Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Selfoss

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,704 a month against $3,460 in Selfoss, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Selfoss outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

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Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,704

/mo nomad

Selfoss

🇮🇸 Iceland

$3,460

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Selfoss

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Selfoss actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $3,460 in Selfoss.

Austin, TX $2,704
Selfoss $3,460

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $2,461 in Selfoss.

Austin, TX $4,133
Selfoss $2,461

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $1,462 in Selfoss.

Austin, TX $5,562
Selfoss $1,462

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 22% less than in Selfoss, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Selfoss 158% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.0 $85.0

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 $12.35

$20.81 ISK 2,536

-40.65%

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 $3.82

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 $8.06

$12.20 ISK 1,487

-33.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.99 $8.99

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.79 ISK 219

-36.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$7.61 ISK 927

-50.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$4.46 ISK 544

-27.13%

Eggs

$4.14 $4.14

$6.56 ISK 800

-36.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.08 $13.08

$17.24 ISK 2,101

-24.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.31 $14.31

$21.77 ISK 2,653

-34.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.96 $15.96

$33.50 ISK 4,082

-52.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.72 ISK 332

61.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$2.75 ISK 335

-47.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$2.65 ISK 323

71.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$7.51 ISK 915

-44.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$3.21 ISK 391

-18.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.18 ISK 266

8.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

$3.60 ISK 438

-51.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.44 ISK 175

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

$15.97 ISK 1,946

-38.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 $14.72

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$1.17 ISK 143

197.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.51 $40.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.29 $35.29

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.8K $35.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.2K $27.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$219 $219

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$58.0 $58.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 $68.4

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 $57.9

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.82 $14.82

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 $14.13

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,509 $1,509

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.05 $44.05

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 $85.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,932 $1,932

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 $1,272

$2,820 ISK 343.6K

-54.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,670 $3,670

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,525 $2,525

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,617 $7,617

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,199 $3,199

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,105 $5,105

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.2%

Selfoss

–

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$403 15.3%

Selfoss

–

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$348 13.2%

Selfoss

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$346 13.1%

Selfoss

–

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$129 4.9%

Selfoss

–

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.3%

Selfoss

–

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$57 2.2%

Selfoss

–

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇮🇸 Selfoss

🕒 Local time

01:15 1:15 AM

06:15 6:15 AM

5 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

9,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Icelandic Króna ISK kr

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

1,000 ISK = 8.21 USD

1,000 ISK = 7.32 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ISK, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇮🇸 Icelandic Króna (kr)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 122 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.21 USD). 1 EUR = 137 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.32 EUR).

ISK to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Austin, TX Selfoss 6,370 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Selfoss

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Selfoss. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,055 in Austin, TX and $5,190 in Selfoss to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $3,460 in Selfoss – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $3,460 in Selfoss, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Austin, TX but tight or insufficient in Selfoss. The gap between the two cities makes Austin, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Selfoss are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.