Yes, it is possible! #iceland #budgettravel #solotravel

Iceland is known for being a more expensive country to travel to. From those flights to the accommodation and restaurant prices, it’s easy to see why.

However, I’m here to tell you that IT IS possible to travel to this expensive country on a budget.

When I traveled to Iceland back in December 2024, I did purchase a few souvenirs that were on the pricier end. And I did buy dinners instead of cooking in my hostel. Things like that contributed to the higher cost of my trip. So, I don’t fall on the far end of the spectrum when it comes to budget travel.

Rather, I’m somewhere in the middle. I do budget travel and love saving money where I can. Yet, I’m not afraid to splurge a bit on activities or dinners if I think it’s worth it. I normally don’t spend much, or anything at all, on souvenirs but in Iceland I made an exception lol.

If you’re looking to truly travel and do everything on a budget for Iceland, it’s doable! Or even if you want to splurge on a thing or two for Iceland but want to keep the overall cost of the trip down, it’s definitely possible!

This is how I budgeted for my trip to Iceland. What you do will vary depending on your personal circumstances and travel preferences. Without further ado, here’s how I managed to travel to Iceland on a budget (for the most part):

• Stayed in a hostel
• Bought water/snacks from the grocery store (you can buy food to cook to cut down on restaurant costs)
• Walked or took the bus instead of a taxi/Hopp – I only took Hopp (their version of Uber) when I had to be at my tour meeting place very early in the morning or when the buses weren’t available at the time
• Traveled during the off season (December is less crowded and much cheaper)
• Used the Daily Drop Pro app to find cheap, direct, return tickets (cost me $280.15)
• Use personal or carry-on items when traveling to cut down on checked baggage costs (also makes for a cheaper ticket overall)

In combination with setting aside money for months to prepare for this trip, I was able to keep some of the costs down. If you make a few adjustments here and there, it can be even cheaper than what I spent.

I spent $1,310.75 for plane tickets, accommodation for 3 nights, tours, food, transportation, and everything else in between. It’s still a lot, don’t get me wrong. Iceland isn’t cheap no matter how you slice and dice it. But compared to how much it could’ve cost if I’d gone to a hotel, rented a car, or did other things differently, this was on the cheaper side.
Let me know how you saved money while traveling to Iceland!