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Living in Reykjavikurborg

Reykjavikurborg is the national capital of Iceland.

Which Iceland-wide rules apply when you move to Reykjavikurborg?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Housing and cost

Practical estimates in July 2026 placed basic utilities for an 85 m² home at €74.31 per month, fixed internet at €71.49 per month, and an inexpensive restaurant meal at €24.32. A monthly estimate placed a mobile plan with at least 10 GB of data at €28 in July 2026. A monthly estimate placed a fitness-club membership at €81.61 in July 2026.

No city-level rent figure is published for Reykjavikurborg. The available city-level cost figures remain below.

What recurs every month6 published recurring costs, € per month
Reykjavikurborg recurring monthly costs, € per month€948Private kindergarten€82Fitness club€79Transport pass€74Utilities, 85 m² flat€71Internet, 60 Mbps€28Mobile plan, 10 GB€ / month

Supplemental estimate lane; these items are not official statistics.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Fitness club membership, monthly81.61 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Reykjavik13Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Col Groceries Index Basket Eur Month147.2 EUR/month3 Aug 2026Numbeo14Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited71.49 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Reykjavik13Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Private kindergarten, monthly947.5 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Reykjavik13Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Meal at an inexpensive restaurant24.32 EUR31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Reykjavik13Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Mobile plan, 10 GB28.08 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Reykjavik13Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Monthly transport pass78.87 EUR/month3 Aug 2026Numbeo14Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Basic utilities, 85 m² home74.31 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Lebenshaltungskosten in Reykjavik13Commercial estimate · Supplemental context

Work and income

What is the unemployment rate in Reykjavikurborg?

The unemployment rate is about 8.4 % (2021 Census).

  • Unemployment rate: 8.38 % · px.hagstofa.is8
MetricValuePeriodSource
Unemployment rate8.38 %country median 5.4%31 Dec 2021px.hagstofa.is8Official

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Reykjavikurborg. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Reykjavikurborg. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.

Mobility and administration

MetricValuePeriodSource
Destinations from nearest airport5 count3 Aug 2026OpenFlights6Official
Nearest airportRKV3 Aug 2026OurAirports7Official
Distance to nearest airport2 km3 Aug 2026OurAirports7Official
Public transport monthly pass78.87 EUR/month3 Aug 2026Numbeo14Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context

Language courses and integration in Reykjavikurborg

2 exact course-location records are linked to this city. Check the linked source for dates, availability and enrolment.

Verified locally
2verified local records
Exact city-linked records checked 2026-08-10. Provider-supplied records are supplemental and are not presented as official accreditation.

Climate and air quality

Monthly mean temperatures were 0.7°C in January and 11.6°C in July. Monthly precipitation was 87.1 mm in January and 49.9 mm in July. Annual PM2.5 was 4 µg/m³ at the end of 2024. Average July highs reached 14.9°C.

Is the air quality good in Reykjavikurborg?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 4 µg/m³ (2024) — within the WHO 2021 guideline. Source: EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data1

Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.

Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Reykjavikurborg average monthly daytime high and night-time low temperature, °C-10°10°20°JFMAMJJASOND15°-2°Daytime highNight-time low
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Reykjavikurborg average monthly precipitation, mm0255075100879181595343506587808795JFMAMJJASONDmm
Sunshine through the yearAverage monthly sunshine, hours
Reykjavikurborg average monthly sunshine, hours0551101652202362110165209190183165118924013JFMAMJJASONDhours
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Reykjavikurborg annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit5254.0PM2.510408.7NO₂µg/m³

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

MetricValuePeriodSource
NO₂ — annual mean8.7 µg/m³31 Dec 2013Eurostat2Official
PM2.5 — annual mean4 µg/m³31 Dec 2024EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data1Official
Average daytime high by monthJan 3.2 · Feb 3.3 · Mar 4.2 · Apr 6.9 · May 10.1 · Jun 13 · Jul 14.9 · Aug 14.1 · Sep 11.4 · Oct 7.6 · Nov 4.7 · Dec 3.3 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV15Independent
Average night-time low by monthJan -1.7 · Feb -1.9 · Mar -1.3 · Apr 1 · May 4 · Jun 7.2 · Jul 9.1 · Aug 8.6 · Sep 6.2 · Oct 2.7 · Nov -0.1 · Dec -1.6 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV15Independent
Average temperature by monthJan 0.7 · Feb 0.5 · Mar 1.2 · Apr 3.7 · May 6.7 · Jun 9.8 · Jul 11.6 · Aug 11 · Sep 8.5 · Oct 4.9 · Nov 2.2 · Dec 0.8 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV15Independent
Average precipitation by monthJan 87.1 · Feb 90.6 · Mar 80.7 · Apr 59 · May 52.6 · Jun 43.3 · Jul 49.9 · Aug 64.5 · Sep 87 · Oct 79.8 · Nov 86.5 · Dec 94.9 mm1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV15Independent
Average sunshine by monthJan 22.6 · Feb 61.6 · Mar 110.3 · Apr 165.1 · May 209 · Jun 189.5 · Jul 183.1 · Aug 164.8 · Sep 118.3 · Oct 91.6 · Nov 39.7 · Dec 12.6 hours1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV15Independent

Which nearby places are linked to Reykjavikurborg?

