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How a lot does an Iceland journey price? A LOT OF MONEY! Ha. It is a famously costly vacation spot. However in all seriousness, Iceland provides you fairly a little bit of worth for that cash.
Not too long ago my good friend Amanda from A Harmful Enterprise and I took a 13-day highway journey to Iceland in August 2022. This is likely one of the finest journeys I’ve taken in a really very long time — however holy hell, was it costly!
We had been touring at peak season, plus it was the largest journey summer time in three years, making it a preferred time for vacationers (and costly time for each rental vehicles and gasoline).
I do know it may be useful to see what different individuals paid for journeys to Iceland, so right here’s an in depth Iceland journey price range. I hope that is useful so that you can plan your personal Iceland journey!
Is Iceland Costly?
Sure, Iceland may be very costly. It’s some of the costly international locations of the 80+ I’ve visited, up there with Sweden and Australia, although I believe Norway and Switzerland are a TINY BIT dearer than Iceland.
There are causes for this. Iceland is an remoted island, they usually should import the overwhelming majority of provides. Most recent produce is grown outdoors Iceland and shipped in.
And like all the Nordic international locations, Iceland has a excessive price of residing. It’s not as jarring for locals, who earn excessive salaries — thanks partly to greater than 90% of Icelandic employees being a part of a labor union — and having their taxes pay for healthcare, training, infrastructure, and a very good high quality of life.
The time of 12 months has a huge effect in your prices, too. Summer season journey — thought of mid-Could via August — is way more costly, and for good cause. Summer season is one of the best time to journey Iceland, as every little thing is open, climate is at its finest, tons of excursions are operating, and the roads are in a lot better situation.
Winter might be less expensive and much much less crowded, however be mindful it may be very chilly, very darkish, and you could have to take care of winter storms and highway closures.
Your Iceland journey price might be as little as $100-150 USD per day if you happen to hitchhike and camp or keep in hostel dorms. Extra realistically, I believe $250+ USD per day will land you a a lot nicer journey.
In August 2022 we spent round $400 USD for gasoline to drive the Ring Highway in its entirety, plus a number of detours like Snaefellsnes and Húsavík.
We discovered the most affordable non-terrible resort rooms with shared tub to be round $82 per evening, however in costly areas like Lake Myvatn, that may very well be as excessive as $300+.
The most cost effective merchandise on restaurant or gasoline station menus is a sizzling canine, normally for round $6 USD. An entree in a restaurant is usually $25-30. However one of the simplest ways to save cash is to purchase groceries.
How I Budgeted My Iceland Journey
Monitoring journey bills is a comparatively new factor for me. Folks have typically requested me for price range breakdowns, however I haven’t stored shut observe till I began utilizing YNAB (You Want a Finances) software program in 2020.
Guys, YNAB is one of the best factor I’ve ever performed for my funds. It actually modified my life. My funds are so a lot better than they was once, and I’ve a a lot better system of budgeting for journeys and saving up over time!
If you wish to attempt YNAB, you may get a free monthlong trial via my hyperlink. (When you join, they’ll give me a free month of YNAB.)
Throughout your free monthlong trial, take part YNAB’s dwell Zoom tutorial classes — they’ve a number of every week. They’re tremendous useful. And be part of the YNAB Fb group and/or subreddit. It takes a little bit of time to wrap your head round, so make an effort. I promise you it’s so, so price it.
Since I began YNAB, together with Revenue First, I allocate 30% of my journey running a blog income to working bills — 20% to admin and 10% to journey prices. (You are able to do the identical by budgeting a set quantity for journey per 30 days or per paycheck.)
Over time I robotically transferred that cash immediately into my “Common Journey” class, then the “Iceland Journey 8/22” class, and as I made bills earlier than and through the journey, robotically deducted from cash put aside for that journey.
