Should you visit Copenhagen or Reykjavik?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Copenhagen 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.
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 $169, while the average daily cost in Reykjavik is $208. 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 Copenhagen and Reykjavik in more detail.
Local Transportation
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:
-
Ultra - Copenhagen Private Airport Transfer City Centre to Copenhagen Airport:
$8.71
-
Round Trip Copenhagen Kastrup Airport (CPH) Transfer to Copenhagen City Center:
$155
-
Private Departure Transfer from Copenhagen City to CPH Copenhagen Airport:
$86
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Copenhagen to Copenhagen Airport (CPH):
$86
-
Private Airport Transfer: Copenhagen to Copenhagen Airport (CPH):
$136
-
Departure Private Transfer: Copenhagen to Copenhagen Airport CPH in Luxuy Van:
$142
-
Departure Private Transfer: Copenhagen to Copenhagen Airport CPH in Business Car:
$124
-
Departure Private Transfer: Copenhagen City to Copenhagen Airport CPH by Minibus:
$266
-
Departure Private Transfer from Copenhagen City to Copenhagen Port in Minibus:
$200
-
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:
-
Ultra - Reykjavik Private Airport Transfer from Cruise Port to Keflavík Airport:
$8.71
-
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
-
Reykjavík Airport Private Departure Transfer:
$236
-
Shuttle Bus Transfer to/from Keflavik Airport:
$26
-
Private Transfer to/from KEF Intl. Airport (KEF):
$204
-
Reykjavik to Keflavik Airport (KEF) - Departure Private Car Transfer:
$111
-
Reykjavik area to Keflavik Private Luxury Airport Transfer:
$140
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.
Food
-
Food
Meals for one day
Copenhagen $51
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:
-
Private Copenhagen Street Food Tour with a Local Foodie:
$94
-
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:
-
Dinner (Fish Market)
$188
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
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
-
Secret Lagoon, Buffet Dinner, and Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik:
$159
-
South Coast: Volcanoes, waterfalls & Viking dinner at the Viking house:
$179
-
Private Reykjavik Food Tour:
$198
-
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
Entertainment
Typical Entertainment prices in Copenhagen
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Copenhagen's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Boat Tour
$8.48
-
Coffee
$13
Tours and Activities in Copenhagen
For Copenhagen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Best of Copenhagen Private Tour:
$578
-
Copenhagen 3 hrs Private Panoramic Tour:
$482
-
Copenhagen City Highlights Private Tour & Christiansborg Palace:
$908
-
Copenhagen Highlights and Torvehallerne Market Private Tour:
$578
-
Copenhagen Old City Train Tours:
$14
-
Copenhagen Private Walking Tour:
$323
-
Copenhagen Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$12
-
Copenhagen Welcome Tour: Private Tour with a Local:
$40
-
1-Hour Canal Cruise from Ved Stranden or Nyhavn:
$15
-
2-Hour City Walking Tour:
$40
-
2-hour “Hidden Gems” Canal Tour:
$61
-
4-Hour City Highlights Walking Tour:
$848
Typical Entertainment prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Art Museum
$11
-
Wine and Spa
$31
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
'Game of Thrones' Filming Locations Tour From Reykjavik:
$126
-
(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
-
1hr ATV Adventure & Rafting Tour from Reykjavik:
$287
-
1hr ATV Adventure & Whale Watching Combination Tour from Reykjavik:
$248
-
1hr ATV Reykjavik Peak Adventure:
$143
-
1hr ATV adventure & Northern lights Hunt from Reykjavik:
$238
-
1hr Buggy & Lava Caving Combination Tour from Reykjavik:
$283
Alcohol
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:
-
Eimverk Distillery Tour with Tasting:
$34
-
Private Reykjavik Pub Crawl:
$181
-
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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