Cost of living comparison

 Reykjavik, Iceland
compared to
 Santa Monica (CA), United States
Santa Monica vs. Reykjavik Cost of Living Summary

Santa Monica is 73.4% more expensive than Reykjavik.

Restaurants
pay 3.0% less in Santa Monica
Groceries
pay 7.3% more in Santa Monica
Transportation
pay 23.7% less in Santa Monica
Housing
pay 66.8% more in Santa Monica
Childcare
pay 5.9 times more in Santa Monica
Entertainment and Sports
pay 7.7% more in Santa Monica
Clothing
pay 33.9% less in Santa Monica

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

Santa Monica vs. Reykjavik Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Santa Monica instead of Reykjavik, you would:

pay 3.0% less for restaurants

 
Reykjavik
Santa Monica
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $20.00
ISK2,527
$25.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$18.02
ISK2,277
$12.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $3.15
ISK399
$2.96
 

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pay 7.3% more for groceries

 
Reykjavik
Santa Monica
Bread
1 loaf
$3.61
ISK456
$4.41
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.76
ISK980
$6.87
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.40
ISK809
$4.56
 

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pay 23.7% less for transportation

 
Reykjavik
Santa Monica
Gasoline (1 gallon) $8.50
ISK1,074
$4.94
 
Monthly public transit pass $74.95
ISK9,472
$80.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $42,450.45
ISK5,364,463
$30,499.50
 

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pay 66.8% more for housing

 
Reykjavik
Santa Monica
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$69.87
ISK8,829
$72.71
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,971.17
ISK249,097
$2,900.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,803.44
ISK227,901
$2,600.00
 

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pay 5.9 times more for childcare

 
Reykjavik
Santa Monica
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $252.14
ISK31,863
$1,778.57
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $5,993.99
ISK757,461
$28,750.00
 

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pay 7.7% more for entertainment and sports

 
Reykjavik
Santa Monica
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $10.81
ISK1,366
$8.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.31
ISK670
$5.46
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$12.25
ISK1,547
$11.00
 

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pay 33.9% less for clothing

 
Reykjavik
Santa Monica
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$108.97
ISK13,771
$58.46
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$49.72
ISK6,283
$34.67
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$151.85
ISK19,190
$101.30
 

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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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