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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,667 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $3,564 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,242 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $2,499 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,816 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $1,435 in Selfoss, rent included.

Hafnarfjordur costs about 3% more than Selfoss, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hafnarfjordur and Selfoss sit above the global median – Hafnarfjordur by 174%, Selfoss by 166%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.49 ISK 3,244

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 ISK 17.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.93 ISK 1,951

$20.26 ISK 2,481

-21.37%

Cappuccino

$6.21 ISK 760

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

$3.37 ISK 413

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ISK 322

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.82 ISK 1,570

$12.03 ISK 1,473

6.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.07 ISK 1,356

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 ISK 198

$1.74 ISK 214

-7.47%

White Bread (500g)

$4.26 ISK 522

$7.26 ISK 889

-41.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.70 ISK 453

$4.53 ISK 555

-18.32%

Eggs

$6.29 ISK 770

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.50 ISK 2,266

$16.50 ISK 2,021

12.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.21 ISK 2,965

$20.92 ISK 2,562

15.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.07 ISK 5,152

$33.41 ISK 4,092

25.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ISK 396

$2.70 ISK 331

20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 ISK 294

$2.62 ISK 321

-8.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ISK 367

$2.57 ISK 314

16.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.93 ISK 603

$7.17 ISK 878

-31.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.51 ISK 430

$3.19 ISK 391

10.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.32 ISK 285

$2.05 ISK 251

13.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.16 ISK 386

$3.52 ISK 431

-10.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 ISK 237

$1.38 ISK 169

39.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.78 ISK 1,687

$14.96 ISK 1,833

-7.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.71 ISK 2,782

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.71 ISK 455

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 ISK 407

$1.15 ISK 140

188.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.00 ISK 612

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.2 ISK 10.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 ISK 772

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.61 ISK 319

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$87.5 ISK 10.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.51 ISK 308

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

$47.6K ISK 5.8M

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

$52.6K ISK 6.4M

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

$69.6 ISK 8,523

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

$27.48 ISK 3,366

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.3 ISK 10.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.1 ISK 7,731

Cinema Ticket

$16.36 ISK 2,003

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

$318 ISK 39.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$120 ISK 14.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ISK 7,423

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ISK 14.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$263 ISK 32.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,442 ISK 299.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,047 ISK 250.7K

$2,864 ISK 350.8K

-28.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,209 ISK 393.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,523 ISK 309.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,916 ISK 847.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,027 ISK 860.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,789 ISK 586.5K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: April 28, 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 3% 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 $5,501 per month in Hafnarfjordur and $5,346 in Selfoss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,667 in Hafnarfjordur and $3,564 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 $3,564, than in Hafnarfjordur at $3,667. 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.