Official and functional links appear before nearby-only places.

Kópavogur Satellite · 16.1 km5
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact
Hafnarfjörður Satellite · 25.5 km5
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact
Akranes Nearby Independent Place · 21.8 km3
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact
Selfoss Nearby Independent Place · 46.1 km3
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact
Keflavík Nearby Independent Place · 51.4 km3
Rent
Not collectedNo exact local rent fact
Recorded crime
Not collectedNo exact total-rate fact

Cities of a similar size in Iceland

Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.

All Iceland cities

Population and city profile

Reykjavikurborg had a population of 139,804 at the start of 2026. The city area was 274 km² at the start of 2010.

How many people live in Reykjavikurborg?

The published population was 139,804 people in January 2026. Source: Iceland official denominator source4

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population
Reykjavikurborg residents by nationalityBy nationalityNational passport78.5%Foreign residents21.5%

Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.

MetricValuePeriodSource
City area274 km²1 Jan 2010Statistics Iceland official material for city_area_km211Official
Foreign residents30,065 people1 Jan 2026Statistics Iceland official material for foreign_population_total12Official
Population Female68,587 people7 Aug 2026Statistics Iceland4Official
Population Male71,096 people7 Aug 2026Statistics Iceland4Official
Population139,804 people1 Jan 2026Iceland official denominator source4Official

International community in Reykjavikurborg

Named groups from exact city-grain official distributions. Citizenship, birthplace, language and ancestry answer different questions and stay separate.

Country of birth

Population resident at 1 January 2026; total sex; Statistics Iceland population table · 2026-01-01

Published groupPeopleShare
Total139,804100.0%
Iceland100,58771.9%
Poland7,4615.3%
Ukraine2,2351.6%
Philippines1,7171.2%
Lithuania1,6671.2%
Denmark1,5891.1%
United States1,5111.1%
Viet Nam1,4361.0%
Romania1,3240.9%
Sweden1,2350.9%
Show 165 more groups
Published groupPeopleShare
Venezuela1,0570.8%
Latvia1,0510.8%
United Kingdom8410.6%
Germany8080.6%
Spain7180.5%
Thailand6270.4%
Norway5640.4%
India5590.4%
France5220.4%
Portugal5190.4%
Greece5000.4%
Syria4750.3%
Palestine4600.3%
Italy4570.3%
China4380.3%
Foreign country not specified3910.3%
Croatia3460.2%
Czechia3380.2%
Russia3320.2%
Afghanistan3210.2%
Nigeria3180.2%
Moldova3160.2%
Hungary3080.2%
Ghana2830.2%
Iran2810.2%
Pakistan2740.2%
Serbia2730.2%
Iraq2430.2%
Albania2360.2%
Colombia2100.2%
Canada2080.1%
Bulgaria2030.1%
Slovakia2030.1%
Netherlands1970.1%
Morocco1850.1%
Brazil1480.1%
Kosovo1420.1%
Somalia1380.1%
Turkey1340.1%
Mexico1280.1%
Finland1240.1%
Nepal1110.1%
Belgium1040.1%
Switzerland1010.1%
Georgia970.1%
Ireland970.1%
Japan940.1%
Faroe Islands920.1%
Bosnia and Herzegovina890.1%
Australia870.1%
Former Soviet Union850.1%
Estonia830.1%
Argentina810.1%
Ethiopia770.1%
Indonesia730.1%
Chile710.1%
Kenya610.0%
Ecuador600.0%
Luxembourg600.0%
Egypt570.0%
Austria540.0%
Peru540.0%
Uganda540.0%
Sri Lanka520.0%
Belarus490.0%
Equatorial Guinea470.0%
Countries in former Yugoslavia, unspecified470.0%
Cuba460.0%
South Africa430.0%
Lebanon420.0%
Malaysia370.0%
Senegal370.0%
Slovenia360.0%
Algeria340.0%
North Macedonia340.0%
Israel330.0%
Kazakhstan320.0%
New Zealand320.0%
Honduras310.0%
Tunisia310.0%
Dominican Republic300.0%
Cameroon280.0%
Jordan270.0%
Korea, South-250.0%
Libya250.0%
Bangladesh220.0%
Guinea210.0%
Tanzania210.0%
Yemen210.0%
Angola200.0%
Gambia200.0%
Guatemala200.0%
Cabo Verde190.0%
Greenland190.0%
Mozambique190.0%
Saudi Arabia190.0%
Costa Rica160.0%
United Arab Emirates150.0%
El Salvador150.0%
Cyprus140.0%
Uzbekistan140.0%
Côte d'Ivoire130.0%
Jamaica130.0%
Mongolia130.0%
Singapore130.0%
Togo130.0%
Bolivia110.0%
Montenegro110.0%
Malawi110.0%
Namibia110.0%
Sudan110.0%
Armenia100.0%
Guyana100.0%
Panama100.0%
South Sudan100.0%
Taiwan90.0%
Azerbaijan80.0%
Hong Kong80.0%
Sierra Leone80.0%
Uruguay80.0%
Zimbabwe80.0%
Tajikistan70.0%
Zambia70.0%
Eritrea60.0%
Kyrgyzstan60.0%
Malta60.0%
Congo, Democratic Republic of50.0%
Haiti50.0%
Mali50.0%
Nicaragua50.0%
Czech Republic and Slovakia, unspecified50.0%
Burkina Faso40.0%
Liberia40.0%
Oman40.0%
Chad40.0%
Bahamas30.0%
Congo, Republic of30.0%
Mauritania30.0%
Trinidad and Tobago30.0%
Andorra20.0%
Bahrain20.0%
Dominica20.0%
Kuwait20.0%
Laos20.0%
Myanmar20.0%
Mauritius20.0%
Niger20.0%
Papua New Guinea20.0%
Qatar20.0%
Solomon Islands20.0%
Barbados10.0%
Burundi10.0%
Djibouti10.0%
Western Sahara10.0%
Fiji10.0%
Guernsey10.0%
Guinea-Bissau10.0%
Cambodia10.0%
Saint Lucia10.0%
Monaco10.0%
Maldives10.0%
Rwanda10.0%
Turkmenistan10.0%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines10.0%
Europe, country not specified10.0%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source9

