Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and São Gabriel

For one person, living is cheaper in São Gabriel: $842 a month against $4,023 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $38,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,023
/mo nomad
São Gabriel
🇧🇷 Brazil
$842
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in São Gabriel

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

A single person spends $4,023 per month in Reykjavik vs $842 in São Gabriel, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $4,023
  • São Gabriel $842

A couple spends around $5,708 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,371 in São Gabriel, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $5,708
  • São Gabriel $1,371

A family of three spends $7,393 per month in Reykjavik vs $1,901 in São Gabriel, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $7,393
  • São Gabriel $1,901

Reykjavik costs about 378% more than São Gabriel, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Reykjavik sits 197% above the global median, while São Gabriel is 38% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
São Gabriel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.00 ISK 3,760
$5.66 R$28.70
447.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123 ISK 14.9K
$40.73 R$206
202.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$27.21 ISK 3,300
$7.05 R$35.76
285.96%
Cappuccino
$6.90 ISK 837
$1.18 R$5.96
484.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ISK 401
$1.37 R$6.96
140.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 ISK 384
$1.02 R$5.19
209.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.84 ISK 1,678
$1.38 R$6.98
902.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.46 ISK 1,512
$2.98 R$15.10
318.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
São Gabriel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ISK 250
$0.91 R$4.63
126.37%
White Bread (500g)
$4.11 ISK 498
$1.63 R$8.24
152.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.68 ISK 446
$1.08 R$5.48
240.74%
Eggs
$7.27 ISK 882
$1.42 R$7.22
411.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.79 ISK 2,643
$10.15 R$51.5
114.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$23.95 ISK 2,905
$4.96 R$25.16
382.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.43 ISK 5,025
$9.84 R$49.87
321.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 ISK 414
$1.17 R$5.92
192.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 ISK 344
$1.49 R$7.58
90.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 ISK 391
$1.02 R$5.19
216.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.46 ISK 783
$0.76 R$3.86
750.00%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 ISK 491
$1.23 R$6.25
229.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 ISK 202
$0.78 R$3.95
112.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.86 ISK 468
$0.88 R$4.44
338.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ISK 223
$0.89 R$4.50
106.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.96 ISK 1,693
$1.76 R$8.92
693.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.76 ISK 2,882
$4.06 R$20.58
485.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54 ISK 430
$1.13 R$5.71
213.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 ISK 418
$1.63 R$8.25
111.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
São Gabriel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.81 ISK 705
$1.03 R$5.23
464.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
$44.73 R$227
113.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.72 ISK 815
$1.28 R$6.51
425.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.81 ISK 340
$0.81 R$4.13
246.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$81.3 ISK 9,866
$8.44 R$42.79
863.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 ISK 257
$1.33 R$6.74
59.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$68.9K ISK 8.4M
$23.4K R$118.5K
194.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.8K ISK 6.8M
$34.4K R$174.3K
62.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
São Gabriel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.8 ISK 11.6K
$75.5 R$382
26.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.11 ISK 4,016
$12.49 R$63.3
165.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.2 ISK 10.6K
$21.98 R$111
296.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
São Gabriel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$101 ISK 12.3K
$26.34 R$134
283.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.7 ISK 6,155
$27.73 R$141
82.98%
Cinema Ticket
$19.85 ISK 2,407
$7.20 R$36.51
175.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
São Gabriel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,195 ISK 144.9K
$281 R$1,425
324.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.2K ISK 3.2M
$7,317 R$37.1K
258.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
São Gabriel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$148 ISK 18.0K
$51.5 R$261
188.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.8 ISK 8,096
$26.26 R$133
154.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$187 ISK 22.6K
$102 R$519
82.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$253 ISK 30.6K
$80.4 R$408
214.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
São Gabriel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,579 ISK 312.8K
$350 R$1,772
637.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,080 ISK 252.3K
$237 R$1,204
775.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,455 ISK 419.0K
$687 R$3,482
402.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,752 ISK 333.8K
$476 R$2,411
478.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,933 ISK 962.2K
$1,740 R$8,819
356.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,377 ISK 773.5K
$1,189 R$6,025
436.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
São Gabriel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,695 ISK 569.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
11.5
-23.39%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 20, 2026

Last update for São Gabriel: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
$2.1K
São Gabriel
$238 88.6% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
$619
São Gabriel
$179 71% $440
Eating Out
Reykjavik
$532
São Gabriel
$103 80.7% $429
Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
$294
São Gabriel
$117 60.2% $177
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
$216
São Gabriel
$110 49.1% $106
Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
$141
São Gabriel
$41 71.1% $100
Getting Around
Reykjavik
$139
São Gabriel
$54 61.1% $85

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,579 in Reykjavik versus $350 in São Gabriel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $123 in Reykjavik versus $41.00 in São Gabriel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $619 vs $179 – making São Gabriel the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🇧🇷 São Gabriel
🕒 Local time
18:57 6:57 PM
15:57 3:57 PM
3 h behind Reykjavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,894 Capital
58,487
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 21, 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 21, 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 São Gabriel 10,880 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Reykjavik
  • São Gabriel

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 São Gabriel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Reykjavik or São Gabriel?
Reykjavik costs about 378% more than São Gabriel, 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 São Gabriel?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,034 per month in Reykjavik and $1,263 in São Gabriel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Reykjavik or São Gabriel?
Rent is clearly cheaper in São Gabriel, 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 São Gabriel?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,023 in Reykjavik and $842 in São Gabriel. That's a gap of about 378%.
How expensive is transport in Reykjavik compared to São Gabriel?
Public transport costs about 113% less in São Gabriel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Reykjavik or in São Gabriel?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in São Gabriel, where all-in costs run around $842, than in Reykjavik at $4,023. In São Gabriel 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 São Gabriel?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. São Gabriel costs $842 versus $4,023 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 São Gabriel?
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 São Gabriel?
If budget matters most, go with São Gabriel. 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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