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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,627 per month in Hella vs $3,462 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,850 per month in Hella vs $2,428 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,074 per month in Hella vs $1,394 in Selfoss, rent included.

Hella is about 53% cheaper than Selfoss, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hella and Selfoss sit above the global median – Hella by 22%, Selfoss by 160%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.50 ISK 3,276

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 18.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.27 ISK 2,753

$20.38 ISK 2,519

9.27%

Cappuccino

$6.01 ISK 743

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

$3.26 ISK 403

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ISK 312

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.63 ISK 1,561

$11.83 ISK 1,462

6.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.04 ISK 1,365

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ISK 240

$1.74 ISK 215

11.49%

White Bread (500g)

$4.30 ISK 532

$7.09 ISK 876

-39.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 ISK 462

$4.28 ISK 529

-12.62%

Eggs

$6.40 ISK 791

$6.43 ISK 795

-0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.20 ISK 2,250

$16.96 ISK 2,096

7.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.23 ISK 2,995

$20.63 ISK 2,549

17.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.93 ISK 5,183

$32.75 ISK 4,047

28.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 ISK 398

$2.69 ISK 333

19.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 ISK 314

$2.65 ISK 328

-4.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 375

$2.61 ISK 323

16.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 ISK 612

$7.27 ISK 898

-31.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ISK 439

$3.18 ISK 393

11.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 ISK 286

$2.07 ISK 256

11.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 ISK 387

$3.56 ISK 440

-12.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 ISK 241

$1.38 ISK 171

41.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.41 ISK 1,658

$15.41 ISK 1,904

-12.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.81 ISK 2,820

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 ISK 439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 ISK 416

$1.14 ISK 141

194.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ISK 803

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.61 ISK 323

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$84.9 ISK 10.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.47 ISK 305

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

$48.2K ISK 6.0M

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

$52.6K ISK 6.5M

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

$88.7 ISK 11.0K

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

$27.34 ISK 3,380

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.8 ISK 10.4K

Cinema Ticket

$17.86 ISK 2,208

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

$317 ISK 39.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 ISK 17.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.7 ISK 7,748

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$261 ISK 32.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,903 ISK 358.8K

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: 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

Hella vs Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss costs about 113% 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 $2,440 per month in Hella 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 $1,627 in Hella and $3,462 in Selfoss. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% 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 $1,627, than in Selfoss at $3,462. 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.