This is How to Stay in Iceland for Cheap.

Oh Iceland...land of fire and ice! If rugged landscapes and otherworldly beauty are your thing, then this country is for you. From cascading waterfalls and steaming geysers, to vast glaciers and volcanic vistas, this island in the North Atlantic is full of stark contrasts and ethereal allure. Beyond nature, the capital of Reykjavík is steeped in the cool one would hope for from a country with "ice" in its name. All this appeal comes with a caveat though: it's not cheap. Iceland is an expensive destination but don't let budget freeze you out of your dream to visit. Find out how you can stay for cheap in Iceland and get even more out of your experience there with HomeExchange.

Why Is Iceland So Expensive?

If you've checked out the logistics of visiting Iceland, then you've probably noticed the price tag. Why is Iceland such an expensive destination, though? There are a few main reasons that we can break down. Iceland's remote location is a big reason for a lot of the high costs. Accessing it via transportation and importing goods comes at a higher price, which is then passed on to the consumer.

It also boasts a high quality of living for its population which means wages, rents, etc are high and thus the operating costs of businesses as well. Another reason is that tourism has boomed here in the last decade, creating a high demand, and with so many natural attractions to be maintained for tourists, access to them also comes with a premium.

How Much Does a Week in Iceland Cost?

To be honest, Iceland is so exceptional that it's worth investing in to visit. Spending more though isn't always an option for every traveller, and spending more doesn't always mean getting more out of your stay. So how much does it really cost to visit Iceland?

For a premium one week stay, the average costs per person comes to between $3,000 to $4,000. Right out the gate, the average airfare cost is about $600 just to get there. Then accommodations, rental car (recommended in order to explore freely), dining, and access to attractions quickly add up. We haven't even mentioned accommodations though yet, and those tend to be the single largest cost for travellers.

Does Iceland Have Cheap Hotels?

A decent hotel room in a nice area suitable for two adults costs easily $300 a night in Iceland. More premium and luxury accommodations quickly pass $400 a night. So for one week you'll easily pay more than $2000 for hotel accommodations, as cheap hotels are not really a thing here. Are Airbnb and other vacation rental sites less expensive? They can be.

If you want you can choose a lower cost option with some nice private rooms in homes priced at around $125 a night. An improvement...but with fees incured you can easily pay $1000 for the week. So what is the cheapest way to stay in Iceland? You guessed it...a home exchange. With HomeExchange, a one time annual fee of just $220 can unlock an exchange in Iceland and unlimited exchanges around the world for an entire year.

Is There HomeExchange in Iceland?

Absolutely! For just $220 with HomeExchange you can cover the costs of accommodation in Iceland for not only a week, but even longer if you want! With so much to see, it's not hard to find reasons to stay a while. Thanks so the home exchange process, budget certainly won't be the reason you can't stay and explore. Currently, there are over 1000 homes in the HomeExchange network in Iceland. These range from private rooms, to apartments and entire homes. While there are many in and around Reykjavík, the capital, you can find homes all over the island near different points of interests.

HomeExchange in Iceland works just like HomeExchange around the rest of the world. With our global community, you can organise a reciprocal exchange with a member in Iceland. If a reciprocal exchange isn't possible, you can use GuestPoints you've earned towards your stay by hosting other members in your own home before. The bonus? Similar to Scandinavians, Icelanders are known for great design which is often reflected in their living spaces, so not only is the country beautiful to visit but there is an abundance of beautiful homes to be appreciated.

HomeExchange Experiences in Iceland...

Want to know what some of our members had to say about their holidays in Iceland? Check out these reviews and more than 14,000 others over on TrustPilot that have earned us 4.7 / 5 stars...

"Home exchange makes our dreams come true! We've been HomeExchangers for 15 months only but we couldn't do without it now! This system has allowed us to spend 12 days in Paris, and to make a stunning 3 weeks trip to Iceland in July 2018 which we couldn't have afforded renting accomodations in otherwise." - Max, France

"We have been on 16 home exchanges in all, as far north as Iceland and as far south as South Africa. The people of HomeExchange.com have always been helpful and quick to answer any questions we have had. Our lives have been much improved through this service, we never would have believed that we could travel to so many places, near and far." - Beverley & Don, USA

"This is our second year of using Home Exchange and we love this way of travelling. It has opened up countries that previously we would not have considered for our holidays - the most recent being Iceland. The platform is easy to use and the support team are incredibly helpful and quick to sort out any issues." - Rachel, Ireland

Don't get burned on high prices when traveling to Iceland! Travel dreams are made possible by saving big with HomeExchange. Signing up is free so nothing is stopping you to start planning a trip to Iceland and explore all this amazing country has to offer...