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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,791 per month in Reykjavik vs $3,172 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,487 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,928 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,183 per month in Reykjavik vs $6,685 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 184%, Schaffhausen by 137%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.44 ISK 3,448

$31.30 CHF 25.55

-12.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 ISK 18.4K

$122 CHF 99.4

19.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.12 ISK 2,780

$16.11 CHF 13.15

37.31%

Cappuccino

$6.19 ISK 778

$5.68 CHF 4.63

8.98%

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

$3.26 ISK 410

$5.36 CHF 4.37

-39.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 ISK 325

$4.37 CHF 3.57

-40.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.92 ISK 1,623

$7.99 CHF 6.52

61.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.29 ISK 1,419

$7.57 CHF 6.18

49.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ISK 234

$1.96 CHF 1.60

-5.10%

White Bread (500g)

$4.26 ISK 535

$3.78 CHF 3.09

12.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.72 ISK 467

$3.69 CHF 3.01

0.81%

Eggs

$6.35 ISK 798

$7.84 CHF 6.40

-19.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.34 ISK 2,305

$29.80 CHF 24.32

-38.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.79 ISK 2,989

$35.49 CHF 28.97

-32.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.19 ISK 5,427

$51.0 CHF 41.59

-15.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ISK 407

$3.69 CHF 3.01

-12.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 ISK 318

$2.26 CHF 1.84

11.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.12 ISK 392

$2.88 CHF 2.35

8.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 ISK 638

$6.10 CHF 4.98

-16.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.65 ISK 459

$2.49 CHF 2.03

46.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 ISK 301

$2.48 CHF 2.03

-3.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 ISK 401

$2.67 CHF 2.18

19.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 ISK 241

$1.27 CHF 1.04

51.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.40 ISK 1,683

$10.94 CHF 8.93

22.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.47 ISK 2,949

$13.42 CHF 10.95

74.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.67 ISK 461

$1.36 CHF 1.11

169.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ISK 416

$2.60 CHF 2.12

27.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.07 ISK 637

$3.95 CHF 3.22

28.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 ISK 11.0K

$85.7 CHF 69.9

2.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.48 ISK 814

$10.05 CHF 8.20

-35.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 ISK 334

$4.04 CHF 3.30

-34.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.8 ISK 10.9K

$61.9 CHF 50.5

40.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.55 ISK 320

$2.13 CHF 1.74

19.72%

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

$47.1K ISK 5.9M

$39.7K CHF 32.4K

18.76%

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

$52.7K ISK 6.6M

$42.4K CHF 34.6K

24.16%

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

$88.6 ISK 11.1K

$247 CHF 202

-64.15%

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

$27.59 ISK 3,467

$28.70 CHF 23.42

-3.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.7 ISK 10.9K

$42.94 CHF 35.05

101.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.2 ISK 10.3K

$109 CHF 88.6

-24.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.25 ISK 4,806

$47.47 CHF 38.74

-19.42%

Cinema Ticket

$17.49 ISK 2,197

$22.34 CHF 18.24

-21.71%

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

$319 ISK 40.0K

$3,354 CHF 2,738

-90.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K ISK 3.8M

$43.5K CHF 35.5K

-30.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.8K

$112 CHF 91.4

26.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.4 ISK 7,591

$67.7 CHF 55.2

-10.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.7K

$133 CHF 109

35.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$262 ISK 32.9K

$154 CHF 126

69.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,221 ISK 279.1K

$1,226 CHF 1,001

81.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,998 ISK 251.1K

$1,247 CHF 1,018

60.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,143 ISK 394.9K

$2,660 CHF 2,171

18.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,691 ISK 338.1K

$2,215 CHF 1,808

21.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,966 ISK 1.0M

$8,226 CHF 6,714

-3.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,129 ISK 770.1K

$8,564 CHF 6,990

-28.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,657 ISK 585.1K

$7,453 CHF 6,083

-37.52%

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: July 22, 2026

Last update for Schaffhausen: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,221 in Reykjavik versus $1,226 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 60% 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 $146 in Reykjavik versus $122 in Schaffhausen. Groceries tell a different story – $598 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 $5,687 per month in Reykjavik and $4,758 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 $3,791 in Reykjavik and $3,172 in Schaffhausen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% 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 $3,791 in Reykjavik and $3,172 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 $3,172 versus $3,791 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.