Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Santo Andre

For one person, living is cheaper in Santo Andre: $1,003 a month against $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $36,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,002
/mo nomad
Santo Andre
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,003
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in Santo Andre

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

A single person spends $4,002 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,003 in Santo Andre, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $4,002
  • Santo Andre $1,003

A couple spends around $5,705 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,619 in Santo Andre, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $5,705
  • Santo Andre $1,619

A family of three spends $7,407 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,234 in Santo Andre, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $7,407
  • Santo Andre $2,234

Reykjavik costs about 299% more than Santo Andre, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Reykjavik sits 196% above the global median, while Santo Andre is 26% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Santo Andre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.56 ISK 3,834
$9.09 R$45.62
247.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 ISK 14.9K
$51.1 R$256
139.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$26.86 ISK 3,263
$9.11 R$45.68
194.84%
Cappuccino
$6.81 ISK 828
$2.57 R$12.91
164.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 ISK 411
$1.39 R$6.96
143.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ISK 389
$0.94 R$4.72
240.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$14.14 ISK 1,717
$2.38 R$11.92
494.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.31 ISK 1,495
$4.03 R$20.21
205.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Santo Andre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.10 ISK 255
$1.06 R$5.32
98.11%
White Bread (500g)
$4.19 ISK 509
$1.91 R$9.60
119.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 ISK 452
$1.39 R$6.95
167.63%
Eggs
$7.05 ISK 857
$2.51 R$12.58
180.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.56 ISK 2,619
$11.00 R$55.2
96.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.68 ISK 2,998
$4.82 R$24.20
412.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.19 ISK 5,125
$10.54 R$52.9
300.28%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ISK 393
$2.37 R$11.91
36.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 ISK 332
$1.66 R$8.32
64.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 ISK 385
$1.52 R$7.63
108.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.61 ISK 804
$1.62 R$8.15
308.02%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 ISK 467
$1.28 R$6.41
200.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 ISK 201
$1.25 R$6.28
32.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.80 ISK 462
$0.98 R$4.93
287.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ISK 212
$0.86 R$4.34
103.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.71 ISK 1,665
$2.53 R$12.71
441.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.21 ISK 2,942
$7.99 R$40.08
203.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 ISK 429
$1.51 R$7.59
133.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 ISK 403
$2.58 R$12.95
28.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Santo Andre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.75 ISK 698
$1.03 R$5.15
458.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 ISK 11.4K
$27.72 R$139
238.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ISK 804
$1.23 R$6.18
437.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.90 ISK 352
$1.02 R$5.13
184.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$79.2 ISK 9,617
$8.45 R$42.38
836.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 ISK 254
$1.30 R$6.51
60.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$51.0K ISK 6.2M
$23.9K R$119.9K
113.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.3K ISK 6.5M
$32.6K R$163.5K
63.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Santo Andre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
$67.2 R$337
41.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.35 ISK 3,929
$15.08 R$75.7
114.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.5 ISK 10.6K
$22.57 R$113
287.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Santo Andre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$102 ISK 12.4K
$25.32 R$127
302.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1 ISK 6,083
$27.89 R$140
79.56%
Cinema Ticket
$19.88 ISK 2,415
$7.93 R$39.77
150.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Santo Andre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,194 ISK 145.0K
$545 R$2,733
119.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.4K ISK 3.1M
$16.6K R$83.3K
53.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Santo Andre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$149 ISK 18.1K
$66.1 R$332
125.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.6 ISK 8,093
$57.1 R$286
16.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$180 ISK 21.9K
$91.4 R$459
96.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$253 ISK 30.8K
$80.5 R$404
214.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Santo Andre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,549 ISK 309.7K
$404 R$2,025
531.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,056 ISK 249.8K
$307 R$1,539
570.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,498 ISK 424.9K
$674 R$3,380
419.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,764 ISK 335.7K
$548 R$2,750
404.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,120 ISK 986.4K
$1,748 R$8,771
364.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,254 ISK 759.7K
$1,174 R$5,889
432.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Santo Andre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,573 ISK 555.5K
$554 R$2,781
724.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
10.81
-18.50%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 12, 2026

Last update for Santo Andre: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
$2.1K
Santo Andre
$307 85.1% $1.7K
Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
$623
Santo Andre
$219 64.8% $403
Eating Out
Reykjavik
$536
Santo Andre
$160 70.1% $376
Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
$292
Santo Andre
$133 54.5% $159
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
$215
Santo Andre
$105 51.3% $110
Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
$142
Santo Andre
$41 70.9% $100
Getting Around
Reykjavik
$138
Santo Andre
$38 72.3% $100

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,549 in Reykjavik versus $404 in Santo Andre. 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 725% 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 $51.0 in Santo Andre. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $623 vs $219 – making Santo Andre the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🇧🇷 Santo Andre
🕒 Local time
19:24 7:24 PM
16:24 4:24 PM
3 h behind Reykjavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,894 Capital
748,919
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.23 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.35 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 5.02 BRL (1 BRL = 0.199 USD). 1 EUR = 5.62 BRL (1 BRL = 0.178 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Reykjavik Santo Andre 9,990 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Reykjavik
  • Santo Andre

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 Santo Andre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Reykjavik or Santo Andre?
Reykjavik costs about 299% more than Santo Andre, 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 Santo Andre?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,003 per month in Reykjavik and $1,505 in Santo Andre. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Reykjavik or Santo Andre?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Santo Andre, 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 Santo Andre?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,002 in Reykjavik and $1,003 in Santo Andre. That's a gap of about 299%.
How expensive is transport in Reykjavik compared to Santo Andre?
Public transport costs about 238% less in Santo Andre. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Reykjavik or in Santo Andre?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santo Andre, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Reykjavik at $4,002. In Santo Andre 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 Santo Andre?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Santo Andre costs $1,003 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 Santo Andre?
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 Santo Andre?
If budget matters most, go with Santo Andre. 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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