Reykjavik
Iceland · Europe · 140K people
Small geothermal capital with dramatic light and near-zero crime.
Ranked #69 of 303 overall · 64.15, -21.94
Overview
With a population of around 140,000, Reykjavik is one of Iceland's notable cities, part of the wider Europe region. It has a reputation as a solid, practical choice for raising a family. Reykjavik stands out for how safe it feels compared to cities of a similar size. People who choose to settle in Reykjavik tend to point to a strong sense of safety, solid infrastructure for remote work, and reliable healthcare as the deciding factors. Within the 103 cities we track in Europe, the regional average sits at 6.9/10, which puts Reykjavik's 7.0/10 comfortably ahead of the regional norm. On CityMatch, Reykjavik scores 7.0/10 overall across cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet, ranking #69 of 303 cities in our database. Its strongest single criterion is safety at 10/10, while cost of living is its softest spot at 3/10 — the full breakdown, honest trade-offs, and who this city actually suits are below.
Full scorecard
Among the pricier cities we track.
Low crime, easy to feel at ease.
Clean air, easy to spend time outdoors.
Public transport covers the basics well.
Harsh stretches of weather part of the year.
Reliable access to quality care.
Remote work is a non-issue here.
Is Reykjavik right for you?
Set your own priorities and see where it ranks against every city in the dataset.
Run the recommender →How are these scores calculated?
Every city on CityMatch is scored 1-10 on seven criteria — cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet — and those seven numbers are combined into the overall score shown throughout the site using a consistent, automated formula (an equal-weighted average by default, or your own weighting via the recommender tool). The same method is applied identically to every city, so scores are comparable across the full database.
Sources & data provenance
The current dataset is an internally curated starter dataset built for this version of the site, reflecting each city's general reputation on each criterion rather than a live feed from a single external provider. It is not yet sourced from a specific third-party API. If that changes, this section will be updated to name the exact sources in use.
Last updated: 17 July 2026
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
A 10/10 safety score puts Reykjavik among the more reassuring cities to walk around, day or night.
Air quality and environment score 10/10 here — outdoor time doesn't come with a mental asterisk.
Internet and connectivity score 9/10, making remote work a non-issue rather than a workaround.
Trade-offs
Cost of living is the toughest line item, at 3/10 — budget accordingly, especially on rent.
Climate is the hardest trade-off here at 3/10 — expect genuinely difficult weather for part of the year.
Is Reykjavik safe?
Safety is a genuine strength of Reykjavik, at 10/10. It's the kind of city where petty crime and serious crime alike are less of a daily concern than in most of the 303 cities we track.
At night
Walking at night is generally low-stress here, though sticking to lit, populated streets is always sensible advice anywhere.
For tourists
Tourists rarely report serious issues beyond the ordinary pickpocket risk that exists in any well-visited city — normal vigilance in crowded areas is enough.
For families
Combined with a healthcare score of 8/10 and environment score of 10/10, Reykjavik looks like a genuinely solid pick for raising a family.
For solo travelers
Cities scoring this well on safety (10/10) are generally considered comfortable for solo travelers, though — as anywhere — checking current, specific local advice before a trip is always worth the ten minutes it takes.
On public transport
Public transport feels safe here too — safety (10/10) and transport quality (6/10) are both strong, a combination that generally makes getting around without a car low-stress.
Practical tips
- →Standard city awareness is genuinely enough here — no need for unusual precautions.
- →Keep half an eye on belongings in busy tourist spots, the same as anywhere.
What's the climate like in Reykjavik?
Climate is one of Reykjavik's harder trade-offs, at just 3/10 — genuinely difficult stretches of weather are part of living here for part of the year.
Seasonal character
Expect a genuinely challenging season — whether that's extreme heat, cold, or a prolonged wet period depends on the region, but it's a real factor in daily life here.
Comfort level
Comfort is inconsistent enough that climate should factor into any decision to move here, not just visit.
Best time to live here
Timing matters a lot — the toughest stretch of the year is worth identifying and planning around specifically before moving or booking a long stay.
Note: this reflects our single aggregate 1-10 climate score rather than month-by-month temperature, humidity or rainfall data, which we don't currently track — treat it as a general read rather than a forecast.
Quality of life in Reykjavik
Put together, quality of life in Reykjavik is shaped less by any single number and more by the combination: reykjavik tends to run at a calmer, more settled pace, the kind of rhythm that suits routine and family life more than nightlife, paired with an outdoor/environment picture that's generally favorable and transport that's genuinely workable.
Pace & lifestyle
Reykjavik tends to run at a calmer, more settled pace, the kind of rhythm that suits routine and family life more than nightlife.
Nature & outdoors
Outdoor time is reasonably pleasant, with environment (10/10) and climate (3/10) scores that don't get in the way, without being a specific draw either.
Getting around
Transport (6/10) covers most needs reasonably well, with occasional gaps a bike or rideshare fills in easily.
Culture & leisure
Reykjavik isn't specifically marketed on culture or nightlife in our data, which usually means a more everyday, less tourist-oriented pace of life — good for routine, less exciting for a short visit.
Based on its actual score profile, Reykjavik tends to suit people who prioritize safety and environment & air quality over cost of living — see "Who Reykjavik suits" above for the specific profiles that fit best.
How clean is Reykjavik?