As quickly as Amanda and I made a decision to do that journey, we booked flights, our rental automobile, all lodging, and several other actions. We stored observe of Iceland prices on a Google Docs spreadsheet. After arriving in Iceland, we took turns paying for mutual bills on the highway, like gasoline, however paid different bills individually, like meals. We used bank cards for each single buy.
After the journey, we went via our bank card payments and added our mutual bills to the spreadsheet, noticed who had paid extra, and Venmo’d the distinction. Simple!
We stored observe of every little thing in USD, because it was simpler for us to simply go by our precise bank card statements than undergo and convert plenty of receipts.
Our Journey Model
In an costly vacation spot like Iceland, it’s good to drop down a journey degree. I normally keep in mid-range resorts with occasional high-end splurges, as does Amanda, however on this journey we stayed within the most cost-effective price range resorts with non-terrible scores, typically with shared bogs.
Meals-wise, we primarily ate in eating places and cafes. A couple of resorts included breakfast. We purchased groceries for breakfast in Akureyri.
Moreover, many lodging costs had been really charged in Euros, not Icelandic Kroner, and the Euro dropped considerably towards the US greenback between after we initially booked (June 2022) and after we traveled (August 2022).
For instance, our Akureyri Airbnb was set to cost us in two funds of 334.39 euros. They ended up charging us $359.17 for the primary fee and $342.88 for the second fee due to the euro dropping.
Lastly — if you happen to’re touring with a good friend, I can’t overstate the significance of being on the identical monetary web page. Have conversations early and sometimes about the way you need to spend your cash, with particular numbers, earlier than reserving something.
Fortunately, Amanda and I had been in settlement on our priorities. We cared about spending plenty of cash on actions and didn’t care as a lot about meals or lodging (save a number of cool spots).
Whole Value of Iceland Journey: $4303.11 every or $8606.21 for 2
That is for 2 individuals sharing lodging, automobile rental, and gasoline, and paying for their very own actions and meals.
I tracked each expense besides Amanda’s airfare and meals, however for cost-for-two functions, let’s assume she spent the identical quantity as me on these two classes.
- Airfare: $548.20 for Kate (roughly $1096.40 for 2)
- Automotive Rental and Floor Transportation: $2608.04 for 2 or $1304.02 every
- Lodging: $2371.80 for 2 or $1185.90 every
- Meals: $690.60 for Kate (roughly $1381.20 for 2)
- Actions: $1,141.81 for 2 or $570.91 every
- Restrooms: $6.96 for 2 or $3.48 every
- Souvenirs: $0
Airfare: $548.20 for me
- Flixbus, Prague Florenc to Vienna Airport: $50.98
- Vienna to Reykjavík on WizzAir: $260.14
- Reykjavík to Prague on Play: $237.08
Airfare can rely on one million various factors; that is merely what I spent flying from my residence in Prague. Amanda flew from her residence in Cleveland through a layover in Boston. These flight costs embrace checked baggage; I didn’t find yourself utilizing checked baggage, so they might have been cheaper.
There are direct flights from Prague to Reykjavík on Play, however they get in at 12:30 AM and I didn’t need to take care of that (particularly since that may be 2:30 AM to my Prague physique — after which it’s important to hire a automobile, drive 45 minutes to Reykjavík, verify into the resort…)
Prague’s bus station is an 8-minute stroll from my residence, so generally I simply e book a flight from Vienna and take a 4.5-hour bus on to the Vienna airport. Vienna’s WizzAir flight to Reykjavík will get in at a way more cheap 6:30 PM, in order that labored for me.
The way to Make it Cheaper: It’s arduous to siphon down airfare prices, however it can save you by flying carry-on solely or planning a visit through the winter. For affordable flights from North America, I like to recommend reserving 3-6 months prematurely as quickly as you see an excellent fare.
