Updated in May 2025: The article has been updated to reflect prices in 2025.
For many people, an important question to get answered before coming to Iceland is how much is a pint or how much is a beer? There are several alternatives and the price will also depend on whether you are thinking of traditional beers with alcohol or non-alcoholic ones, which have been gaining in popularity globally and even more so in Iceland. The main reasons why beer and alcohol in general is expensive in Iceland are high taxes and state monopoly on selling beer in retail. Let us take a closer look at prices of beers in bars, restaurants and shops. Inflation in Iceland was 4.2% in April, so the prices might have changed when you read this from their current level in May 2025.
Price Range of Beer in Bars and Restaurants
A small lager beer (0.33 L) on draft at a restaurant in Iceland will typically cost around 1200 ISK (8 EUR/9 USD) while a large beer could cost around 1750 ISK (12 EUR/14 USD)
On happy hour, the price may be down to around 1000 ISK (7 EUR/8 USD) for a large beer.
Prices in Vínbúðin (The State Monopoly Stores)
The cheapest 33 cl beer in Vínbúðin costs 199 ISK (Albani Odense Pilsner) and the cheapest half litre beer is Karpackie Pils from Poland for 309 ISK (2 EUR/2 USD). Better known brands like Tuborg Grön 50 cl cost 389 ISK and a Heineken of the same size costs 479 ISK and Carlsberg 449 ISK.
Prices in Grocery Stores
The beer sold in grocery stores in Iceland is without alcohol (or maximum 2.25%) which makes it exempt from the heavy taxation on alcoholic drinks. Therefore (and due to bigger competition), the prices are much lower. Through the years, several attempts have been made to legalise the sale of alcoholic beverages in grocery stores in Iceland, but those have all failed to date, as there has never been a majority for it in parliament.
Among the best non-alcoholic beers are Bóndi from Víking and Víking Lite Lime, these cost around 260 ISK (2 EUR/2 USD) for a small can (0.33 cl).
Alcohol Tax in Iceland
The tax on alcohol in Iceland is high in global comparison and has been increasing. Two thirds of the price of a beer are taxes and fees paid to the state.
Icelandic Beers and Breweries
The variety of Icelandic beers has exploded in the past 10-15 years, since the first microbrewery opened in North Iceland in 2006. Kaldi is brewed in Árskógssandur, a small village close to Akureyri and today they offer brewery tours, operate beer baths in Árskógssandur and a bar in Reykjavík. Brewery tours are available for 3500 ISK per person.
Gæðingur in Kópavogur in the capital area runs brewery tours by request for 4900 ISK with a minimum of five participants. They opened the first Icelandic craft beer bar, called Microbar Reykjavík downtown.
Dokkan brugghús in Ísafjörður started in 2018 and the main ingredient is spring water from the mountains in the Westfjords, filtered through 14 million years old lava beds. They have a small bar on location where you can taste the different types of beer.
Beljandi brewery and bar is located in Breiðdalsvík in East Iceland. It usually offers 4 to 5 beers at a time. It is mostly sold on location but also in several places in the east in the summer and can be found in Reykjavík and Akureyri from time to time.
The best known Icelandic lager beers are Egils Gull, Thule and Víking gylltur.
- See also our detailed coverage of the best breweries in Iceland
Conclusion
To sum up, here are the main points:
- The cheapest beer you can get in Iceland is without alcohol (or max 2.25%) in grocery stores
- Common price for a large beer (0.5 L) in a bar or restaurant is 1750 ISK and for a small beer (0.33 L) 1200 ISK
- In the state monopoly stores (Vínbúðin), the cheapest 0.5 L beer costs 199 ISK while popular brands are priced as follows:
- Tuborg lager (0.5 L) 389 ISK (2.7 EUR/3 USD)
- Heineken (0.5 L) 479 ISK (3.3 EUR/3.7 USD)
- Carlsberg (0.5 L) 449 ISK (3.1 EUR/3.5 USD)
- Guinness (0.44 L) 499 ISK (3.4 EUR/3.9 USD)
Related:
Too many choices? Get familiar with the beer scene in Iceland by joining a guided tour in Reykjavík:
