Cost of living comparison

compared to

Iceland vs. South Dakota Cost of Living Summary

Iceland is 81.8% more expensive than South Dakota.

Restaurants
pay 71.9% more in Iceland
Groceries
pay 31.9% more in Iceland
Transportation
pay 2.2 times more in Iceland
Housing
pay 61.0% more in Iceland
Childcare
pay 2.2 times more in Iceland
Entertainment and Sports
pay 66.0% more in Iceland
Clothing
pay 98.3% more in Iceland

The cost of transportation, childcare, clothing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and housing in Iceland are more expensive than in South Dakota. Notably, transportation, childcare, and clothing are significantly more expensive in Iceland.

Iceland vs. South Dakota Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Iceland instead of South Dakota, you would:

pay 71.9% more for restaurants

 
South Dakota
Iceland
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $12.33
 
$26.52
ISK3,394
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.19
 
$21.32
ISK2,728
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $3.03
 
$3.11
ISK398

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pay 31.9% more for groceries

 
South Dakota
Iceland
Bread
1 loaf
$3.01
 
$3.80
ISK487
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.97
 
$9.44
ISK1,208
Milk (1 gallon) $3.68
 
$7.78
ISK996

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pay 2.2 times more for transportation

 
South Dakota
Iceland
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.00
 
$9.65
ISK1,235
Monthly public transit pass $30.00
 
$79.56
ISK10,182
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $35,568.55
 
$49,144.25
ISK6,289,481

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pay 61.0% more for housing

 
South Dakota
Iceland
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$49.40
 
$95.65
ISK12,241
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,053.00
 
$2,289.17
ISK292,968
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $974.82
 
$1,830.04
ISK234,209

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pay 2.2 times more for childcare

 
South Dakota
Iceland
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $715.00
 
$334.67
ISK42,830
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $7,800.00
 
$30,711.08
ISK3,930,404

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pay 66.0% more for entertainment and sports

 
South Dakota
Iceland
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $4.42
 
$11.14
ISK1,426
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.69
 
$5.62
ISK720
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$9.38
 
$13.90
ISK1,778

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pay 98.3% more for clothing

 
South Dakota
Iceland
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$47.89
 
$130.91
ISK16,753
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$42.78
 
$61.83
ISK7,913
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$89.39
 
$163.81
ISK20,965

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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: December 2025
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