Automotive Rental and Floor Transportation: $2615.30 for 2 or $1307.65
- Automotive rental, 12 days: $1991.32
- Further driver price: $25.65
- Gasoline: $400.71
- Tunnels: $54.30
- Parking: $40.77
- Ferry: $102.55
Automotive Rental: This was our largest expense of the journey, not least as a result of there was a automobile rental scarcity since COVID started. This was the worth for an computerized sedan (we obtained a Toyota Corolla) for 13 days. Our rental was at Europcar, proper within the airport terminal; this was a precedence for me, as I wished to get out shortly and lots of rental corporations are situated a 15-20-minute drive from the airport.
Gasoline: We crammed up gasoline most days and tried to replenish ceaselessly, as gasoline stations are sometimes far aside.
Tunnels: There is just one paid tunnel in Iceland, simply east of Akureyri. Many individuals driving the Ring Highway solely go via the tunnel as soon as, however our schedule and itinerary had us going via it 5 instances complete for a mean of $10.86 every time.
Parking: Whereas free in most places, we finally paid for parking at Fagradalsfjall Volcano ($7.33), Kirkjufellsfoss ($5.13), Hverir ($5.05), Skaftafell for Svartifoss ($7.26), Kvernufoss ($5.33) and Seljalandsfoss/Gljúfrabúi ($10.67).
Ferry: We took the Westman Islands ferry round-trip with our automobile for $102.55. We may have performed it with out the automobile for cheaper, however we each enormously appreciated how a lot simpler having a automobile made issues.
How To Make it Cheaper: Renting a handbook automobile is cheaper than an computerized automobile, however it’s essential to be keen to drive a handbook automobile. Renting from an off-site automobile rental spot is an efficient choice for saving a bit extra. You can too plan an itinerary that doesn’t undergo the tunnel 5 instances!
Lodging: $2371.80 for 2 or $1185.90 every
As you possibly can see, our seek for price range stays led to an infinite vary of lodging prices — from $82.05 to $347.06 per evening! Our common price of lodging was $182.45 per evening.
All of our resorts supplied non-public rooms; some had shared bogs. We shared a single room all over the place besides the Airbnb residence in Akureyri, which had two bedrooms.
By way of worth for cash, I believe that we loved immense worth at Asahraun Guesthouse close to Selfoss, with our cute little hobbit home, sizzling tub on website, and plenty of cozy facilities. The bathe was shared with two different homes however we had our personal bathroom and sink, which was nice.
And Hvammur 2 Guesthouse close to Blönduós was an affordable and comfy place that jogged my memory how hostels was once: individuals hanging out, watching TV collectively or cooking within the kitchen. We by no means even obtained formally checked in; we simply obtained an electronic mail with our room quantity and had been advised to take pleasure in ourselves!
The worst worth? Sel Resort in Myvatn, by far, at $347.06 per evening for a fundamental twin resort room with non-public toilet and breakfast included. Yikes!
Lake Myvatn normally was shockingly costly and super-crowded. I’ve heard it can save you cash by staying in Húsavík as an alternative; it’s an hour’s drive away.
The way to Make it Cheaper: These had been the most affordable non-terrible resorts we may discover through the peak summer time months, two months earlier than our journey. You can too keep in hostel dorms or camp for much less.
Hiring a camper van generally finally ends up a bit cheaper than a price range resort, however the distinction isn’t normally important. Don’t get a camper van to save cash; solely get a camper van if you’d like that fashion of journey.
Meals: $690.60 for Kate (roughly $1381.20 for 2)
- Groceries: $20.32
- Lunch Kate purchased for two at Godafoss: $11.24
- Kate’s restaurant bills: $674.82
Iceland shouldn’t be a spot you go to for the meals. The meals isn’t horrible, nevertheless it isn’t particular, both, and I don’t assume there’s a lot of a have to splurge.
We primarily ate at eating places and cafes all through our journey. Although we typically stored issues low-cost, we did have the occasional splurge (Gott within the Westman Islands was pretty, as was Naustið in Húsavík, and we loved langoustine sandwiches at Z Bistro in Höfn). We solely had a number of alcoholic drinks all through the journey: a elaborate cocktail every at Gott, and I sampled a number of native craft beers all through the journey.
