Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Selfoss Cost of Living Comparison Between Barcelona and Selfoss

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,399 in Barcelona versus $3,518 in Selfoss.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in Barcelona versus $2,483 in Selfoss.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,592 in Barcelona versus $1,447 in Selfoss.

Living in Barcelona costs roughly 32% less than in Selfoss, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Barcelona 80% above, Selfoss 164% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 €15.22

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.1 €60.3

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.66 €11.76

$20.10 ISK 2,498

-32.04%

Cappuccino

$2.74 €2.36

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

$2.79 €2.40

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 €1.69

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 €3.76

$11.98 ISK 1,489

-63.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 €3.94

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 €1.11

$1.73 ISK 214

-25.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.05 €1.77

$7.26 ISK 902

-71.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 €1.71

$4.43 ISK 551

-55.30%

Eggs

$3.39 €2.92

$6.17 ISK 766

-45.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.64 €16.05

$16.57 ISK 2,059

12.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.56 €8.23

$20.62 ISK 2,562

-53.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 €16.22

$32.37 ISK 4,022

-41.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 €2.37

$2.74 ISK 340

0.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 €2.13

$2.57 ISK 320

-3.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 €1.80

$2.62 ISK 326

-19.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.82 €2.43

$7.12 ISK 885

-60.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 €1.74

$3.09 ISK 384

-34.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 €1.59

$2.07 ISK 257

-10.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 €1.30

$3.48 ISK 432

-56.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 €0.77

$1.34 ISK 166

-32.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.06 €6.08

$15.27 ISK 1,897

-53.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.98 €6.87

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 €1.23

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 €1.97

$1.14 ISK 141

100.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 €2.48

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.39 €24.45

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 €3.77

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 €1.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.15 €25.10

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.86 €1.61

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

$39.0K €33.6K

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

$32.7K €28.2K

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

$189 €163

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

$22.71 €19.56

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.51 €31.43

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.6 €49.59

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.37 €18.40

Cinema Ticket

$10.81 €9.31

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

$726 €625

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K €13.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.7 €75.5

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.89 €31.77

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 €89.2

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 €100

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,573 €1,355

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 €1,050

$2,897 ISK 359.9K

-57.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 €2,335

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,966 €1,693

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,811 €6,726

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,267 €4,535

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,375 €2,045

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

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

Last update for Barcelona: June 14, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: June 15, 2026

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

Barcelona vs Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Barcelona and Selfoss differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($2,399 vs $3,518 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,599 in Barcelona and $5,278 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 57% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,399 per month in Barcelona versus $3,518 in Selfoss – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,399 in Barcelona versus $3,518 in Selfoss, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Selfoss. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona 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, Barcelona 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 Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.