Citizenship

Population resident at 1 January 2026; total sex; Statistics Iceland population table · 2026-01-01

Published groupPeopleShare
Total139,804100.0%
Iceland109,73978.5%
Poland7,4105.3%
Ukraine2,1721.6%
Lithuania2,0991.5%
Romania1,6071.1%
Latvia1,0560.8%
Venezuela1,0320.7%
Philippines1,0120.7%
Viet Nam9330.7%
Spain9200.7%
Show 144 more groups
Published groupPeopleShare
Portugal6780.5%
United States6380.5%
Greece5400.4%
Germany5380.4%
Italy5150.4%
Palestine5090.4%
India4790.3%
United Kingdom4330.3%
France4120.3%
Croatia4080.3%
Syria3710.3%
Czechia3190.2%
Nigeria3180.2%
Afghanistan3170.2%
Hungary3170.2%
Denmark3080.2%
Pakistan2360.2%
China2320.2%
Iraq2150.2%
Ghana2140.2%
Iran2100.2%
Thailand2060.1%
Sweden1940.1%
Slovakia1850.1%
Bulgaria1620.1%
Somalia1610.1%
Albania1500.1%
Netherlands1430.1%
Russia1380.1%
Canada1190.1%
Ireland1120.1%
Norway1050.1%
Serbia1050.1%
Colombia820.1%
Turkey770.1%
Morocco750.1%
Estonia740.1%
Mexico710.1%
Brazil690.0%
Finland680.0%
Georgia650.0%
Japan640.0%
Austria530.0%
Ethiopia500.0%
Belgium470.0%
Kosovo460.0%
Chile430.0%
Nepal420.0%
Egypt390.0%
Uganda370.0%
Switzerland360.0%
Slovenia330.0%
Australia310.0%
Indonesia290.0%
Kenya290.0%
Moldova280.0%
Malaysia270.0%
Cameroon260.0%
Tunisia240.0%
Bangladesh220.0%
Belarus220.0%
Cuba210.0%
Argentina190.0%
Yemen190.0%
Sri Lanka180.0%
Libya170.0%
Bosnia and Herzegovina160.0%
Peru160.0%
Kazakhstan150.0%
Senegal150.0%
Costa Rica140.0%
Korea, South-140.0%
Honduras130.0%
North Macedonia130.0%
Gambia120.0%
Guinea120.0%
Cyprus110.0%
Ecuador110.0%
New Zealand110.0%
South Sudan110.0%
Stateless110.0%
Israel100.0%
Malawi100.0%
South Africa100.0%
Jordan90.0%
Dominican Republic80.0%
Sudan80.0%
El Salvador80.0%
Tanzania80.0%
Algeria70.0%
Lebanon70.0%
Luxembourg70.0%
Singapore70.0%
Azerbaijan60.0%
Kyrgyzstan60.0%
Montenegro60.0%
Malta60.0%
Panama60.0%
Tajikistan60.0%
Burkina Faso50.0%
Côte d'Ivoire50.0%
Jamaica50.0%
Vanuatu50.0%
Armenia40.0%
Bolivia40.0%
Mongolia40.0%
Mozambique40.0%
Sierra Leone40.0%
Uruguay40.0%
Zimbabwe40.0%
Congo, Democratic Republic of30.0%
Guatemala30.0%
Mali30.0%
Chad30.0%
Togo30.0%
Uzbekistan30.0%
Zambia30.0%
Cabo Verde20.0%
Eritrea20.0%
Saint Lucia20.0%
Mauritania20.0%
Namibia20.0%
Nicaragua20.0%
Papua New Guinea20.0%
Countries in former Yugoslavia, unspecified20.0%
Angola10.0%
Barbados10.0%
Bahamas10.0%
Congo, Republic of10.0%
Djibouti10.0%
Equatorial Guinea10.0%
Haiti10.0%
Cambodia10.0%
Laos10.0%
Liberia10.0%
Myanmar10.0%
Mauritius10.0%
Maldives10.0%
Rwanda10.0%
Saudi Arabia10.0%
Solomon Islands10.0%
Seychelles10.0%
Trinidad and Tobago10.0%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines10.0%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source10

