Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ushuaia and Reykjavik

For one person, living is cheaper in Ushuaia: $957 a month against $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent and utilities included – about $36,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ushuaia
🇦🇷 Argentina
$957
/mo nomad
Reykjavik
🇮🇸 Iceland
$4,002
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia and in Reykjavik actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $957 per month in Ushuaia vs $4,002 in Reykjavik, rent included.

  • Ushuaia $957
  • Reykjavik $4,002

A couple spends around $1,570 per month in Ushuaia vs $5,705 in Reykjavik, rent included.

  • Ushuaia $1,570
  • Reykjavik $5,705

A family of three spends $2,183 per month in Ushuaia vs $7,407 in Reykjavik, rent included.

  • Ushuaia $2,183
  • Reykjavik $7,407

Ushuaia is about 76% cheaper than Reykjavik, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ushuaia sits 29% below the global median, while Reykjavik is 196% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ushuaia
Reykjavik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.38 ARS 15.8K
$31.56 ISK 3,828
-67.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.08 ARS 50.2K
$122 ISK 14.8K
-72.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.06 ARS 13.7K
$26.86 ISK 3,258
-66.27%
Cappuccino
$2.78 ARS 4,224
$6.81 ISK 827
-59.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ARS 2,528
$3.39 ISK 411
-50.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ARS 2,330
$3.20 ISK 388
-51.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ARS 3,274
$14.14 ISK 1,715
-84.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 ARS 4,610
$12.31 ISK 1,493
-75.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ushuaia
Reykjavik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 ARS 1,984
$2.10 ISK 255
-37.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ARS 2,388
$4.19 ISK 508
-62.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 ARS 3,069
$3.72 ISK 451
-45.70%
Eggs
$2.27 ARS 3,449
$7.05 ISK 856
-67.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.15 ARS 15.4K
$21.56 ISK 2,615
-52.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.35 ARS 9,633
$24.68 ISK 2,993
-74.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.23 ARS 14.0K
$42.19 ISK 5,117
-78.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 ARS 3,052
$3.23 ISK 392
-37.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 ARS 3,132
$2.73 ISK 331
-24.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 ARS 1,933
$3.17 ISK 384
-59.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.62 ARS 3,980
$6.61 ISK 802
-60.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 ARS 1,779
$3.85 ISK 467
-69.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ARS 1,809
$1.66 ISK 201
-28.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 ARS 2,005
$3.80 ISK 461
-65.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 ARS 2,197
$1.75 ISK 212
-17.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.11 ARS 4,716
$13.71 ISK 1,662
-77.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.02 ARS 7,625
$24.21 ISK 2,937
-79.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 ARS 2,994
$3.53 ISK 428
-44.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 ARS 4,583
$3.32 ISK 402
-9.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Ushuaia
Reykjavik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 ARS 1,173
$5.75 ISK 697
-86.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$93.8 ISK 11.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 ARS 2,224
$6.61 ISK 802
-77.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.86 ARS 1,308
$2.90 ISK 352
-70.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.86 ARS 8,894
$79.2 ISK 9,602
-92.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ARS 1,671
$2.09 ISK 253
-47.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ARS 42.3M
$51.0K ISK 6.2M
-45.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K ARS 46.1M
$53.3K ISK 6.5M
-43.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ushuaia
Reykjavik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.8 ARS 99.8K
$95.3 ISK 11.6K
-30.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.24 ARS 26.2K
$32.35 ISK 3,923
-46.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.31 ARS 33.9K
$87.5 ISK 10.6K
-74.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ushuaia
Reykjavik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.50 ARS 40.2K
$102 ISK 12.4K
-73.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.68 ARS 20.8K
$50.1 ISK 6,074
-72.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.16 ARS 9,341
$19.88 ISK 2,412
-69.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ushuaia
Reykjavik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$220 ARS 333.3K
$1,194 ISK 144.8K
-81.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,731 ARS 4.1M
$25.4K ISK 3.1M
-89.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ushuaia
Reykjavik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.1 ARS 113.9K
$149 ISK 18.1K
-49.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.4 ARS 106.8K
$66.6 ISK 8,080
5.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 ARS 173.1K
$180 ISK 21.8K
-36.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ARS 168.4K
$253 ISK 30.7K
-56.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ushuaia
Reykjavik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$342 ARS 519.2K
$2,549 ISK 309.2K
-86.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$233 ARS 354.2K
$2,056 ISK 249.4K
-88.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$694 ARS 1.1M
$3,498 ISK 424.2K
-80.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$537 ARS 814.2K
$2,764 ISK 335.2K
-80.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,848 ARS 2.8M
$8,120 ISK 984.9K
-77.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,594 ARS 2.4M
$6,254 ISK 758.5K
-74.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ushuaia
Reykjavik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,573 ISK 554.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
58.5
8.81
564.02%

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

Last update for Ushuaia: October 11, 2026

Last update for Reykjavik: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ushuaia
$233
Reykjavik
$2.1K 781% $1.8K
Groceries & Markets
Ushuaia
$231
Reykjavik
$623 170% $392
Eating Out
Ushuaia
$173
Reykjavik
$536 210% $363
Clothing & Footwear
Ushuaia
$167
Reykjavik
$292 75.1% $125
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ushuaia
$105
Reykjavik
$215 104% $110
Sport & Entertainment
Ushuaia
$39
Reykjavik
$142 265% $103
Getting Around
Ushuaia
$8.9 *
Reykjavik
$138 1455% $129

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $342 in Ushuaia 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ushuaia versus $122 in Reykjavik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $623 – making Ushuaia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Ushuaia
🇮🇸 Reykjavik
🕒 Local time
11:02 11:02 AM
14:02 2:02 PM
3 h ahead of Ushuaia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,538
136,894 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ISK, USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,706 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.86 EUR).

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Ushuaia Reykjavik 13,810 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ushuaia
  • 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
Ushuaia vs Reykjavik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ushuaia or Reykjavik?
Reykjavik costs about 318% more than Ushuaia, 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 Ushuaia and in Reykjavik?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Ushuaia 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, Ushuaia or Reykjavik?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ushuaia, 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 Ushuaia compared to Reykjavik?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $957 in Ushuaia and $4,002 in Reykjavik. That's a gap of about 318%.
How do childcare costs compare in Ushuaia and in Reykjavik?
Kindergarten costs $220 per month in Ushuaia and $1,194 in Reykjavik. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Ushuaia or in Reykjavik?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ushuaia, where all-in costs run around $957, than in Reykjavik at $4,002. In Ushuaia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Reykjavik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ushuaia or Reykjavik?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ushuaia costs $957 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 Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia or to Reykjavik?
If budget matters most, go with Ushuaia. 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.

Ushuaia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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