Cost of Living Comparison Between Swindon and Akranes Cost of Living Comparison Between Swindon and Akranes

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,292 in Swindon versus $3,548 in Akranes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Swindon versus $5,681 in Akranes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,461 in Swindon versus $7,814 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: Swindon 71% above, Akranes 165% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.60 £15.45
$27.05 ISK 3,368
-23.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.4 £61.8
$144 ISK 18.0K
-42.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.57 £7.17
$22.71 ISK 2,827
-57.86%
Cappuccino
$4.06 £3.05
$5.87 ISK 731
-30.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 £1.44
$3.10 ISK 386
-38.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 £1.07
$2.44 ISK 304
-41.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.30 £3.98
$10.53 ISK 1,310
-49.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86 £3.65
$8.18 ISK 1,018
-40.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 £1.06
$1.86 ISK 231
-24.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 £1.03
$1.98 ISK 247
-30.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 £1.20
$3.66 ISK 456
-56.28%
Eggs
$3.59 £2.69
$5.86 ISK 729
-38.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.33 £6.25
$17.99 ISK 2,240
-53.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.92 £5.94
$24.47 ISK 3,046
-67.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.80 £9.60
$43.17 ISK 5,375
-70.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 £2.29
$3.19 ISK 397
-4.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 £1.13
$2.40 ISK 299
-37.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.81 £2.11
$3.06 ISK 381
-8.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.35 £2.51
$4.77 ISK 594
-29.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 £1.12
$3.50 ISK 436
-57.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 £1.33
$2.42 ISK 301
-26.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 £0.76
$3.19 ISK 397
-68.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 £1.30
$2.00 ISK 250
-13.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$21.05 £15.78
$13.74 ISK 1,710
53.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.50 £11.62
$23.30 ISK 2,900
-33.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.14 £2.36
$2.75 ISK 342
14.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 £2.62
$1.99 ISK 247
75.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.16 £2.37
$3.73 ISK 464
-15.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.7 £71.0
$73.7 ISK 9,180
28.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 £4.66
$6.29 ISK 783
-1.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 £1.19
$1.04 ISK 130
51.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.90 £11.18
$85.0 ISK 10.6K
-82.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 £1.46
$2.52 ISK 314
-22.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K £29.2K
$46.5K ISK 5.8M
-16.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8K £30.6K
$53.2K ISK 6.6M
-23.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 £166
$87.4 ISK 10.9K
153.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.34 £12.25
$27.25 ISK 3,393
-40.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.41 £33.31
$86.7 ISK 10.8K
-48.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.96 £26.22
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.55 £17.66
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.80 £10.35
$17.53 ISK 2,182
-21.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,229 £922
$319 ISK 39.8K
284.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,532 £4,148
$30.3K ISK 3.8M
-81.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 £43.69
$138 ISK 17.1K
-57.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.74 £29.05
$61.2 ISK 7,617
-36.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 £66.5
$185 ISK 23.0K
-51.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.0 £74.3
$269 ISK 33.5K
-63.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,234 £925
$2,972 ISK 370.0K
-58.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,104 £828
$1,857 ISK 231.1K
-40.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,948 £1,461
$4,764 ISK 593.1K
-59.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,729 £1,297
$3,642 ISK 453.4K
-52.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,689 £2,017
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,063 £2,297
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Swindon
Akranes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,025 £2,269
$5,558 ISK 692.0K
-45.57%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Akranes: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,234 in Swindon and $2,972 in Akranes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Akranes pays 84% 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: $82.0 in Swindon vs $144 in Akranes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $565 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 55% 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 84% 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: $1,234 in Swindon versus $2,972 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 $2,292 per month in Swindon versus $3,548 in Akranes – a 55% 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 28% 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 $2,292 in Swindon versus $3,548 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 55% less than in Akranes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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