1,192 R$6,043
424.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Rio das Ostras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,573 ISK 554.6K
$556 R$2,817
722.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
10
-11.90%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 12, 2026

Last update for Rio das Ostras: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
$2.1K
Rio das Ostras
$149 92.7% $1.9K
Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
$623
Rio das Ostras
$178 71.3% $444
Eating Out
Reykjavik
$536
Rio das Ostras
$111 79.4% $426
Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
$292
Rio das Ostras
$90 69.1% $202
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
$215
Rio das Ostras
$98 54.3% $117
Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
$142
Rio das Ostras
$37 73.8% $105
Getting Around
Reykjavik
$138
Rio das Ostras
$51 63% $87

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,549 in Reykjavik versus $204 in Rio das Ostras. 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 723% 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 $30.00 in Rio das Ostras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $623 vs $178 – making Rio das Ostras the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🇧🇷 Rio das Ostras
🕒 Local time
08:43 8:43 AM
05:43 5:43 AM
3 h behind Reykjavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,894 Capital
156,491
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 19, 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 19, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Reykjavik Rio das Ostras 9,790 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Reykjavik
  • Rio das Ostras

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 Rio das Ostras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Reykjavik or Rio das Ostras?
Reykjavik costs about 460% more than Rio das Ostras, 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 Rio das Ostras?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,003 per month in Reykjavik and $1,073 in Rio das Ostras. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Reykjavik or Rio das Ostras?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rio das Ostras, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Reykjavik compared to Rio das Ostras?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,002 in Reykjavik and $715 in Rio das Ostras. That's a gap of about 460%.
How expensive is transport in Reykjavik compared to Rio das Ostras?
Public transport costs about 125% less in Rio das Ostras. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Reykjavik or in Rio das Ostras?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rio das Ostras, where all-in costs run around $715, than in Reykjavik at $4,002. In Rio das Ostras 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 Rio das Ostras?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rio das Ostras costs $715 versus $4,002 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 Rio das Ostras?
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 Rio das Ostras?
If budget matters most, go with Rio das Ostras. 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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