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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,743 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $3,462 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,243 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $2,428 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,742 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $1,394 in Selfoss, rent included.

Hafnarfjordur costs about 8% more than Selfoss, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hafnarfjordur and Selfoss sit above the global median – Hafnarfjordur by 181%, Selfoss by 160%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.51 ISK 3,277

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 ISK 18.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.15 ISK 1,997

$20.38 ISK 2,519

-20.76%

Cappuccino

$5.95 ISK 735

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

$3.26 ISK 403

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ISK 323

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.64 ISK 1,562

$11.83 ISK 1,462

6.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.36 ISK 1,404

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ISK 209

$1.74 ISK 215

-2.87%

White Bread (500g)

$4.31 ISK 532

$7.09 ISK 876

-39.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 ISK 440

$4.28 ISK 529

-16.82%

Eggs

$6.21 ISK 767

$6.43 ISK 795

-3.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.06 ISK 2,232

$16.96 ISK 2,096

6.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.82 ISK 2,944

$20.63 ISK 2,549

15.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.07 ISK 5,324

$32.75 ISK 4,047

31.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ISK 414

$2.69 ISK 333

24.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.34 ISK 289

$2.65 ISK 328

-11.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.14 ISK 388

$2.61 ISK 323

20.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 ISK 622

$7.27 ISK 898

-30.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 ISK 453

$3.18 ISK 393

15.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 ISK 296

$2.07 ISK 256

15.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 ISK 380

$3.56 ISK 440

-13.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 ISK 237

$1.38 ISK 171

39.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.77 ISK 1,703

$15.41 ISK 1,904

-10.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.38 ISK 2,890

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.64 ISK 450

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ISK 397

$1.14 ISK 141

181.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.19 ISK 642

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.2 ISK 10.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.47 ISK 800

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.52 ISK 312

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.7 ISK 10.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.45 ISK 303

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

$46.5K ISK 5.7M

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

$52.0K ISK 6.4M

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

$69.5 ISK 8,589

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

$27.05 ISK 3,344

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.3 ISK 10.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.1 ISK 7,917

Cinema Ticket

$16.45 ISK 2,033

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

$321 ISK 39.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$118 ISK 14.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.9 ISK 7,527

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ISK 15.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$271 ISK 33.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,379 ISK 294.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,013 ISK 248.8K

$2,903 ISK 358.8K

-30.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,196 ISK 395.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,588 ISK 319.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,883 ISK 850.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,652 ISK 822.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,538 ISK 560.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: July 25, 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 8% 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 $5,615 per month in Hafnarfjordur and $5,192 in Selfoss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,743 in Hafnarfjordur and $3,462 in Selfoss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $3,462, than in Hafnarfjordur at $3,743. 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.