Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Reykjavik and Stephenville

For one person, living is cheaper in Stephenville: $2,261 a month against $4,037 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $21,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,037
/mo nomad
Stephenville
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,261
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reykjavik and in Stephenville

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

A single person spends $4,037 per month in Reykjavik vs $2,261 in Stephenville, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $4,037
  • Stephenville $2,261

A couple spends around $5,666 per month in Reykjavik vs $3,221 in Stephenville, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $5,666
  • Stephenville $3,221

A family of three spends $7,295 per month in Reykjavik vs $4,181 in Stephenville, rent included.

  • Reykjavik $7,295
  • Stephenville $4,181

Reykjavik costs about 79% more than Stephenville, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Reykjavik and Stephenville sit above the global median – Reykjavik by 201%, Stephenville by 69%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reykjavik
Stephenville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.59 ISK 3,730
$17.69 CA$25.22
72.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$136 ISK 16.5K
$62.6 CA$89.2
116.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$27.08 ISK 3,302
$10.70 CA$15.26
153.08%
Cappuccino
$6.72 ISK 819
$3.58 CA$5.10
87.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ISK 399
$1.96 CA$2.80
66.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 ISK 386
$1.62 CA$2.32
95.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.91 ISK 1,696
$5.31 CA$7.57
161.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.06 ISK 1,470
$5.49 CA$7.83
119.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
Stephenville
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.04 ISK 248
$2.47 CA$3.53
-17.41%
White Bread (500g)
$4.32 ISK 527
$2.52 CA$3.59
71.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.67 ISK 447
$3.34 CA$4.76
9.88%
Eggs
$7.02 ISK 856
$3.45 CA$4.92
103.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.01 ISK 2,684
$9.77 CA$13.93
125.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.70 ISK 3,012
$11.42 CA$16.27
116.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.66 ISK 5,202
$14.30 CA$20.38
198.32%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 ISK 412
$3.80 CA$5.41
-11.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.85 ISK 347
$1.30 CA$1.85
119.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 ISK 387
$3.70 CA$5.28
-14.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.39 ISK 779
$3.68 CA$5.24
73.64%
Potato (1kg)
$4.01 ISK 489
$2.50 CA$3.57
60.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 ISK 200
$2.25 CA$3.20
-27.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.80 ISK 463
$2.34 CA$3.34
62.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ISK 212
$1.61 CA$2.29
8.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.80 ISK 1,682
$13.88 CA$19.79
-0.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.38 ISK 2,851
$10.76 CA$15.34
117.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 ISK 430
$2.57 CA$3.67
37.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 ISK 420
$3.09 CA$4.41
11.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Reykjavik
Stephenville
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.77 ISK 704
$2.30 CA$3.28
150.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.1 ISK 11.6K
$61.0 CA$87.0
55.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.63 ISK 808
$2.82 CA$4.02
135.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.79 ISK 341
$1.42 CA$2.03
96.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$81.4 ISK 9,923
$22.82 CA$32.52
256.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 ISK 257
$1.11 CA$1.58
90.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.8K ISK 6.2M
$27.8K CA$39.6K
82.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.7K ISK 6.4M
$18.8K CA$26.8K
180.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
Stephenville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.7 ISK 10.8K
$139 CA$197
-35.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.53 ISK 3,845
$38.22 CA$54.5
-17.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.6 ISK 10.3K
$54.8 CA$78.1
54.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
Stephenville
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$100 ISK 12.2K
$40.70 CA$58.0
146.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$48.20 ISK 5,877
$18.03 CA$25.69
167.33%
Cinema Ticket
$19.87 ISK 2,424
$11.22 CA$15.99
77.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reykjavik
Stephenville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,277 ISK 155.8K
$736 CA$1,049
73.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.0K ISK 3.8M
$13.2K CA$18.8K
135.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
Stephenville
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$161 ISK 19.6K
$54.0 CA$77.0
197.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.9 ISK 7,914
$38.23 CA$54.5
69.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$183 ISK 22.3K
$83.5 CA$119
118.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$254 ISK 31.0K
$99.0 CA$141
156.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
Stephenville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,499 ISK 304.8K
$1,232 CA$1,756
102.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,000 ISK 243.9K
$1,132 CA$1,613
76.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,452 ISK 421.0K
$1,911 CA$2,723
80.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,742 ISK 334.4K
$1,711 CA$2,439
60.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,001 ISK 975.7K
$4,270 CA$6,086
87.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,249 ISK 762.1K
$3,568 CA$5,086
75.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Reykjavik
Stephenville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,691 ISK 572.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
4.64
89.87%

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

Last update for Reykjavik: October 4, 2026

Last update for Stephenville: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Reykjavik
$2K
Stephenville
$1.1K 43.4% $869
Groceries & Markets
Reykjavik
$625
Stephenville
$348 44.4% $277
Eating Out
Reykjavik
$526
Stephenville
$268 49% $257
Clothing & Footwear
Reykjavik
$298
Stephenville
$124 58.5% $174
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reykjavik
$205
Stephenville
$232 13% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Reykjavik
$140
Stephenville
$63 54.9% $77
Getting Around
Reykjavik
$139
Stephenville
$80 42.3% $59

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,499 in Reykjavik versus $1,232 in Stephenville. 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 $136 in Reykjavik versus $63.0 in Stephenville. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $625 vs $348 – making Stephenville the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🇨🇦 Stephenville
🕒 Local time
12:28 12:28 PM
09:58 9:58 AM
2 h 30 min behind Reykjavik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
136,894 Capital
6,600
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 122 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.2 USD). 1 EUR = 137 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.32 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Reykjavik Stephenville 2,780 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Reykjavik
  • Stephenville

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 Stephenville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Reykjavik or Stephenville?
Reykjavik costs about 79% more than Stephenville, 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 Stephenville?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,055 per month in Reykjavik and $3,392 in Stephenville. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Reykjavik or Stephenville?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Stephenville, 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 Stephenville?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,037 in Reykjavik and $2,261 in Stephenville. That's a gap of about 79%.
How expensive is transport in Reykjavik compared to Stephenville?
Public transport costs about 56% less in Stephenville. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Reykjavik or in Stephenville?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Stephenville, where all-in costs run around $2,261, than in Reykjavik at $4,037. In Stephenville 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 Stephenville?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Stephenville costs $2,261 versus $4,037 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 Stephenville?
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 Stephenville?
If budget matters most, go with Stephenville. 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.

Reykjavik vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?