Should you visit Copenhagen or Reykjavik?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Copenhagen and Reykjavik can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark. It has a small town vibe but is still a cosmopolitan city with lots of shopping, culture, and nightlife. It's a very safe and comfortable city that is easy to explore on foot. Copenhagen is the birthplace of many old fairytales, but also has modern, world class architecture and a liberal vibe. The people of Copenhagen are diverse and international. Most residents are Danes, but some come from Germany and Sweden and there are also many Middle Eastern immigrants.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
Which city is cheaper, Reykjavik or Copenhagen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Copenhagen is $183, while the average daily cost in Reykjavik is $214. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Copenhagen and Reykjavik in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $158 for a double occupancy room in Copenhagen If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
The prices for places to stay in Reykjavik can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $121, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $242.
Food
The price of a meal in Copenhagen can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $55 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $22 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
On average, meal and food prices in Reykjavik cost around $26 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $10.
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Food
Meals for one day
Copenhagen $55
Reykjavik $26
Typical Food prices in Copenhagen
For Copenhagen, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Copenhagen
For Copenhagen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Private Copenhagen Street Food Tour with a Local Foodie:
$94
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Traditional Nordic and Danish Cooking Class with an Expert Local:
$97
-
Sweden Daytrip: Food Tour to Malmö:
$1,724
Typical Food prices in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner (Fish Market)
$193
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Exclusive dinner with a local family:
$112
-
Weekend Reykjavik Food Tour with a stop at the Reykjavik Flea Market:
$123
-
Dinner with an Icelandic Artist in Reykjavik Home:
$151
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Secret Lagoon, Buffet Dinner, and Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik:
$159
-
South Coast: Volcanoes, waterfalls & Viking dinner at the Viking house:
$179
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Private Reykjavik Food Tour:
$198
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South Coast: Small group glacier hike, fire & ice with dinner at Viking lodge:
$199
-
Cook and Dine Icelandic Cooking Class Gourmet Lunch or Dinner:
$204
-
Kopar Fine Dining Dinner and Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik:
$229
-
West Iceland Private Food Tour from Reykjavik:
$723
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Copenhagen than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $64 on transportation in Copenhagen on average per day.
To get around in Reykjavik, the average visitor spends $40 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Copenhagen
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Copenhagen:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Copenhagen
Also for Copenhagen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ultra - Copenhagen Private Airport Transfer City Centre to Copenhagen Airport:
$8.71
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Round Trip Copenhagen Kastrup Airport (CPH) Transfer to Copenhagen City Center:
$155
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Private Departure Transfer from Copenhagen City to CPH Copenhagen Airport:
$86
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Private Airport Transfer: from Copenhagen to Copenhagen Airport (CPH):
$86
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Private Airport Transfer: Copenhagen to Copenhagen Airport (CPH):
$136
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Departure Private Transfer: Copenhagen to Copenhagen Airport CPH in Luxuy Van:
$142
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Departure Private Transfer: Copenhagen to Copenhagen Airport CPH in Business Car:
$124
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Departure Private Transfer: Copenhagen City to Copenhagen Airport CPH by Minibus:
$266
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Departure Private Transfer from Copenhagen City to Copenhagen Port in Minibus:
$200
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Departure Private Transfer Copenhagen to Copenhagen Port in Luxury Van:
$97
-
Departure Private Transfer Copenhagen to Copenhagen Airport CPH by Luxury Car:
$125
-
Departure Private Transfer Copenhagen to Copenhagen Airport CPH by Business Car:
$118
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ultra - Reykjavik Private Airport Transfer from Cruise Port to Keflavík Airport:
$8.71
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Ultra - Reykjavik Private Airport Transfer from City Hotels to Keflavík Airport:
$218
-
Transfer to & from Blue Lagoon:
$78
-
SuperSaver: Northern Lights by mini-bus & Blue Lagoon transfer:
$149
-
Secret Lagoon with transfer:
$80
-
Roundtrip Transfer from Reykjavik/Keflavik to Blue Lagoon with Entrance Fee:
$187
-
Round Trip Keflavik Airport (KEF) Transfer to Reykjavik City Center:
$175
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Reykjavík Airport Private Departure Transfer:
$236
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Golden Circle Day Trip with Blue Lagoon Transfer:
$135
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Reykjavik to Keflavik Airport (KEF) - Departure Private Car Transfer:
$111
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Reykjavik area to Keflavik Private Luxury Airport Transfer:
$140
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Reykjavik International Airport Private Departure Transfer:
$104
Is it cheaper to fly into Copenhagen or Reykjavik?
Prices for flights to both Reykjavik and Copenhagen 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Copenhagen, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $26 per day, per person.
In Reykjavik, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $63 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Copenhagen
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Copenhagen's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Boat Tour
$9.20
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Coffee
$15
Tours and Activities in Copenhagen
For Copenhagen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Best of Copenhagen Private Tour:
$578
-
Copenhagen 3 hrs Private Panoramic Tour:
$482
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Copenhagen City Highlights Private Tour & Christiansborg Palace:
$908
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Copenhagen Highlights and Torvehallerne Market Private Tour:
$578
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Copenhagen Old City Train Tours:
$14
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Copenhagen Private Walking Tour:
$323
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Copenhagen Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$12
-
Little Mermaid Charming Game and Tour:
$12
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Experience The Little Mermaid's story in Copenhagen:
$7.35
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Explore Copenhagen - the Capital of Denmark on Private Tour!:
$417
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GAILY TOUR in COPENHAGEN - Gay & Lesbian Tour:
$224
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Grand Panoramic Private Tour in Copenhagen:
$885
Typical Entertainment prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Museum
$12
-
Wine and Spa
$32
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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'Game of Thrones' Filming Locations Tour From Reykjavik:
$126
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(Private tour) 4 Days South Coast, Golden Circle & Snæfellsnes:
$3,388
-
1.5 Hour Midnight Sun Buggy Tour From Reykjavik:
$160
-
10-day Private tour of Iceland: Geysers & Glaciers:
$13,561
-
1hr ATV & Golden Circle Adventure from Reykjavik:
$276
-
1hr ATV Adventure & Caving from Reykjavik:
$254
-
1hr ATV Adventure & Helicopter Adventure Combination Tour from Reykjavik:
$403
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1hr ATV Adventure & Rafting Tour from Reykjavik:
$287
-
1hr ATV Adventure & Whale Watching Combination Tour from Reykjavik:
$248
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1hr ATV Reykjavik Peak Adventure:
$143
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1hr ATV adventure & Northern lights Hunt from Reykjavik:
$238
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1hr Buggy & Lava Caving Combination Tour from Reykjavik:
$283
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Copenhagen spend on average $12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Reykjavik spend on average $24 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
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Private Reykjavik Pub Crawl:
$181
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Reykjavik Food & Wine Tour:
$249
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Copenhagen and Reykjavik, we can see that Reykjavik is more expensive. And not only is Copenhagen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Copenhagen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Copenhagen 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 Copenhagen.
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