Cost of Living Comparison Between Hafnarfjordur and Selfoss Cost of Living Comparison Between Hafnarfjordur and Selfoss

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $3,533 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,235 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $2,478 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,808 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $1,422 in Selfoss, rent included.

Hafnarfjordur costs about 4% more than Selfoss, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hafnarfjordur and Selfoss sit above the global median – Hafnarfjordur by 172%, Selfoss by 163%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.17 ISK 3,383

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 ISK 18.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.06 ISK 2,000

$19.63 ISK 2,444

-18.19%

Cappuccino

$6.26 ISK 779

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

$3.33 ISK 414

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ISK 312

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.85 ISK 1,599

$12.26 ISK 1,527

4.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.35 ISK 1,413

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 ISK 209

$1.75 ISK 218

-4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.25 ISK 529

$7.42 ISK 924

-42.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 ISK 443

$4.32 ISK 538

-17.59%

Eggs

$6.51 ISK 810

$6.22 ISK 774

4.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.32 ISK 2,281

$16.97 ISK 2,113

7.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.43 ISK 3,042

$21.17 ISK 2,635

15.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.97 ISK 5,225

$33.10 ISK 4,121

26.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ISK 417

$2.76 ISK 344

21.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 ISK 306

$2.59 ISK 322

-5.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.02 ISK 376

$2.57 ISK 320

17.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.05 ISK 629

$7.15 ISK 891

-29.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ISK 444

$3.14 ISK 391

13.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ISK 305

$2.07 ISK 257

18.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 ISK 397

$3.59 ISK 447

-11.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 ISK 250

$1.34 ISK 167

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.54 ISK 1,686

$15.37 ISK 1,914

-11.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.20 ISK 2,888

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.70 ISK 460

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ISK 405

$1.10 ISK 137

195.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.09 ISK 634

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.4 ISK 10.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.25 ISK 778

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 ISK 328

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.6 ISK 10.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.49 ISK 311

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

$48.1K ISK 6.0M

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

$52.4K ISK 6.5M

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

$68.0 ISK 8,465

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

$27.22 ISK 3,389

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 ISK 10.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.7 ISK 8,053

Cinema Ticket

$16.66 ISK 2,074

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

$325 ISK 40.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$119 ISK 14.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.5 ISK 7,778

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ISK 14.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$266 ISK 33.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,423 ISK 301.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 ISK 253.6K

$2,884 ISK 359.0K

-29.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,250 ISK 404.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,547 ISK 317.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,850 ISK 852.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,826 ISK 849.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,665 ISK 580.8K

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 Hafnarfjordur: 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

Hafnarfjordur vs Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hafnarfjordur costs about 4% more than Selfoss, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,492 per month in Hafnarfjordur and $5,299 in Selfoss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,661 in Hafnarfjordur and $3,533 in Selfoss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Hafnarfjordur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Selfoss, where all-in costs run around $3,533, than in Hafnarfjordur at $3,661. In Selfoss it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hafnarfjordur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Selfoss – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Selfoss. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hafnarfjordur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.