We purchased groceries to cowl our three breakfasts in Akureyri (yogurt, fruit, bread and butter).
The way to Make it Cheaper: Self-cater all the way in which. Procuring on the grocery retailer is likely one of the best methods to save cash in Iceland. When you do eat out, normally the most affordable factor on the menu is a sizzling canine, whether or not at a restaurant or gasoline station.
Actions: $1,141.81 for 2 or $570.91 every
Actions are the place we went nuts. Needless to say this journey was for work causes, although. We had loads we wished to put in writing about!
Paid Actions
- Thermal Baths: $427.04 for 2 or $213.52 every
- Excursions and Actions: $541.20 for 2 or $270.60 every
- Museums: $155 for 2 or $77.50 every
- Outside Points of interest: $18.57 for 2 or $9.29 every
Thermal baths included Krauma in Reykholt ($71.82 for 2 or $35.91 every), the Forest Lagoon in Akureyri ($87.17 for 2 or $43.59 every), GeoSea in Húsavík ($80.04 for 2 or $40.02 every), Myvatn Nature Baths in Myvatn ($86.62 for 2 or $43.31 every), Vök Baths in Egilsstadir ($87.17 for 2 or $43.59 every), and Vestmannaeyjar Swimming Pool within the Westman Islands ($14.22 for 2 or $7.11 every).
Excursions and actions included whale watching in Húsavík ($157.02 for 2 or $78.51 every), horseback using in Húsavík ($167.35 for 2 or $83.68 every), and a RIB boat journey within the Westman Islands ($216.83 for 2 or $108.42 every).
Museums included the Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum in Bjarnarhöfn ($20.52 for 2 or $10.26 every), Herring Period Museum in Siglufjördur ($32.02 for 2 or $16.01 every), Whale Museum in Húsavík ($25.34 for 2 or $12.67 every — included a small low cost from our whale watch), Jaja Ding Dong Eurovision Museum in Húsavík ($14.44 for 2 or $7.22 every), Petra’s Stone Assortment in Stöðvarfjörður ($21.46 for 2 or $10.73 every), and Eldheimar within the Westman Islands ($41.22 for 2 or $20.61 every).
Outside points of interest included Stokksnes, together with Viking Village ($12.88 for 2 or $6.33 every), and Kerid Crater ($5.69 for 2 or $2.85 every).
Free Actions
And a pleasant factor about Iceland is that plenty of outside actions are free!
- Climbing to the volcano (paid parking)
- Free waterfalls: Svodufoss, Bjarnarfoss, Glanni, Reykjafoss, Goðafoss, Dettifoss, Gufufoss, Folaldafoss, Nykurhylsfoss (Sveinsstekksfoss), Skógafoss, Hestavadsfoss, Gluggafoss
- Free waterfalls that charged for parking: Kirkjufellsfoss, Hundafoss/Svartifoss, Kvernufoss, Seljalandsfoss/Gljúfrabúi
- Free canyons: Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge, Kolugljúfur Canyon, Stuðlagil Canyon, Múlagljúfur Canyon, Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
- Free lagoons and seashores: Skarðsvík, Djúpalónssandur, Jökulsárlon, Fjallsárlón, Diamond Seaside, Reynisfjara Seaside
- Free outside websites: Saxhóll Crater, Hvitserkur, Hofsós basalt columns, Skútustaðagígar, Dimmuborgir Lava Subject, Grjótagjá Cave, Hverir, Seydisfjördur Rainbow Road, Eggin í Gleðivík
- Free church buildings: Ingjaldshólskirkja, Búðakirkja, Stykkishólmskirkja Víðimýrikirkja, Grafarkirkja, Hofskirkja
- Free indoor websites: Akureyri Christmas Home
- Free viewpoints: TOO MANY TO COUNT.
