Budget · Reykjavík · Iceland
Reykjavík on a budget
What a trip to Reykjavík really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Protochrome, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Reykjavík is very expensive for most international visitors. Budget roughly $100–$170 per person per day on a tight budget, $220–$400 mid-range and $500–$1,200 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January, April and November.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $100–$170 a day
- Mid-range
- $220–$400 a day
- Luxury
- $500–$1,200 a day
- Local currency
- ISK
- Free sights
- 6
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $100–$170 | $300–$510 | $500–$850 | $700–$1,190 |
| Mid-range | $220–$400 | $660–$1,200 | $1,100–$2,000 | $1,540–$2,800 |
| Luxury | $500–$1,200 | $1,500–$3,600 | $2,500–$6,000 | $3,500–$8,400 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Reykjavík, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Hot dog from a stand | about 700–1,000 ISK |
| Coffee in a café | about 600–900 ISK |
| Pint of beer (outside happy hour) | about 1,500–2,000 ISK |
| Main course in a mid-range restaurant | about 4,000–7,000 ISK |
| Geothermal swimming pool entry | about 1,300–1,700 ISK |
| Strætó bus single fare | about 650–750 ISK |
Money-saving tips
- Public geothermal pools give a lagoon-style soak for a fraction of the price of the big spas.
- Buy alcohol at the arrivals duty-free shop at Keflavík; it is much more expensive in town.
- Shop at Bónus or Krónan supermarkets and refill a bottle with excellent free tap water.
- Drink during bar happy hours, which can cut prices considerably.
- A Reykjavík City Card saves money if you plan several museums and pool visits in a short time.
Free things to do
- Sun Voyager — Jón Gunnar Árnason's stainless-steel sculpture of a skeletal Viking-style ship stands on the seafront path along Sæbraut, facing Mount Esja across the bay.
- Harpa Concert Hall — The harbourside concert and conference hall, opened in 2011, is wrapped in a geometric glass facade designed with artist Ólafur Elíasson that reflects the changing sky and lights up after dark.
- Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur — Laugavegur is the city's main shopping and dining street, running east from the centre past knitwear stores, record shops, bakeries and bars.
- Tjörnin and City Hall — The city-centre pond is home to swans, ducks and geese and is ringed by painted houses and the Hljómskálagarður park.
- Grótta lighthouse and Seltjarnarnes — At the western tip of the capital area, Grótta's lighthouse stands on a small tidal island that you can walk to at low tide.
- Einar Jónsson sculpture garden — Next to Hallgrímskirkja, the garden of the Einar Jónsson Museum holds bronze casts of the sculptor's symbolic, often mythological works.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and solo travellers
Vesturbær
Residential west end with Vesturbæjarlaug pool, the university and sea walks to Grótta
$$ · Best for families, budget and quiet stays
Laugardalur
Green valley of sports grounds, the city's largest pool, a zoo and botanic garden
$$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and food lovers
Hlemmur and Hverfisgata
Eastern end of downtown with a bus hub, food hall and newer hotels
Eating well for less
- Icelandic hot dog — Hot-dog stands such as the long-running Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur near the harbour, and petrol stations across the country.
- Skyr — Any supermarket for breakfast, and as a dessert in traditional restaurants.
- Geothermal rye bread — Bakeries and cafés in Reykjavík; the Laugarvatn Fontana spa on the Golden Circle demonstrates the hot-spring baking method.
- Dried fish — Supermarkets, petrol stations and Kolaportið flea market.
- Fermented shark — Small tasting portions at Kolaportið flea market and some traditional restaurants, and at Þorrablót feasts in January and February.
- Liquorice sweets — Supermarkets, petrol stations and souvenir shops; the most popular brands are on every checkout counter.
Getting around for less
Reykjavík City Card
A 24-, 48- or 72-hour card covering Strætó buses in the capital area, the city's geothermal pools, the Viðey ferry and many museums, including the Reykjavík Art Museum and the National Museum.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Reykjavík cost?
About $1,100–$2,000 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $500–$850 on a tight budget.
+Is Reykjavík expensive?
It is very expensive for international visitors. Public geothermal pools give a lagoon-style soak for a fraction of the price of the big spas.
+How much money do I need per day in Reykjavík?
Roughly $100–$170 on a budget and $220–$400 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Reykjavík?
Usually in January, April and November.