Cost of Living Comparison Between Solothurn and Hafnarfjordur Cost of Living Comparison Between Solothurn and Hafnarfjordur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,860 per month in Solothurn vs $3,667 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,443 per month in Solothurn vs $5,242 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,026 per month in Solothurn vs $6,816 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

Solothurn is about 22% cheaper than Hafnarfjordur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Solothurn and Hafnarfjordur sit above the global median – Solothurn by 114%, Hafnarfjordur by 174%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solothurn
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.27 CHF 24.74
$26.49 ISK 3,243
18.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$142 CHF 113
$145 ISK 17.7K
-1.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$21.17 CHF 16.74
$15.93 ISK 1,950
32.89%
Cappuccino
$6.29 CHF 4.97
$6.21 ISK 760
1.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 CHF 4.32
$3.37 ISK 413
62.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.32 CHF 4.21
$2.63 ISK 322
102.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.59 CHF 5.21
$12.82 ISK 1,569
-48.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.08 CHF 4.81
$11.07 ISK 1,356
-45.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solothurn
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 CHF 1.70
$1.61 ISK 198
33.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.40 CHF 2.69
$4.26 ISK 521
-20.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.44 CHF 2.72
$3.70 ISK 453
-7.03%
Eggs
$7.33 CHF 5.80
$6.29 ISK 770
16.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$29.10 CHF 23.02
$18.50 ISK 2,265
57.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$31.02 CHF 24.54
$24.21 ISK 2,965
28.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$39.92 CHF 31.58
$42.07 ISK 5,151
-5.11%
Apples (1kg)
$4.22 CHF 3.34
$3.24 ISK 396
30.25%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 CHF 2.25
$2.40 ISK 294
18.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.13 CHF 2.47
$3.00 ISK 367
4.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 CHF 3.43
$4.93 ISK 603
-11.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CHF 1.50
$3.51 ISK 430
-45.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 CHF 1.62
$2.32 ISK 285
-11.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.57 CHF 2.04
$3.16 ISK 386
-18.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 CHF 0.87
$1.93 ISK 237
-43.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.26 CHF 8.91
$13.78 ISK 1,687
-18.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 CHF 8.22
$22.71 ISK 2,781
-54.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 CHF 2.17
$3.71 ISK 454
-26.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 CHF 1.97
$3.32 ISK 406
-25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Solothurn
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.76 CHF 2.97
$5.00 ISK 612
-24.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.8 CHF 77.3
$83.2 ISK 10.2K
17.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 CHF 6.20
$6.31 ISK 772
24.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.12 CHF 3.26
$2.61 ISK 319
57.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$74.9 CHF 59.2
$87.5 ISK 10.7K
-14.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 CHF 1.78
$2.51 ISK 308
-10.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K CHF 30.5K
$47.6K ISK 5.8M
-18.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K CHF 30.6K
$52.6K ISK 6.4M
-26.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solothurn
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.8 CHF 76.5
$69.6 ISK 8,521
39.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.71 CHF 24.30
$27.48 ISK 3,365
11.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.2 CHF 46.81
$84.3 ISK 10.3K
-29.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solothurn
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.6 CHF 58.2
$63.1 ISK 7,729
16.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.50 CHF 19.38
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$24.45 CHF 19.34
$16.36 ISK 2,003
49.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solothurn
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,401 CHF 2,691
$318 ISK 38.9K
969.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.5K CHF 15.4K
$30.3K ISK 3.7M
-35.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solothurn
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$141 CHF 111
$120 ISK 14.7K
17.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.14 CHF 34.12
$60.6 ISK 7,421
-28.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.0 CHF 76.7
$121 ISK 14.8K
-19.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$186 CHF 147
$263 ISK 32.3K
-29.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solothurn
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,247 CHF 987
$2,442 ISK 299.1K
-48.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,073 CHF 849
$2,047 ISK 250.7K
-47.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,818 CHF 1,438
$3,209 ISK 393.0K
-43.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,764 CHF 1,396
$2,523 ISK 308.9K
-30.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.3K CHF 8,115
$6,916 ISK 846.8K
48.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,138 CHF 4,064
$7,027 ISK 860.4K
-26.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solothurn
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,024 CHF 5,556
$4,789 ISK 586.4K
46.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.09
9.63
-78.30%

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

Last update for Solothurn: April 28, 2026

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,247 in Solothurn versus $2,442 in Hafnarfjordur. 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 47% higher in Solothurn, 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 $142 in Solothurn versus $145 in Hafnarfjordur. Groceries tell a different story – $606 in Solothurn vs $590 in Hafnarfjordur – so Hafnarfjordur 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
Solothurn vs Hafnarfjordur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Solothurn or Hafnarfjordur?
Hafnarfjordur costs about 28% more than Solothurn, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Solothurn vs Hafnarfjordur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,291 per month in Solothurn and $5,501 in Hafnarfjordur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Solothurn or Hafnarfjordur?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Solothurn, 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 Solothurn compared to Hafnarfjordur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,860 in Solothurn and $3,667 in Hafnarfjordur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Solothurn vs Hafnarfjordur?
Public transport costs about 18% less in Solothurn. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Solothurn or Hafnarfjordur?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,860 in Solothurn and $3,667 in Hafnarfjordur. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Solothurn – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Solothurn compared to Hafnarfjordur?
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 Solothurn or Hafnarfjordur?
If budget matters most, go with Solothurn. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hafnarfjordur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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