Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and San Bernardo

For one person, living is cheaper in San Bernardo: $897 a month against $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $37,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,002
/mo nomad
San Bernardo
🇨🇱 Chile
$897
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in San Bernardo

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

A single person spends $4,002 per month in Reykjavik vs $897 in San Bernardo, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $4,002
  • San Bernardo $897

A couple spends around $5,705 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,414 in San Bernardo, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $5,705
  • San Bernardo $1,414

A family of three spends $7,407 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,932 in San Bernardo, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $7,407
  • San Bernardo $1,932

Reykjavik costs about 346% more than San Bernardo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Reykjavik sits 196% above the global median, while San Bernardo is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
San Bernardo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.56 ISK 3,828
$7.85 CLP 7,727
302.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 ISK 14.8K
$25.41 CLP 25.0K
381.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$26.86 ISK 3,258
$6.51 CLP 6,407
312.60%
Cappuccino
$6.81 ISK 827
$2.52 CLP 2,481
170.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 ISK 411
$0.94 CLP 922
260.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ISK 388
$1.01 CLP 991
216.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$14.14 ISK 1,715
$4.05 CLP 3,985
249.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.31 ISK 1,493
$4.49 CLP 4,421
174.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
San Bernardo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.10 ISK 255
$1.15 CLP 1,132
82.61%
White Bread (500g)
$4.19 ISK 508
$1.29 CLP 1,272
224.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 ISK 451
$1.66 CLP 1,632
124.10%
Eggs
$7.05 ISK 856
$3.91 CLP 3,848
80.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.56 ISK 2,615
$11.24 CLP 11.1K
91.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.68 ISK 2,993
$4.36 CLP 4,289
466.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.19 ISK 5,117
$10.73 CLP 10.6K
293.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ISK 392
$1.88 CLP 1,855
71.81%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 ISK 331
$1.51 CLP 1,489
80.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 ISK 384
$1.42 CLP 1,396
123.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.61 ISK 802
$1.75 CLP 1,721
277.71%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ISK 467
$0.85 CLP 839
352.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 ISK 201
$0.84 CLP 822
97.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.80 ISK 461
$1.21 CLP 1,194
214.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ISK 212
$1.08 CLP 1,065
62.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.71 ISK 1,662
$3.31 CLP 3,259
314.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.21 ISK 2,937
$6.05 CLP 5,959
300.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 ISK 428
$1.57 CLP 1,541
124.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 ISK 402
$2.30 CLP 2,261
44.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
San Bernardo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.75 ISK 697
$0.79 CLP 781
627.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 ISK 11.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ISK 802
$0.40 CLP 391
1552.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 ISK 352
$0.84 CLP 830
245.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$79.2 ISK 9,602
$11.45 CLP 11.3K
591.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 ISK 253
$1.31 CLP 1,293
59.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$51.0K ISK 6.2M
$17.5K CLP 17.3M
191.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.3K ISK 6.5M
$21.7K CLP 21.4M
145.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
San Bernardo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
$123 CLP 120.7K
-22.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.35 ISK 3,923
$12.05 CLP 11.9K
168.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.5 ISK 10.6K
$16.63 CLP 16.4K
426.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
San Bernardo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$102 ISK 12.4K
$19.89 CLP 19.6K
412.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1 ISK 6,074
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.88 ISK 2,412
$7.43 CLP 7,312
167.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
San Bernardo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,194 ISK 144.8K
$434 CLP 427.0K
175.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.4K ISK 3.1M
$10.8K CLP 10.6M
135.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
San Bernardo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$149 ISK 18.1K
$36.88 CLP 36.3K
304.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.6 ISK 8,080
$26.73 CLP 26.3K
149.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$180 ISK 21.8K
$65.3 CLP 64.3K
175.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$253 ISK 30.7K
$80.5 CLP 79.3K
214.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
San Bernardo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,549 ISK 309.2K
$279 CLP 274.4K
814.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,056 ISK 249.4K
$245 CLP 241.6K
737.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,498 ISK 424.2K
$703 CLP 691.9K
397.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,764 ISK 335.2K
$552 CLP 543.3K
400.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,120 ISK 984.9K
$1,856 CLP 1.8M
337.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,254 ISK 758.5K
$1,357 CLP 1.3M
360.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
San Bernardo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,573 ISK 554.6K
$1,335 CLP 1.3M
242.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
5.39
63.45%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 12, 2026

Last update for San Bernardo: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
$2.1K
San Bernardo
$245 88.1% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
$623
San Bernardo
$214 65.6% $409
Eating Out
Reykjavik
$536
San Bernardo
$150 72.1% $387
Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
$292
San Bernardo
$94 67.7% $198
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
$215
San Bernardo
$151 29.7% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
$142
San Bernardo
$35 75.5% $107
Getting Around
Reykjavik
$138
San Bernardo
$7.8 * 94.4% $130

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,549 in Reykjavik versus $279 in San Bernardo. 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 242% 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 $25.00 in San Bernardo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $623 vs $214 – making San Bernardo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🇨🇱 San Bernardo
🕒 Local time
16:44 4:44 PM
13:44 1:44 PM
3 h behind Reykjavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,894 Capital
290,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.33 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,107 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Reykjavik San Bernardo 11,670 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Reykjavik
  • San Bernardo

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 San Bernardo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Reykjavik or San Bernardo?
Reykjavik costs about 346% more than San Bernardo, 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 San Bernardo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,003 per month in Reykjavik and $1,345 in San Bernardo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Reykjavik or San Bernardo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Bernardo, 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 San Bernardo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,002 in Reykjavik and $897 in San Bernardo. That's a gap of about 346%.
How do childcare costs compare in Reykjavik and in San Bernardo?
Kindergarten costs $1,194 per month in Reykjavik and $434 in San Bernardo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Reykjavik or in San Bernardo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Bernardo, where all-in costs run around $897, than in Reykjavik at $4,002. In San Bernardo 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 San Bernardo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. San Bernardo costs $897 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 San Bernardo?
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 San Bernardo?
If budget matters most, go with San Bernardo. 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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