Cost of living comparison

 Reykjavik, Iceland
compared to
 Detroit (MI), United States
Detroit vs. Reykjavik Cost of Living Summary

Detroit is 27.4% more expensive than Reykjavik.

Restaurants
pay 28.2% less in Detroit
Groceries
pay 13.7% less in Detroit
Transportation
pay 32.5% less in Detroit
Housing
pay 43.8% more in Detroit
Childcare
pay 4.0 times more in Detroit
Entertainment and Sports
pay 27.6% less in Detroit
Clothing
pay 47.0% less in Detroit

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

Detroit vs. Reykjavik Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Detroit instead of Reykjavik, you would:

pay 28.2% less for restaurants

 
Reykjavik
Detroit
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $20.00
ISK2,419
$20.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$18.02
ISK2,179
$10.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $3.15
ISK381
$2.47
 

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pay 13.7% less for groceries

 
Reykjavik
Detroit
Bread
1 loaf
$3.61
ISK437
$2.75
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.76
ISK938
$4.96
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.40
ISK774
$3.28
 

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pay 32.5% less for transportation

 
Reykjavik
Detroit
Gasoline (1 gallon) $8.50
ISK1,028
$3.49
 
Monthly public transit pass $74.95
ISK9,064
$66.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $42,450.45
ISK5,133,533
$35,699.74
 

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pay 43.8% more for housing

 
Reykjavik
Detroit
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$69.87
ISK8,449
$58.33
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,971.17
ISK238,374
$1,483.17
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,803.44
ISK218,090
$1,092.83
 

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pay 4.0 times more for childcare

 
Reykjavik
Detroit
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $252.14
ISK30,491
$1,294.79
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $5,993.99
ISK724,854
$16,800.00
 

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pay 27.6% less for entertainment and sports

 
Reykjavik
Detroit
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $10.81
ISK1,307
$6.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.31
ISK642
$4.87
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$12.25
ISK1,481
$10.00
 

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pay 47.0% less for clothing

 
Reykjavik
Detroit
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$108.97
ISK13,178
$45.58
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$49.72
ISK6,013
$32.50
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$151.85
ISK18,364
$82.00
 

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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: July 2025
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