Is Reykjavikurborg a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker53%strong on work, weak on safety · range 43–63%
Skilled employee53%strong on work, weak on safety · range 43–63%
Student60%strong on cost, weak on safety · range 48–72%
Family50%strong on family, weak on safety · range 38–62%
Retirement62%strong on air quality, weak on admin · range 50–74%
Foreign residents30,065 people1 Jan 2026Official source · Statistics Iceland official material for foreign_population_total
Population139,804 people1 Jan 2026Official source · Iceland official denominator source
Unemployment rate8.38 %31 Dec 2021Official source · px.hagstofa.is
NO₂ — annual mean8.7 µg/m³31 Dec 2013Official source · Eurostat
PM2.5 — annual mean4 µg/m³31 Dec 2024Official source · EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data
City area274 km²1 Jan 2010Official source · Statistics Iceland official material for city_area_km2
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-08-26

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Reykjavikurborg when the national insurance or residence conditions are met.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

How many people live in Reykjavikurborg?

The published population was 139,804 people in January 2026. Source: Iceland official denominator source.

Is the air quality good in Reykjavikurborg?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 4 µg/m³ (2024) — within the WHO 2021 guideline. Source: EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data.

What is the unemployment rate in Reykjavikurborg?

The unemployment rate is about 8.4 % (2021 Census). Source: px.hagstofa.is.

How many foreign residents live in Reykjavikurborg?

30,065 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Statistics Iceland official material for foreign_population_total.

How much is public transport in Reykjavikurborg?

A monthly transport pass is 78.87 EUR/month. This is a supplemental estimate, not an official municipal measurement. Source: Numbeo.

Is Reykjavikurborg a good place to live?

Reykjavikurborg may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

Which nearby places are linked to Reykjavikurborg?

Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Akranes, Selfoss, Keflavík are linked in the current source-backed set. The relationship label distinguishes administrative, metropolitan, commuting and distance-only links.

How many people born in Total live in Reykjavikurborg?

The official country of birth distribution records 139,804 people (100.0%) in the source-defined population for 2026-01-01. This is a country of birth measure, not a general estimate of ethnicity or migration status.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 12). Reykjavikurborg, Iceland: cost of living [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/is/reykjavik/ Retrieved 2026-09-12. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_reykjavikurborg-iceland-cost-of-living_d7cede5299ef,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Reykjavikurborg, Iceland: cost of living},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-12},
  version = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  snapshot = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/is/reykjavik/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-12. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Reykjavikurborg, Iceland: cost of living](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/is/reykjavik/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; retrieved 2026-09-12; built 2026-09-12.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-26
  2. Eurostat ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-03
  3. gisco-services.ec.europa.eu place coordinates gisco-services.ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-28
  4. Iceland official denominator source px.hagstofa.is · checked 2026-07-14
  5. oecd.org place coordinates oecd.org · checked 2026-08-28
  6. OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
  7. OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
  8. px.hagstofa.is px.hagstofa.is · checked 2026-08-26
  9. Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Íslands) px.hagstofa.is · checked 2026-08-30
  10. Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Íslands) px.hagstofa.is · checked 2026-08-30
Show 5 more sources
  1. Statistics Iceland official material for city_area_km2 hagstofas3bucket.hagstofa.is · checked 2026-07-18
  2. Statistics Iceland official material for foreign_population_total px.hagstofa.is · checked 2026-07-18
  3. Lebenshaltungskosten in Reykjavik de.numbeo.com · checked 2026-07-26
  4. Numbeo numbeo.com · checked 2026-08-03
  5. WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-07-26

Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.