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: $1,588 in Grundarfjordur versus $3,533 in Selfoss.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,825 in Grundarfjordur versus $2,478 in Selfoss.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,061 in Grundarfjordur versus $1,422 in Selfoss.

Living in Grundarfjordur costs roughly 55% less than in Selfoss, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grundarfjordur 18% above, Selfoss 163% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.64 ISK 3,306

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 ISK 17.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.65 ISK 2,811

$19.63 ISK 2,436

15.38%

Cappuccino

$6.09 ISK 756

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

$3.27 ISK 406

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ISK 315

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.03 ISK 1,617

$12.26 ISK 1,522

6.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.06 ISK 1,372

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 240

$1.75 ISK 217

10.29%

White Bread (500g)

$4.40 ISK 546

$7.42 ISK 921

-40.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.75 ISK 465

$4.32 ISK 536

-13.19%

Eggs

$6.43 ISK 798

$6.22 ISK 772

3.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.29 ISK 2,270

$16.97 ISK 2,106

7.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.07 ISK 2,987

$21.17 ISK 2,627

13.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.48 ISK 5,272

$33.10 ISK 4,108

28.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ISK 417

$2.76 ISK 343

21.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ISK 312

$2.59 ISK 321

-3.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 ISK 368

$2.57 ISK 319

15.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.10 ISK 634

$7.15 ISK 888

-28.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ISK 458

$3.14 ISK 390

17.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.41 ISK 299

$2.07 ISK 256

16.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.17 ISK 393

$3.59 ISK 446

-11.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 ISK 249

$1.34 ISK 167

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.41 ISK 1,664

$15.37 ISK 1,908

-12.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.01 ISK 2,856

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.69 ISK 459

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 ISK 414

$1.10 ISK 137

202.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.43 ISK 798

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 ISK 312

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$87.7 ISK 10.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.49 ISK 309

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

$48.0K ISK 6.0M

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

$52.3K ISK 6.5M

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

$89.0 ISK 11.0K

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

$27.15 ISK 3,369

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.7 ISK 10.4K

Cinema Ticket

$17.39 ISK 2,158

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

$326 ISK 40.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 ISK 17.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.7 ISK 7,775

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$184 ISK 22.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$269 ISK 33.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 ISK 357.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,136 ISK 141.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

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

Last update for Grundarfjordur: June 7, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: June 8, 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 122% in total monthly costs ($1,588 vs $3,533 including rent). Grundarfjordur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,383 in Grundarfjordur and $5,299 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 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,588 per month in Grundarfjordur versus $3,533 in Selfoss – a 122% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,588 in Grundarfjordur versus $3,533 in Selfoss, a $1,000 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 122% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.