🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,249 in Swindon versus $3,460 in Akranes.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,321 in Swindon versus $5,533 in Akranes.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,394 in Swindon versus $7,607 in Akranes.
🙂Living in Swindon costs roughly 35% less than in Akranes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Swindon68% above, Akranes158% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53£15.21
$27.18ISK 3,327
-24.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9£60.7
$143ISK 17.4K
-42.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.34£6.92
$22.65ISK 2,773
-58.76%
Cappuccino
$4.08£3.02
$6.17ISK 756
-33.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86£1.38
$3.20ISK 391
-41.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44£1.07
$2.34ISK 286
-38.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.10£3.78
$10.27ISK 1,257
-50.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.83£3.58
$7.81ISK 956
-38.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37£1.02
$1.88ISK 230
-27.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31£0.97
$1.97ISK 241
-33.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52£1.13
$3.74ISK 458
-59.36%
Eggs
$3.65£2.70
$6.12ISK 749
-40.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.76£6.49
$18.09ISK 2,215
-51.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.00£5.93
$24.39ISK 2,986
-67.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.93£9.58
$42.40ISK 5,190
-69.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95£2.18
$3.34ISK 409
-11.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56£1.15
$2.54ISK 311
-38.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80£2.08
$2.96ISK 362
-5.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40£2.52
$4.70ISK 576
-27.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.44£1.07
$3.66ISK 448
-60.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78£1.32
$2.40ISK 294
-25.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93£0.69
$3.04ISK 372
-69.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73£1.28
$1.93ISK 236
-10.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$21.44£15.89
$13.69ISK 1,676
56.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.22£9.06
$22.96ISK 2,811
-46.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.15£2.34
$2.73ISK 334
15.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43£2.54
$2.04ISK 249
68.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.22£2.39
$3.57ISK 437
-9.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$92.8£68.8
$73.6ISK 9,006
26.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.21£4.60
$6.29ISK 770
-1.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54£1.14
$1.05ISK 129
46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.17£11.24
$87.7ISK 10.7K
-82.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94£1.44
$2.52ISK 309
-23.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K£27.9K
$47.3KISK 5.8M
-20.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.4K£29.9K
$52.5KISK 6.4M
-23.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$221£164
$86.4ISK 10.6K
155.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.34£12.11
$27.48ISK 3,364
-40.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.40£32.16
$84.4ISK 10.3K
-48.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.92£25.87
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.49£17.40
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.40£9.93
$17.46ISK 2,137
-23.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,225£907
$315ISK 38.6K
288.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,539£4,105
$30.7KISK 3.8M
-81.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7£43.50
$137ISK 16.8K
-57.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.59£29.34
$61.9ISK 7,581
-36.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9£64.4
$181ISK 22.2K
-52.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.2£72.0
$264ISK 32.3K
-63.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,215£901
$3,003ISK 367.6K
-59.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,120£830
$1,860ISK 227.7K
-39.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,954£1,448
$4,806ISK 588.3K
-59.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,759£1,304
$3,560ISK 435.9K
-50.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,751£2,039
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,142£2,328
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,071£2,275
$5,765ISK 705.7K
-46.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.53
9.63
-42.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Swindon: April 22, 2026
Last update for Akranes: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,215 in Swindon and $3,003 in Akranes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Akranes pays 88% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $82 in Swindon vs $143 in Akranes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $563 per month, with Swindon cheaper across the board.
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
Swindon vs Akranes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Swindon or Akranes?
Swindon wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Akranes. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Swindon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Swindon or Akranes?
On paper, Akranes earns 88% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Swindon vs Akranes?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,215 in Swindon versus $3,003 in Akranes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Swindon compared to Akranes?
All in, you'll spend $2,249 per month in Swindon versus $3,460 in Akranes – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Swindon vs Akranes?
A monthly transit pass in Swindon runs roughly 26% less than in Akranes. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Swindon or Akranes?
At $2,249 in Swindon versus $3,460 in Akranes, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Swindon but tight or insufficient in Akranes. The gap between the two cities makes Swindon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Swindon or Akranes?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Swindon compared to Akranes?
Safety-wise, Swindon and Akranes are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Swindon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Akranes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.