Which city is cheaper, Reykjavik or Barcelona?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Barcelona and Reykjavik can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Barcelona is a friendly, colorful, and laid-back city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include beaches, shopping, and museums.
Reykjavik is a clean, green, and safe city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for nightlife, hiking, and shopping.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Reykjavik and Barcelona. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Most foodies will appreciate the restaurant options in Barcelona a bit more than Reykjavik.
Many restaurants in Barcelona have been singled out for their culinary prowess. With easy access to fresh produce, there are many food markets around town. You'll also find great fresh local dishes at the many restaurants. Make sure you try the paella, croquettes, and Jamon Iberico.
You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Reykjavik. Traditional Icelandic food may not have the best reputation, but restaurants these days are pretty good with a variety of dishes to choose from. Popular foods in the area include fish, lamb, and Icelandic skyr (a type of yogurt).
Party-goers will usually choose Barcelona over Reykjavik.
Barcelona is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The city offers an amazing nightlife at a much more affordable price than many places in Europe. There are beach parties, boat parties, and bars that stay packed late into the night. The city also hosts many street fiestas and music festivals.
With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Reykjavik. The city offers the best nightlife in Iceland and you'll be surprised at the number of clubs, bars, and craft breweries that you can choose from. Almost all of the popular nightlife spots are around Laugavegur, a major shopping street in town.
While Reykjavik and Barcelona are both popular shopping destinations, overall Barcelona is considered to be better.
Barcelona is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. Head to Portal De L’Angel, Rambla de Catalunya, or Passeig De Gracia for some of the city's best shopping districts.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Reykjavik. The city's main shopping street is Laugavegur, which is where you'll find the most activity around town as well as a bustling atmosphere.
Both Barcelona and Reykjavik are fun to visit with kids.
Barcelona is a very family-friendly place to visit. Check out the Magic Fountains Show near Plaça d’Espanya, wander through the aquarium, or sample some chocolate at the Chocolate Museum. There are also many great parks and playgrounds around town.
Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Reykjavik is very family-friendly. With its many outdoor activities and hands on museums, the city is great for kids. The cafes and restaurants are family-friendly and their are plenty of entertainment options for the whole family.
While Reykjavik and Barcelona are both good for backpackers, overall Barcelona is more popular.
Barcelona is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. There are many hostels around town, each with its own personality. Many of the hostels also organize activities or dinners for guests so it's easy to meet other travelers.
Plenty of backpackers visit Reykjavik. There are a number of hostels around town, but they can be pretty expensive. Transportation can also be pretty challenging for backpackers.
While Reykjavik and Barcelona are both good for students, overall Barcelona is genreally more popular.
Barcelona is a very popular city for students. This is a popular study abroad destination and you'll find international students from around the world. It's a beautiful city with plenty to see and do.
Plenty of students visit Reykjavik. Students will enjoy a unique experience in this city. There are good academic programs as well as beautiful outdoor settings that you can explore.
While Reykjavik and Barcelona both provide public transit, overall the system in Barcelona is considered to be better.
Barcelona has a great public transit system. There's a metro, bus, and tram system that navigates the city.
Reykjavik has some public transit options. There is a fairly comprehensive bus system around town.
Barcelona and Reykjavik both are comparable when exploring on foot.
Barcelona is very walkable. The city is more spread out than some other major European cities, but there are many plazas and outdoor areas that are fun to explore on foot. The city has designed "superilles," which are areas where car traffic has been directed around pedestrian-friendly plazas so visitors can explore, relax, or play.
Reykjavik is a very walkable city. The city is small and compact, so it's easy to explore on foot.
In either Barcelona or Reykjavik, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Barcelona than Reykjavik because of the overall number of sights and activities.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Barcelona is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Reykjavik is 1-5 days.
People visit Barcelona because there is so much to do. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
You'll find nightlife and shopping around the city of Reykjavik. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Reykjavik has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
People visit Barcelona because there is so much to do. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.
You'll find shopping and nightlife around the friendly destination of Reykjavik. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.
People visit Barcelona because there is so much to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.
You'll find nightlife and shopping around the friendly city of Reykjavik. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Most people head to the area for the hiking. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.
Barcelona is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Barcelona, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
Reykjavik is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Barcelona is €123, while the average daily cost in Reykjavik is €180. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Barcelona and Reykjavik in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Barcelona or Reykjavik? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Barcelona are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Barcelona:
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Reykjavik and Barcelona change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Barcelona are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Barcelona.
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Barcelona are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Barcelona are as follows:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Barcelona:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Barcelona and Reykjavik, we can see that Reykjavik is more expensive. And not only is Barcelona much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Barcelona would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Barcelona and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik than you might in Barcelona.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both Reykjavik and Barcelona during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Barcelona for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Reykjavik because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
Barcelona is much warmer than Reykjavik in the summer. The temperature in Barcelona is usually 23°C (73°F) in July, and Reykjavik stays around 11°C (52°F).
It's quite sunny in Barcelona. In the summer, Barcelona often gets more sunshine than Reykjavik. Barcelona gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Reykjavik receives 171 hours of full sun.
Barcelona usually gets less rain in July than Reykjavik. Barcelona gets 22 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Barcelona and Reykjavik. The autumn months attract visitors to Barcelona because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Reykjavik this time of year.
It's quite cold in Reykjavik in the autumn. In the autumn, Barcelona is much warmer than Reykjavik. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Barcelona in October are around 17°C (63°F), and Reykjavik is about 5°C (41°F).
Barcelona usually receives more sunshine than Reykjavik during autumn. Barcelona gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Reykjavik receives 83 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Barcelona usually receives more rain than Reykjavik. Barcelona gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Barcelona as well as Reykjavik. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Barcelona this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Reykjavik for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Reykjavik. In January, Barcelona is generally much warmer than Reykjavik. Temperatures in Barcelona average around 9°C (48°F), and Reykjavik stays around -0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Barcelona often gets more sunshine than Reykjavik. Barcelona gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Reykjavik receives 27 hours of full sun.
Barcelona usually gets less rain in January than Reykjavik. Barcelona gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Reykjavik and Barcelona are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Barcelona for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Reykjavik in the spring for the natural beauty.
Reykjavik can get quite cold in the spring. Barcelona is much warmer than Reykjavik in the spring. The temperature in Barcelona is usually 13°C (55°F) in April, and Reykjavik stays around 3°C (38°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Barcelona. Barcelona usually receives more sunshine than Reykjavik during spring. Barcelona gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Reykjavik receives 140 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Barcelona usually receives less rain than Reykjavik. Barcelona gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Barcelona | Reykjavik | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
May | 16°C (61°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
Jun | 20°C (67°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
Dec | 10°C (49°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
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