Cost of Living Comparison Between Grundarfjordur and Selfoss Cost of Living Comparison Between Grundarfjordur and Selfoss

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,715 in Grundarfjordur versus $3,620 in Selfoss.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,970 in Grundarfjordur versus $2,533 in Selfoss.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,225 in Grundarfjordur versus $1,446 in Selfoss.

Living in Grundarfjordur costs roughly 53% less than in Selfoss, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grundarfjordur 24% above, Selfoss 162% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.54 ISK 3,564

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$135 ISK 16.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$26.97 ISK 3,254

$20.86 ISK 2,517

29.29%

Cappuccino

$6.94 ISK 838

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

$3.33 ISK 401

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ISK 383

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$14.21 ISK 1,715

$12.30 ISK 1,484

15.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.21 ISK 1,473

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ISK 253

$1.73 ISK 208

21.39%

White Bread (500g)

$4.27 ISK 516

$7.67 ISK 925

-44.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.60 ISK 434

$4.62 ISK 558

-22.08%

Eggs

$7.15 ISK 863

$6.66 ISK 804

7.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.18 ISK 2,555

$17.37 ISK 2,096

21.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$25.22 ISK 3,043

$21.79 ISK 2,629

15.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.21 ISK 5,092

$33.42 ISK 4,032

26.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 ISK 414

$2.72 ISK 328

26.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.81 ISK 339

$2.71 ISK 327

3.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 ISK 397

$2.64 ISK 319

24.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.20 ISK 748

$7.16 ISK 864

-13.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 ISK 473

$3.15 ISK 380

24.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 ISK 205

$2.18 ISK 264

-22.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.70 ISK 446

$3.67 ISK 443

0.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ISK 215

$1.35 ISK 163

31.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.17 ISK 1,709

$15.90 ISK 1,918

-10.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.80 ISK 2,872

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.73 ISK 450

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 ISK 405

$1.12 ISK 135

200.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.81 ISK 821

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.86 ISK 345

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$74.8 ISK 9,019

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 232

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

$50.3K ISK 6.1M

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

$53.6K ISK 6.5M

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

$88.3 ISK 10.7K

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

$32.53 ISK 3,924

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.0 ISK 10.0K

Cinema Ticket

$19.37 ISK 2,337

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

$1,205 ISK 145.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.9K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$158 ISK 19.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.7 ISK 8,042

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$180 ISK 21.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$247 ISK 29.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,850 ISK 343.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,148 ISK 138.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.88

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

Last update for Grundarfjordur: September 6, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: September 6, 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

Grundarfjordur vs Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Grundarfjordur and Selfoss differ by about 111% in total monthly costs ($1,715 vs $3,620 including rent). Grundarfjordur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,573 in Grundarfjordur and $5,430 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.

Shoppers in Selfoss pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,715 per month in Grundarfjordur versus $3,620 in Selfoss – a 111% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,715 in Grundarfjordur versus $3,620 in Selfoss, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grundarfjordur but tight or insufficient in Selfoss. The gap between the two cities makes Grundarfjordur 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, Grundarfjordur 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 Grundarfjordur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.