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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,824 per month in Reykjavik vs $3,132 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,556 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,926 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,289 per month in Reykjavik vs $6,720 in Schaffhausen, rent included.

Reykjavik costs about 22% more than Schaffhausen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Reykjavik and Schaffhausen sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 184%, Schaffhausen by 133%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.13 ISK 3,367

$30.39 CHF 24.29

-10.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 18.3K

$124 CHF 99.4

18.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.15 ISK 2,749

$15.82 CHF 12.65

40.01%

Cappuccino

$6.08 ISK 754

$5.42 CHF 4.33

12.18%

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

$3.24 ISK 402

$5.36 CHF 4.28

-39.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ISK 323

$4.37 CHF 3.49

-40.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.07 ISK 1,621

$7.95 CHF 6.36

64.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.14 ISK 1,382

$7.35 CHF 5.88

51.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ISK 230

$1.96 CHF 1.57

-5.10%

White Bread (500g)

$4.34 ISK 539

$3.77 CHF 3.01

15.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 ISK 450

$3.61 CHF 2.88

0.55%

Eggs

$6.31 ISK 783

$7.87 CHF 6.29

-19.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.05 ISK 2,240

$29.45 CHF 23.54

-38.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.02 ISK 2,980

$35.04 CHF 28.01

-31.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.15 ISK 5,355

$51.8 CHF 41.39

-16.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ISK 405

$3.68 CHF 2.94

-11.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 ISK 304

$2.33 CHF 1.86

5.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 ISK 385

$2.94 CHF 2.35

5.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 ISK 604

$6.14 CHF 4.91

-20.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 ISK 457

$2.42 CHF 1.94

52.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 ISK 290

$2.49 CHF 1.99

-6.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 ISK 378

$2.56 CHF 2.05

18.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 ISK 238

$1.28 CHF 1.02

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.59 ISK 1,687

$10.97 CHF 8.77

23.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.29 ISK 2,890

$12.33 CHF 9.85

88.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.71 ISK 461

$1.37 CHF 1.09

170.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ISK 409

$2.71 CHF 2.16

21.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.08 ISK 631

$3.98 CHF 3.18

27.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.4 ISK 11.0K

$87.3 CHF 69.7

1.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.30 ISK 782

$10.15 CHF 8.11

-37.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 ISK 327

$3.89 CHF 3.11

-32.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.7 ISK 10.8K

$60.6 CHF 48.41

43.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.48 ISK 307

$2.21 CHF 1.76

12.22%

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

$46.4K ISK 5.8M

$40.3K CHF 32.2K

15.17%

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

$52.0K ISK 6.5M

$42.6K CHF 34.1K

21.98%

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

$89.0 ISK 11.0K

$247 CHF 197

-63.93%

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

$27.11 ISK 3,365

$28.92 CHF 23.11

-6.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.7 ISK 10.4K

$43.93 CHF 35.11

90.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.2 ISK 10.3K

$109 CHF 87.2

-23.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.19 ISK 4,615

$47.61 CHF 38.06

-21.89%

Cinema Ticket

$17.41 ISK 2,160

$22.53 CHF 18.01

-22.73%

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

$319 ISK 39.6K

$3,388 CHF 2,708

-90.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K ISK 3.7M

$42.4K CHF 33.9K

-29.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 ISK 17.1K

$111 CHF 89.1

23.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 ISK 7,545

$66.4 CHF 53.1

-8.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.5K

$129 CHF 103

39.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$269 ISK 33.4K

$155 CHF 124

73.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,246 ISK 278.7K

$1,216 CHF 972

84.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,025 ISK 251.3K

$1,222 CHF 977

65.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,220 ISK 399.6K

$2,692 CHF 2,152

19.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,728 ISK 338.5K

$2,197 CHF 1,756

24.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,686 ISK 953.9K

$8,390 CHF 6,706

-8.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,267 ISK 777.8K

$6,769 CHF 5,410

-7.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,442 ISK 551.3K

$9,336 CHF 7,463

-52.42%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Schaffhausen: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,246 in Reykjavik versus $1,216 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 110% 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 $147 in Reykjavik versus $124 in Schaffhausen. Groceries tell a different story – $596 in Reykjavik vs $672 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 22% 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 $5,735 per month in Reykjavik and $4,699 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 $3,824 in Reykjavik and $3,132 in Schaffhausen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% 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 $3,824 in Reykjavik and $3,132 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 $3,132 versus $3,824 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.