Cost of living comparison

 Switzerland
compared to
 Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik vs. Switzerland Cost of Living Summary

Reykjavik is 19.0% cheaper than Switzerland overall.

Restaurants
pay 25.2% less in Reykjavik
Groceries
pay 10.9% less in Reykjavik
Transportation
pay 13.3% less in Reykjavik
Housing
pay 2.5% more in Reykjavik
Childcare
pay 85.2% less in Reykjavik
Entertainment and Sports
pay 1.3% more in Reykjavik
Clothing
pay 2.1% less in Reykjavik

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

Reykjavik vs. Switzerland Cost Breakdown

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

pay 25.2% less for restaurants

 
Switzerland
Reykjavik
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $27.66
CHF22.74
$20.00
ISK2,545
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$16.97
CHF13.95
$18.02
ISK2,293
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $4.67
CHF3.84
$3.15
ISK401

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pay 10.9% less for groceries

 
Switzerland
Reykjavik
Bread
1 loaf
$3.64
CHF3.00
$3.61
ISK459
Local cheese (8 oz) $13.22
CHF10.87
$7.76
ISK987
Milk (1 gallon) $7.31
CHF6.01
$6.40
ISK815

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pay 13.3% less for transportation

 
Switzerland
Reykjavik
Gasoline (1 gallon) $7.83
CHF6.44
$8.50
ISK1,082
Monthly public transit pass $114.11
CHF93.80
$74.95
ISK9,538
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $36,806.66
CHF30,255.73
$42,450.45
ISK5,401,820

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pay 2.5% more for housing

 
Switzerland
Reykjavik
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$53.46
CHF43.94
$69.87
ISK8,890
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,622.75
CHF1,333.93
$1,971.17
ISK250,832
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,411.84
CHF1,160.56
$1,803.44
ISK229,488

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pay 85.2% less for childcare

 
Switzerland
Reykjavik
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $2,587.05
CHF2,126.60
$252.14
ISK32,085
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $30,321.56
CHF24,924.87
$5,993.99
ISK762,736

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pay 1.3% more for entertainment and sports

 
Switzerland
Reykjavik
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $7.82
CHF6.43
$10.81
ISK1,376
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.42
CHF4.45
$5.31
ISK675
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$10.09
CHF8.30
$12.25
ISK1,558

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pay 2.1% less for clothing

 
Switzerland
Reykjavik
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$121.70
CHF100.04
$108.97
ISK13,867
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$61.65
CHF50.68
$49.72
ISK6,327
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$136.06
CHF111.84
$151.85
ISK19,323

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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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See the cost of living in Switzerland vs. Iceland. This provides a comparison of the average cost of living from cities within Switzerland and Iceland.

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