Iceland uses the Icelandic króna (ISK). Every price you see, from a hot dog to a campsite, is in krónur, and you will pay almost everything by card. Here is how to read the numbers quickly and what things actually cost on a campervan trip.
The quick conversion
The easy way to think about it: 1,000 ISK is about $8, €7 or £6.
| ISK | USD | EUR | GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 ISK | $8 | €7 | £6 |
| 5,000 ISK | $41 | €37 | £31 |
| 10,000 ISK | $82 | €73 | £62 |
| 50,000 ISK | $410 | €367 | £310 |
Rates from October 2026. They move a little every day; your banking app or the converter at Landsbankinn shows today's rate.
What things cost on a campervan trip
| Item | Price in ISK | About in USD / EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel, per litre | 240–290 ISK | $2.00–2.40 / €1.75–2.10 |
| Filling a camper (about 60 litres) | 15,000–17,500 ISK | $125–145 / €110–130 |
| Campsite, per adult per night | 2,000–3,000 ISK | $16–25 / €15–22 |
| A day of groceries for two (Bónus or Krónan) | 5,000–7,000 ISK | $41–57 / €37–51 |
| Coffee | 600–800 ISK | $5–7 / €4–6 |
| Hot dog | 700–800 ISK | $6–7 / €5–6 |
| Local swimming pool | 1,200–1,800 ISK | $10–15 / €9–13 |
| Beer at a bar | 1,500–2,000 ISK | $12–16 / €11–15 |
| Main course at a restaurant | 4,000–6,000 ISK | $33–49 / €29–44 |
Approximate prices from 2026. Groceries and campsites are where a campervan trip saves the most: cooking your own dinner costs a fraction of a restaurant meal, and a campsite costs far less than a hotel room.
Cards, not cash
Iceland is close to cashless. Supermarkets, fuel stations, campsites, cafés and even many public toilets take cards, and contactless payment (tap to pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay) works almost everywhere. Most visitors never take out any krónur at all.
- Visa and Mastercard work everywhere. American Express is accepted less often, so bring a second card.
- US dollars, euros and pounds are not accepted in shops. Don't bring foreign cash to spend.
- When the card machine asks "pay in ISK or in your currency?", choose ISK. Paying in your own currency lets the shop's bank set the exchange rate, and it is almost always worse than your own bank's.
- If you want a little cash anyway, use an ATM at a bank. Skip the exchange counters at the airport.
Paying for fuel
Many fuel stations in Iceland are unmanned, especially outside towns. You pay at the pump, and the pump asks for your card's PIN.
- Check before you travel that you know your card's PIN. Some US cards don't have one, or the pump refuses them.
- If your card doesn't work, buy a prepaid fuel card in the shop of a staffed station (N1, Olís, Orkan), and use it at any pump of that brand.
- The pump first reserves an amount on your card and then charges only what you filled. The reservation disappears after a few days.
Where fuel is cheapest: prices change daily and differ between companies by up to 45 ISK a litre. Costco near Reykjavík is usually the cheapest, followed by Orkan, Atlantsolía and ÓB. N1 and Olís list higher prices. Aurbjörg shows live prices at every station in the country.
Every Foxie camper comes with our N1 fuel-discount keychain, which takes money off every litre at N1 stations. That evens out N1's higher pump price, and N1 has staffed stations all around the Ring Road. Our map of gas stations in Iceland shows where they all are.
Is Iceland expensive?
Eating out and hotels are expensive. A campervan trip doesn't have to be. Your bed, kitchen and transport are one price, campsites are cheap, and the supermarkets, especially Bónus and Krónan, cost about the same as in many European countries. Our grocery guide shows where to shop.
Money-saving tips
- Shop at Bónus or Krónan and cook in the camper.
- Use the N1 keychain, or fill up at the cheaper companies when you pass one.
- Drink tap water. It is some of the cleanest in the world and free.
- Swim at the local pools (1,200–1,800 ISK) instead of only the famous lagoons.
- Tipping is not expected in Iceland. Service is included in the price.