Accra vs Reykjavík Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Accra vs Reykjavík: everyday costs favor Accra (~214% CPI gap), housing index favors Accra, wage stretch favors Reykjavík. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Accra
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Transport (4191% gap, Accra ahead); Salary (3587% gap, Reykjavík ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $1,156 lower in Accra than in Reykjavík (~183% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $1,156 (favoring Accra).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Accra | CPI 25.5 vs 80 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Accra | Rent index 16.5 vs 47.2 (lower is better) |
| Food | Accra | Groceries index 35.6 vs 91.8 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Accra | One-way ticket 7.05 vs 302.55 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Accra | Utilities (85m²) 495 vs 13027.2 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Accra | Internet 317.1 vs 5738.04 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Accra | Restaurant index 25 vs 90 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Reykjavík | Avg net salary 843621.6 vs 22878 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Reykjavík | PP index 98.6 vs 24.6 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Transport: Accra leads with a 4191% gap.
One-way ticket 7.05 vs 302.55 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Accra — Lower housing / rent index (186% gap).
- Families: Accra — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Accra; purchasing power favors Reykjavík.
- Remote Workers: Accra — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Accra (~214% gap).
- Budget Living: Accra — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Accra is the overall cost winner on CPI (~214% lower everyday-cost index than Reykjavík).
- Housing: Accra leads on rent index (186% gap).
- Food / groceries: Accra is lower (158% gap).
- Purchasing power: Reykjavík scores higher (301% gap).
- Largest category gap: Transport (4191%), favoring Accra.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$1,156 cheaper in Accra.
Analysis
Accra versus Reykjavík is not a single number. With a 214% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Accra, while housing follows Accra's rent index. Purchasing power (24.6 vs 98.6) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.