Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Grundarfjordur and Selfoss

For one person, living is cheaper in Grundarfjordur: $1,713 a month against $3,416 in Selfoss, rent and utilities included – about $20,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Selfoss outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Grundarfjordur, Iceland
Selfoss, Iceland
Grundarfjordur
🇮🇸 Iceland
$1,713
/mo nomad
Selfoss
🇮🇸 Iceland
$3,416
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Grundarfjordur 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 Grundarfjordur and in Selfoss actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,713 in Grundarfjordur versus $3,416 in Selfoss.

  • Grundarfjordur $1,713
  • Selfoss $3,416

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,918 in Grundarfjordur versus $2,439 in Selfoss.

  • Grundarfjordur $2,918
  • Selfoss $2,439

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,122 in Grundarfjordur versus $1,461 in Selfoss.

  • Grundarfjordur $4,122
  • Selfoss $1,461

Living in Grundarfjordur costs roughly 50% less than in Selfoss.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grundarfjordur 26% above, Selfoss 151% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grundarfjordur
Selfoss
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.53 ISK 3,720
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$124 ISK 15.1K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$27.06 ISK 3,298
$20.39 ISK 2,484
32.71%
Cappuccino
$6.61 ISK 805
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 ISK 407
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 ISK 370
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$14.17 ISK 1,726
$12.18 ISK 1,484
16.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.21 ISK 1,488
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grundarfjordur
Selfoss
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 ISK 255
$1.77 ISK 216
18.08%
White Bread (500g)
$4.11 ISK 501
$7.65 ISK 932
-46.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.73 ISK 455
$4.55 ISK 554
-18.02%
Eggs
$6.93 ISK 845
$6.49 ISK 790
6.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.76 ISK 2,651
$17.25 ISK 2,101
26.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.62 ISK 2,999
$21.56 ISK 2,627
14.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.23 ISK 5,145
$33.60 ISK 4,093
25.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 ISK 403
$2.83 ISK 344
16.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 ISK 337
$2.70 ISK 329
2.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.16 ISK 385
$2.72 ISK 331
16.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.32 ISK 770
$7.25 ISK 884
-12.83%
Potato (1kg)
$4.01 ISK 488
$3.24 ISK 395
23.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 ISK 201
$2.07 ISK 253
-20.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.84 ISK 467
$3.70 ISK 450
3.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ISK 216
$1.34 ISK 164
32.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.16 ISK 1,725
$15.61 ISK 1,902
-9.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.44 ISK 2,856
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.69 ISK 450
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 ISK 424
$1.15 ISK 140
202.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Grundarfjordur
Selfoss
Difference
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.59 ISK 802
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.80 ISK 341
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$80.5 ISK 9,808
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 ISK 256
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$68.8K ISK 8.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.0K ISK 6.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grundarfjordur
Selfoss
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.0 ISK 11.8K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.92 ISK 4,011
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.2 ISK 10.5K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grundarfjordur
Selfoss
Difference
Cinema Ticket
$19.36 ISK 2,359
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grundarfjordur
Selfoss
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,182 ISK 144.0K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.3K ISK 3.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grundarfjordur
Selfoss
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$148 ISK 18.0K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.1 ISK 8,059
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$185 ISK 22.5K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$247 ISK 30.1K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grundarfjordur
Selfoss
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,771 ISK 337.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,098 ISK 133.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grundarfjordur
Selfoss
Difference
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
0
-

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

Last update for Grundarfjordur: October 24, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Grundarfjordur
$621
Selfoss
–
Eating Out
Grundarfjordur
$525
Selfoss
–
Clothing & Footwear
Grundarfjordur
$291
Selfoss
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grundarfjordur
$216
Selfoss
–
Sport & Entertainment
Grundarfjordur
$39 *
Selfoss
–
Getting Around
Grundarfjordur
$21 *
Selfoss
–
Accommodation & Living
Grundarfjordur
- *
Selfoss
–

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Grundarfjordur
🇮🇸 Selfoss
🕒 Local time
09:27 9:27 AM
09:27 9:27 AM
Same time as Grundarfjordur
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
800
9,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 122 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.21 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Grundarfjordur Selfoss 150 km
From you
  • Grundarfjordur
  • 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
Grundarfjordur vs Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Grundarfjordur and in Selfoss?
You’d need roughly $2,570 in Grundarfjordur and $5,124 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Grundarfjordur or in Selfoss?
Shoppers in Selfoss pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Grundarfjordur compared to Selfoss?
All in, you’ll spend $1,713 per month in Grundarfjordur versus $3,416 in Selfoss – a 99% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Grundarfjordur or in Selfoss?
At $1,713 in Grundarfjordur versus $3,416 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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Grundarfjordur or Selfoss?
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.
How safe is Grundarfjordur compared to Selfoss?
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.

Grundarfjordur vs other spots: cost of living compared

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