Reykjavik scores 10/10 on environment and air quality — among the cleaner cities we track, and a reasonable proxy for a well-kept public realm.
Public spaces
We don't track a separate public-space or waste-management metric, but cities that score this well on air quality tend to also invest visibly in upkeep — a reasonable, if indirect, signal.
Infrastructure maintenance
General infrastructure maintenance isn't a criterion we score independently, so treat any specific claims about road quality, public bins, or graffiti with caution unless they come from a recent, first-hand source.
The "environment" score behind all of this is CityMatch's single combined measure of air quality and general environmental conditions — 10 meaning consistently clean air, 1 meaning significant pollution. It doesn't separately break out waste management, noise, or visual upkeep, which aren't part of our current dataset.
Who Reykjavik suits
Safety-first mover
Safety-first movers — people relocating somewhere unfamiliar who weigh personal safety above all (fit score 7.9/10 here).
Expat
Expats — expatriates relocating for work who lean on safety, healthcare and internet to stay settled and connected (fit score 7.8/10 here).
Young family
Young familys — households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (fit score 7.4/10 here).
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs — founders and small business owners who need reliable connectivity and a livable base without big-city costs (fit score 6.8/10 here).
In depth
Cost of living
Budget matters a lot in Reykjavik: it scores just 3/10 on affordability, among the pricier cities in our database, and rent in particular tends to dominate a monthly budget.
Safety
Safety is one of Reykjavik's clearest strengths, scoring 10/10 — the kind of place where walking home at night or letting kids out alone doesn't require much second-guessing.
Climate
Climate is one of Reykjavik's tougher trade-offs, scoring just 3/10 — long or harsh seasons are part of the deal here, which is worth factoring in if weather affects your mood or routine.
Quality of life
Reykjavik scores 7.0/10 overall, but that average hides a real spread: safety (10/10) is genuinely strong, while cost of living (3/10) pulls the picture down considerably. The average across all seven criteria is 7.0/10.
Transport
Transport in Reykjavik scores 6/10 — workable public options exist, though a bike or occasional car still helps for some routes.
Internet & remote work
Remote work is well supported here: Reykjavik scores 9/10 on internet and connectivity, with fast, reliable connections in most neighborhoods.
Why choose Reykjavik?
Reykjavik isn't the right fit for everyone, but for the right profile — someone who values safety and can live with cost of living — it scores well at 7.0/10 overall. Use the comparisons and rankings below to see how it stacks up against the alternatives.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Reykjavik safe?
Yes — Reykjavik scores 10/10 on safety, among the higher end of the 303 cities we track. Normal city awareness is enough for most visitors and residents.
What budget do I need to live in Reykjavik?
Reykjavik is expensive by our data, scoring just 3/10 on cost of living — among the priciest cities we track. This isn't the city to pick primarily to save money.
Is Reykjavik good for families?
Reykjavik works well for families: safety (10/10), healthcare (8/10) and environment (10/10) average out to a strong combination for raising kids.
Is Reykjavik a good city for students?
Reykjavik isn't an obvious student pick: affordability (3/10) and transport (6/10) average out lower than the cities we specifically tag for students.
Is Reykjavik suitable for digital nomads?
Remote work is possible in Reykjavik, but it's not an obvious pick — internet (9/10) and cost of living (3/10) are less favorable than our dedicated digital-nomad cities.
What's the climate like in Reykjavik?
Reykjavik scores just 3/10 on climate — genuinely harsh weather is part of the deal for part of the year here.
Is Reykjavik pleasant to live in year-round?
Not entirely — Reykjavik's climate score of 3/10 reflects a difficult stretch of weather for part of the year, even if other seasons are pleasant.
Is Reykjavik a good choice for a first move abroad?
It's a reasonable choice for a first move: safety, healthcare, transport and environment average out to 8.5/10 here, a fairly forgiving combination for someone settling in for the first time.
Is the internet good enough for remote work in Reykjavik?
Yes — Reykjavik scores 9/10 on internet and connectivity, comfortably enough for video calls and day-to-day remote work.
Is Reykjavik a good place to retire?
It has real appeal for retirees: healthcare, climate and safety average out to 7.0/10 here — the three criteria that tend to matter most for that stage of life.
What are good alternatives to Reykjavik?
Based on continent, tags and overall score, Innsbruck and Oslo are the closest matches to Reykjavik in our database — worth comparing directly if you're still deciding.
Is Reykjavik worth living in?
Reasonably — Reykjavik scores 7.0/10 overall, a solid if unremarkable all-round profile. Whether it's "worth it" depends more on which specific criteria matter most to you than on the average alone.
Who should move to Reykjavik?
Based on its score profile, Reykjavik suits people who value safety and environment & air quality more than the average mover — see the "Who Reykjavik suits" section above for the specific profiles (families, digital nomads, students, etc.) that fit best.
Is Reykjavik walkable, and is public transport good?
Reasonably — Reykjavik scores 6/10 on transport, covering most day-to-day needs without being a standout transit city.
What's the biggest advantage of living in Reykjavik?
Safety is Reykjavik's standout strength, scoring 10/10 — the highest of its seven criteria on CityMatch.
What's the biggest downside of living in Reykjavik?
Cost of living is the clearest trade-off, scoring just 3/10 — the lowest of Reykjavik's seven criteria, and worth weighing against its strengths.