Cost of living comparison

 Reykjavik, Iceland
compared to
 Des Moines (IA), United States
Des Moines vs. Reykjavik Cost of Living Summary

Des Moines is 18.8% more expensive than Reykjavik.

Restaurants
pay 23.8% less in Des Moines
Groceries
pay 14.0% less in Des Moines
Transportation
pay 43.9% less in Des Moines
Housing
pay 0.6% more in Des Moines
Childcare
pay 3.7 times more in Des Moines
Entertainment and Sports
pay 22.7% less in Des Moines
Clothing
pay 32.4% less in Des Moines

The cost of childcare and housing in Des Moines are more expensive than in Reykjavik. Expenses including transportation, clothing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and groceries are lower in Des Moines. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Des Moines.

Des Moines vs. Reykjavik Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Des Moines instead of Reykjavik, you would:

pay 23.8% less for restaurants

 
Reykjavik
Des Moines
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $20.00
ISK2,527
$16.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$18.02
ISK2,277
$10.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $3.15
ISK399
$2.36
 

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pay 14.0% less for groceries

 
Reykjavik
Des Moines
Bread
1 loaf
$3.61
ISK456
$2.86
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.76
ISK980
$5.99
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.40
ISK809
$3.92
 

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pay 43.9% less for transportation

 
Reykjavik
Des Moines
Gasoline (1 gallon) $8.50
ISK1,074
$3.07
 
Monthly public transit pass $74.95
ISK9,472
$58.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $42,450.45
ISK5,364,463
$26,000.00
 

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pay 0.6% more for housing

 
Reykjavik
Des Moines
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$69.87
ISK8,829
$53.50
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,971.17
ISK249,097
$1,215.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,803.44
ISK227,901
$912.50
 

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pay 3.7 times more for childcare

 
Reykjavik
Des Moines
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $252.14
ISK31,863
$1,357.76
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $5,993.99
ISK757,461
$11,812.00
 

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pay 22.7% less for entertainment and sports

 
Reykjavik
Des Moines
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $10.81
ISK1,366
$5.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.31
ISK670
$4.51
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$12.25
ISK1,547
$7.14
 

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pay 32.4% less for clothing

 
Reykjavik
Des Moines
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$108.97
ISK13,771
$56.43
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$49.72
ISK6,283
$42.50
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$151.85
ISK19,190
$90.50
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: June 2025
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