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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,883 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $3,496 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,451 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $2,470 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,020 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $1,444 in Selfoss, rent included.

Hafnarfjordur costs about 11% more than Selfoss, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hafnarfjordur and Selfoss sit above the global median – Hafnarfjordur by 184%, Selfoss by 156%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.94 ISK 3,646

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$138 ISK 16.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.77 ISK 2,043

$20.93 ISK 2,549

-19.88%

Cappuccino

$6.76 ISK 824

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

$3.40 ISK 414

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 ISK 389

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$14.25 ISK 1,735

$12.41 ISK 1,512

14.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.40 ISK 1,510

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ISK 209

$1.76 ISK 215

-2.84%

White Bread (500g)

$4.27 ISK 521

$7.28 ISK 886

-41.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.68 ISK 448

$4.49 ISK 546

-18.04%

Eggs

$7.36 ISK 896

$6.59 ISK 802

11.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.02 ISK 2,560

$17.00 ISK 2,071

23.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$25.05 ISK 3,051

$21.05 ISK 2,564

19.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.64 ISK 5,193

$34.45 ISK 4,196

23.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ISK 410

$2.74 ISK 333

22.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 ISK 303

$2.70 ISK 329

-7.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.21 ISK 391

$2.64 ISK 321

21.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.43 ISK 783

$7.04 ISK 857

-8.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.98 ISK 484

$3.27 ISK 398

21.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 ISK 201

$2.17 ISK 264

-23.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.79 ISK 461

$3.56 ISK 433

6.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ISK 221

$1.42 ISK 173

28.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.15 ISK 1,724

$15.55 ISK 1,894

-9.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.99 ISK 2,922

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 ISK 471

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ISK 421

$1.18 ISK 144

192.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.33 ISK 649

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.0 ISK 10.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.72 ISK 818

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.80 ISK 341

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$73.9 ISK 8,997

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 235

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

$50.3K ISK 6.1M

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

$53.7K ISK 6.5M

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

$68.8 ISK 8,382

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

$33.41 ISK 4,070

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.7 ISK 10.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 ISK 8,067

Cinema Ticket

$16.76 ISK 2,042

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

$1,190 ISK 145.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.5K ISK 3.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$124 ISK 15.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.9 ISK 8,152

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 ISK 14.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$254 ISK 31.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 ISK 297.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,055 ISK 250.4K

$2,832 ISK 344.9K

-27.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,353 ISK 408.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,683 ISK 326.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,113 ISK 866.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,146 ISK 870.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,674 ISK 569.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.88

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

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: September 13, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: September 12, 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 11% 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 $5,824 per month in Hafnarfjordur and $5,244 in Selfoss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,883 in Hafnarfjordur and $3,496 in Selfoss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $3,496, than in Hafnarfjordur at $3,883. 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.