Comped Actions
As journey bloggers, Amanda and I wished to pay for issues on this journey ourselves and have full editorial freedom, fairly than get free stuff and really feel indebted to corporations.
Nonetheless, due to our connections, we had been kindly supplied comped entry for 2 sizzling springs that we deliberate to cowl anyway (and one I had beforehand coated two months earlier): the Sky Lagoon and Hvammsvik.
- Sky Lagoon: $143.82 for 2 or $71.91 every (Pure Bundle, which I believe is the package deal most price it)
- Hvammsvik: $100.24 for 2 or $50.12 every
Greatest Actions Total
Virtually every little thing we did was glorious and I’d fortunately do once more. On the identical time, I perceive that almost all vacationers are going for enjoyable, not work, and want to choose and select their spending extra fastidiously than we did.
For thermal baths, I completely adored the trendy, funky Vök Baths in Egilsstadir, with the beautiful pure amenities of Hvammsvik second. GeoSea is a superb place with spectacular views on a pleasant day, and if you happen to’re basing in Reykjavík, the Sky Lagoon is price it if you happen to embrace the Seven-Step Ritual.
For paid actions, among the finest issues we did was our RIB boat journey within the Westman Islands. It was so enjoyable, we instantly regretted doing the one-hour journey as an alternative of the two-hour journey!
Additionally, if you wish to go whale watching in Iceland, do it in Húsavík if you happen to can, not Reykjavík. The whale watching is considerably higher there, and I do know too many individuals who noticed nothing on their Reykjavík whale watches.
And for museums, I LOVED THEM ALL. However I used to be deeply moved by Eldheimar, which tells the story of the 1973 volcanic eruption within the Westman Islands, and the Herring Period Museum in Siglufjördur is excellent, particularly its ultimate constructing. Petra’s Stone Assortment was an sudden delight.
What to skip? The one factor I’d skip could be the Myvatn Nature Baths; it felt a bit ramshackle compared to the opposite baths.
The way to Make it Cheaper: Go to native swimming swimming pools as an alternative of fancy baths; each city has them they usually’re a terrific choice for a cultural expertise (particularly with children). Go all in on free outside actions; you’ll at all times have lots to do.
Restrooms: $6.96 for 2 or $3.48 every
- Restroom close to Hvitserkur: $3.66 (we held the door so we solely needed to pay as soon as)
- Restroom at Studlagil Canyon: $1.15 every or $3.30 for 2
I used to be going to name this class “miscellaneous,” however actually the one factor left was restrooms.
(Let me add that it’s useful to have Apple Pay if in case you have an iPhone — that method you possibly can simply scan it and run in if you happen to sprinted to the toilet out of your automobile and left your pockets behind. Hehehe.)
The way to Make it Cheaper: Lose your disgrace and simply pee out within the open, man.
Souvenirs: $0
Sure, zero! I had really been in Iceland in Could and purchased a small lava sculpture for my lounge (round $35) and a present for my fiancé Charlie (round $15), however I didn’t really feel the necessity to purchase something on this journey.
Spending is solely discretionary, however I do know lots of people who like to purchase Icelandic sweaters (they’re known as lopapeysa), yarn, and jewellery.
For me, my pictures are my souvenirs. These are what I actually treasure.
Journey Insurance coverage: Already Paid For
I’m not shopping for journey insurance coverage anyore as a result of I get it without cost. My checking account within the Czech Republic comes with free journey insurance coverage so long as I deposit a big amount of money per 30 days. An important profit.
When you don’t have already got journey insurance coverage — and belief me, you want it — I like to recommend World Nomads for many vacationers, which I used for years earlier than transferring to the EU.
The way to Save Cash in Iceland
In such an costly nation, you need to reduce prices wherever you possibly can. Listed here are my high ideas for saving cash:
Journey within the winter (October to April). It’s a totally completely different expertise from summer time journey, which is excessive season, however airfare, lodging, and automobile rental — three of your largest bills — are typically a lot decrease. Plus, you possibly can see the Northern Lights.
