Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Schaffhausen Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Schaffhausen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,779 per month in Reykjavik vs $3,151 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,439 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,931 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,100 per month in Reykjavik vs $6,712 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 20% more than Schaffhausen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Reykjavik and Schaffhausen sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 182%, Schaffhausen by 135%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.63 ISK 3,260

$31.31 CHF 24.55

-14.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 ISK 17.7K

$125 CHF 98.1

15.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.86 ISK 2,798

$15.86 CHF 12.43

44.14%

Cappuccino

$6.19 ISK 758

$5.43 CHF 4.26

14.00%

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

$3.34 ISK 409

$5.42 CHF 4.25

-38.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ISK 318

$4.42 CHF 3.47

-41.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.72 ISK 1,558

$8.20 CHF 6.43

55.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.05 ISK 1,352

$7.59 CHF 5.95

45.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 237

$1.90 CHF 1.49

1.58%

White Bread (500g)

$4.20 ISK 515

$3.79 CHF 2.97

10.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.69 ISK 452

$3.55 CHF 2.79

3.94%

Eggs

$6.52 ISK 798

$7.66 CHF 6.01

-14.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.03 ISK 2,208

$29.66 CHF 23.25

-39.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.50 ISK 2,999

$35.28 CHF 27.66

-30.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.99 ISK 5,263

$51.8 CHF 40.59

-16.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 ISK 405

$3.77 CHF 2.95

-12.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 ISK 310

$2.24 CHF 1.76

13.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.10 ISK 380

$2.87 CHF 2.25

8.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.10 ISK 625

$6.02 CHF 4.72

-15.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.70 ISK 453

$2.46 CHF 1.93

50.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 ISK 289

$2.44 CHF 1.92

-3.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.18 ISK 390

$2.67 CHF 2.10

19.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 ISK 245

$1.28 CHF 1.01

56.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.58 ISK 1,663

$11.29 CHF 8.85

20.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.03 ISK 2,820

$13.90 CHF 10.90

65.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.63 ISK 445

$1.36 CHF 1.07

166.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ISK 406

$2.75 CHF 2.15

20.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.28 ISK 646

$3.79 CHF 2.97

39.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.1 ISK 10.8K

$85.1 CHF 66.7

3.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.46 ISK 791

$10.08 CHF 7.91

-35.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 ISK 321

$4.11 CHF 3.22

-36.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.4 ISK 10.5K

$62.3 CHF 48.83

37.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.47 ISK 302

$2.15 CHF 1.69

14.88%

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

$46.5K ISK 5.7M

$40.9K CHF 32.0K

13.93%

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

$51.4K ISK 6.3M

$42.5K CHF 33.3K

20.98%

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

$86.9 ISK 10.6K

$242 CHF 190

-64.13%

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

$27.40 ISK 3,355

$28.69 CHF 22.49

-4.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.2 ISK 10.3K

$43.53 CHF 34.13

93.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.6 ISK 10.1K

$109 CHF 85.7

-24.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.68 ISK 4,613

$47.51 CHF 37.25

-20.69%

Cinema Ticket

$17.79 ISK 2,178

$22.50 CHF 17.64

-20.93%

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

$327 ISK 40.0K

$3,325 CHF 2,607

-90.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K ISK 3.7M

$43.6K CHF 34.1K

-30.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.2K

$112 CHF 87.9

25.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.9 ISK 7,577

$68.3 CHF 53.5

-9.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$185 ISK 22.6K

$130 CHF 102

42.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$270 ISK 33.1K

$158 CHF 124

70.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,178 ISK 266.7K

$1,214 CHF 952

79.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,060 ISK 252.2K

$1,221 CHF 957

68.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,212 ISK 393.3K

$2,754 CHF 2,159

16.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,718 ISK 332.7K

$2,163 CHF 1,696

25.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,866 ISK 963.0K

$8,567 CHF 6,717

-8.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,357 ISK 778.3K

$6,910 CHF 5,417

-7.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,529 ISK 554.4K

$9,437 CHF 7,398

-52.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

2.5

285.20%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: April 20, 2026

Last update for Schaffhausen: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,178 in Reykjavik versus $1,214 in Schaffhausen. 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 108% higher in Schaffhausen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $145 in Reykjavik versus $125 in Schaffhausen. Groceries tell a different story – $601 in Reykjavik vs $675 in Schaffhausen – so Reykjavik wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Schaffhausen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Reykjavik costs about 20% more than Schaffhausen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,668 per month in Reykjavik and $4,726 in Schaffhausen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Schaffhausen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,779 in Reykjavik and $3,151 in Schaffhausen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 3% less in Schaffhausen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,779 in Reykjavik and $3,151 in Schaffhausen. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Schaffhausen costs $3,151 versus $3,779 in Reykjavik. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Schaffhausen. 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.