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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,694 per month in Hella vs $3,496 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,923 per month in Hella vs $2,470 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Hella vs $1,444 in Selfoss, rent included.

Hella is about 52% cheaper than Selfoss, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hella and Selfoss sit above the global median – Hella by 24%, Selfoss by 156%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.93 ISK 3,645

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$137 ISK 16.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$26.99 ISK 3,287

$20.93 ISK 2,549

28.95%

Cappuccino

$6.87 ISK 837

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

$3.25 ISK 396

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ISK 392

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.88 ISK 1,690

$12.41 ISK 1,512

11.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.29 ISK 1,497

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 ISK 259

$1.76 ISK 215

20.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.32 ISK 526

$7.28 ISK 886

-40.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.69 ISK 450

$4.49 ISK 546

-17.82%

Eggs

$7.01 ISK 854

$6.59 ISK 802

6.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.12 ISK 2,573

$17.00 ISK 2,071

24.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.72 ISK 3,011

$21.05 ISK 2,564

17.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.94 ISK 5,230

$34.45 ISK 4,196

24.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ISK 408

$2.74 ISK 333

22.26%

Banana (1kg)

$2.92 ISK 356

$2.70 ISK 329

8.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.16 ISK 385

$2.64 ISK 321

19.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.25 ISK 762

$7.04 ISK 857

-11.22%

Potato (1kg)

$4.13 ISK 504

$3.27 ISK 398

26.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 ISK 202

$2.17 ISK 264

-23.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.81 ISK 465

$3.56 ISK 433

7.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ISK 214

$1.42 ISK 173

23.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.87 ISK 1,690

$15.55 ISK 1,894

-10.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.10 ISK 2,936

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.79 ISK 462

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 ISK 410

$1.18 ISK 144

185.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 ISK 827

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.83 ISK 345

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$74.9 ISK 9,118

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 ISK 246

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

$50.8K ISK 6.2M

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

$54.3K ISK 6.6M

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

$88.2 ISK 10.7K

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

$32.75 ISK 3,989

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.8 ISK 10.2K

Cinema Ticket

$19.68 ISK 2,396

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

$1,190 ISK 144.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$161 ISK 19.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.1 ISK 8,170

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$252 ISK 30.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 ISK 344.9K

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 Hella: September 14, 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

Hella vs Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss costs about 106% 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 $2,541 per month in Hella 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 $1,694 in Hella and $3,496 in Selfoss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% 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 $1,694, than in Selfoss at $3,496. 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.