Journey with a good friend. As a lot as I really like touring solo in Iceland, I saved SO a lot cash by splitting lodging, gasoline, and automobile rental with Amanda!
Guide your journey super-early. The great lodging — particularly the nice CHEAP lodging — tends to promote out first.
Spend restricted or no time in the most costly locations. I discovered the most costly locations to be the capital metropolis of Reykjavík, Lake Myvatn, the Golden Circle, and the South Coast. Locations like Snaefellsnes and the agricultural north had been less expensive by comparability.
Guide guesthouses with shared bogs. These are widespread in Iceland. Shared bogs normally decrease the worth of an equal room with ensuite bogs, and more often than not it’s not a nuisance in any way.
Take into account non-hotels: hostels or Airbnb leases. Hostels with shared dorms will at all times prevent cash; Airbnbs can go both method.
Take into account tenting. It’s a distinct sort of journey, nevertheless it’s less expensive than staying within the most cost-effective hostels or guesthouses! However if you happen to don’t have already got gear, you’ll have to pay to hire it.
Use a bank card that covers automobile insurance coverage. I haven’t paid for supplemental automobile rental insurance coverage ANYWHERE since I obtained my Chase Sapphire Most well-liked card. This and several other different bank cards present a automobile insurance coverage profit.
Lease a automobile with a handbook transmission. ONLY if you happen to can drive one and are keen to drive one in Iceland.
Take into account taking the bus. You’ll be able to take buses alongside the Ring Highway, although be mindful stops are restricted and this gained’t get you to most locations with out supplemental hitchhiking. Many public transportation routes shut down within the winter.
Take into account hitchhiking. Iceland is considered one of VERY few international locations the place I’d ever contemplate hitchhiking, because it’s extraordinarily secure. Please do your analysis beforehand.
Don’t take Icelandic króna out on the ATM. In our 13-day journey, we didn’t use money ONCE. So we at all times obtained an excellent fee with our bank cards, and there was no additional money on the finish of our journey! (Chances are you’ll need to take out a small quantity — assume beneath $50 — in case you come throughout any donation-only points of interest.)
Pack carry-on solely. It’ll prevent baggage charges. You’ll be able to e book lodging with on-site laundry midway via your journey (which we did in Akureyri), or pack materials like merino wool you could put on a number of instances with out smelling.
Self-cater your meals. Procuring at grocery shops will prevent a lot cash over going to eating places. Search for Bónus, a budget grocery retailer chain in Iceland.
Eat at gasoline stations. It’s not THAT gross, I swear. Many gasoline stations serve first rate low-cost meals. That is the closest factor it’s important to McDonald’s in Iceland.
Get into sizzling canine. Wherever you go, sizzling canine are normally the most affordable factor on the menu. Usually even cheaper than just a little bowl of soup!
Deliver a water bottle and refill it all over the place. Iceland has glorious faucet water. There’s zero cause to purchase bottled water.
Skip the alcohol. Alcoholic drinks are typically very costly in Iceland. In order for you one thing nicer to drink than water, I recommend Collab — an Icelandic soda with collagen and caffeine. It is available in a number of enjoyable fruity flavors and I attempted to attempt all of them!
Spend your time visiting free pure points of interest. You noticed what number of waterfalls and canyons and funky outside websites we noticed, all without cost!
Hike, hike, hike. You would possibly sometimes have to pay for parking, however for probably the most half, you possibly can hike for hours without cost.
Go to swimming swimming pools as an alternative of fancy sizzling springs. They’re a cultural expertise and tremendous enjoyable. And if in case you have children, THIS is the place it is best to go as an alternative of the flowery spots.
Extra on Iceland:
My Favourite Locations in Iceland:
How a lot did your Iceland journey price? Share away!