Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Serra and Reykjavik

For one person, living is cheaper in Serra: $889 a month against $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $37,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Serra
🇧🇷 Brazil
$889
/mo nomad
Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,002
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Serra and in Reykjavik

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Serra and in Reykjavik actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $889 per month in Serra vs $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent included.

  • Serra $889
  • Reykjavik $4,002

A couple spends around $1,317 per month in Serra vs $5,705 in Reykjavik, rent included.

  • Serra $1,317
  • Reykjavik $5,705

A family of three spends $1,744 per month in Serra vs $7,407 in Reykjavik, rent included.

  • Serra $1,744
  • Reykjavik $7,407

Serra is about 78% cheaper than Reykjavik, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Serra sits 34% below the global median, while Reykjavik is 196% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Serra
Reykjavik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.77 R$24.16
$31.56 ISK 3,828
-84.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.99 R$117
$122 ISK 14.8K
-81.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.20 R$41.58
$26.86 ISK 3,258
-69.47%
Cappuccino
$2.09 R$10.57
$6.81 ISK 827
-69.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 R$6.77
$3.39 ISK 411
-60.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 R$3.15
$3.20 ISK 388
-80.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 R$9.88
$14.14 ISK 1,715
-86.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 R$15.53
$12.31 ISK 1,493
-75.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Serra
Reykjavik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 R$5.70
$2.10 ISK 255
-46.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 R$9.13
$4.19 ISK 508
-57.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 R$5.95
$3.72 ISK 451
-68.55%
Eggs
$2.14 R$10.87
$7.05 ISK 856
-69.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.49 R$53.2
$21.56 ISK 2,615
-51.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.58 R$23.22
$24.68 ISK 2,993
-81.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.54 R$43.27
$42.19 ISK 5,117
-79.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 R$14.53
$3.23 ISK 392
-11.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 R$7.74
$2.73 ISK 331
-43.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 R$9.28
$3.17 ISK 384
-42.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 R$8.20
$6.61 ISK 802
-75.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 R$5.96
$3.85 ISK 467
-69.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 R$5.65
$1.66 ISK 201
-33.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 R$6.78
$3.80 ISK 461
-64.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 R$7.03
$1.75 ISK 212
-20.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.49 R$12.62
$13.71 ISK 1,662
-81.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.64 R$28.59
$24.21 ISK 2,937
-76.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 R$4.98
$3.53 ISK 428
-72.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 R$16.59
$3.32 ISK 402
-1.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Serra
Reykjavik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 R$4.93
$5.75 ISK 697
-83.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.18 R$239
$93.8 ISK 11.4K
-49.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 R$6.66
$6.61 ISK 802
-80.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 R$5.72
$2.90 ISK 352
-61.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.89 R$34.95
$79.2 ISK 9,602
-91.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 R$5.49
$2.09 ISK 253
-48.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K R$119.2K
$51.0K ISK 6.2M
-53.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K R$171.1K
$53.3K ISK 6.5M
-36.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Serra
Reykjavik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 R$803
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
66.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.30 R$62.4
$32.35 ISK 3,923
-61.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.05 R$107
$87.5 ISK 10.6K
-75.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Serra
Reykjavik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.83 R$131
$102 ISK 12.4K
-74.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.87 R$141
$50.1 ISK 6,074
-44.35%
Cinema Ticket
$7.49 R$37.95
$19.88 ISK 2,412
-62.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Serra
Reykjavik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$188 R$955
$1,194 ISK 144.8K
-84.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,726 R$34.1K
$25.4K ISK 3.1M
-73.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Serra
Reykjavik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0 R$279
$149 ISK 18.1K
-63.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 R$259
$66.6 ISK 8,080
-23.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.1 R$462
$180 ISK 21.8K
-49.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3 R$377
$253 ISK 30.7K
-70.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Serra
Reykjavik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$251 R$1,271
$2,549 ISK 309.2K
-90.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$153 R$774
$2,056 ISK 249.4K
-92.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$446 R$2,261
$3,498 ISK 424.2K
-87.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$220 R$1,117
$2,764 ISK 335.2K
-92.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$970 R$4,917
$8,120 ISK 984.9K
-88.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$563 R$2,852
$6,254 ISK 758.5K
-91.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Serra
Reykjavik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$559 R$2,833
$4,573 ISK 554.6K
-87.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
8.81
24.86%

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

Last update for Serra: October 11, 2026

Last update for Reykjavik: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Serra
$212
Reykjavik
$623 194% $411
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Serra
$192
Reykjavik
$215 12.2% $23
Accommodation & Living
Serra
$153
Reykjavik
$2.1K 1247% $1.9K
Clothing & Footwear
Serra
$122
Reykjavik
$292 139% $170
Eating Out
Serra
$111
Reykjavik
$536 381% $425
Getting Around
Serra
$58
Reykjavik
$138 138% $80
Sport & Entertainment
Serra
$41
Reykjavik
$142 247% $101

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $251 in Serra versus $2,549 in Reykjavik. 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 718% higher in Reykjavik, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Serra versus $122 in Reykjavik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $623 – making Serra the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Serra
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🕒 Local time
04:15 4:15 AM
07:15 7:15 AM
3 h ahead of Serra
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
520,653
136,894 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ISK, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.33 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Serra Reykjavik 9,500 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Serra
  • Reykjavik

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
Serra vs Reykjavik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Serra or Reykjavik?
Reykjavik costs about 350% more than Serra, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Serra and in Reykjavik?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,333 per month in Serra and $6,003 in Reykjavik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Serra or Reykjavik?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Serra, 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 Serra compared to Reykjavik?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $889 in Serra and $4,002 in Reykjavik. That's a gap of about 350%.
How expensive is transport in Serra compared to Reykjavik?
Public transport costs about 99% less in Serra. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Serra or in Reykjavik?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Serra, where all-in costs run around $889, than in Reykjavik at $4,002. In Serra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reykjavik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Serra or Reykjavik?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Serra costs $889 versus $4,002 in Reykjavik. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Serra compared to Reykjavik?
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 Serra or to Reykjavik?
If budget matters most, go with Serra. 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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