Cost of Living Comparison Between Hella and Selfoss Cost of Living Comparison Between Hella and Selfoss

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,637 per month in Hella vs $3,564 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,843 per month in Hella vs $2,499 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,048 per month in Hella vs $1,435 in Selfoss, rent included.

Hella is about 54% cheaper than Selfoss, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hella and Selfoss sit above the global median – Hella by 22%, Selfoss by 166%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.19 ISK 3,329

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 17.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.26 ISK 2,726

$20.26 ISK 2,481

9.87%

Cappuccino

$6.27 ISK 768

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

$3.29 ISK 403

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ISK 306

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.92 ISK 1,583

$12.03 ISK 1,473

7.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.32 ISK 1,386

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 237

$1.74 ISK 214

10.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.36 ISK 534

$7.26 ISK 889

-39.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.61 ISK 442

$4.53 ISK 555

-20.31%

Eggs

$6.31 ISK 773

$6.29 ISK 770

0.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.91 ISK 2,193

$16.50 ISK 2,021

8.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.63 ISK 2,893

$20.92 ISK 2,562

12.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.77 ISK 5,238

$33.41 ISK 4,092

28.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ISK 396

$2.70 ISK 331

20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 ISK 296

$2.62 ISK 321

-7.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 ISK 381

$2.57 ISK 314

21.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 ISK 596

$7.17 ISK 878

-32.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.64 ISK 446

$3.19 ISK 391

14.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 ISK 293

$2.05 ISK 251

16.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 ISK 377

$3.52 ISK 431

-12.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 ISK 236

$1.38 ISK 169

39.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.41 ISK 1,643

$14.96 ISK 1,833

-10.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.12 ISK 2,832

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.64 ISK 445

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ISK 409

$1.15 ISK 140

190.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 ISK 798

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.52 ISK 308

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.3 ISK 10.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.57 ISK 314

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

$48.2K ISK 5.9M

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

$52.7K ISK 6.5M

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

$89.3 ISK 10.9K

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

$27.34 ISK 3,348

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.0 ISK 10.7K

Cinema Ticket

$17.63 ISK 2,159

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

$318 ISK 39.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ISK 7,422

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$262 ISK 32.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,864 ISK 350.8K

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 Hella: April 28, 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

Hella vs Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss costs about 118% more than Hella, 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 $2,456 per month in Hella 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 $1,637 in Hella and $3,564 in Selfoss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Selfoss – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Hella, where all-in costs run around $1,637, than in Selfoss at $3,564. In Hella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Selfoss it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hella – 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 Hella. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Selfoss makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.