Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hella and Selfoss

For one person, living is cheaper in Hella: $1,723 a month against $3,397 in Selfoss, rent and utilities included – about $20,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Selfoss outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Hella, Iceland
Selfoss, Iceland
Hella
🇮🇸 Iceland
$1,723
/mo nomad
Selfoss
🇮🇸 Iceland
$3,397
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hella and in Selfoss

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hella and in Selfoss actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,723 per month in Hella vs $3,397 in Selfoss, rent included.

  • Hella $1,723
  • Selfoss $3,397

A couple spends around $2,927 per month in Hella vs $2,424 in Selfoss, rent included.

  • Hella $2,927
  • Selfoss $2,424

A family of three spends $4,131 per month in Hella vs $1,451 in Selfoss, rent included.

  • Hella $4,131
  • Selfoss $1,451

Hella is about 49% cheaper than Selfoss.

Both Hella and Selfoss sit above the global median – Hella by 27%, Selfoss by 151%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hella
Selfoss
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.22 ISK 3,790
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121 ISK 14.7K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$27.24 ISK 3,307
$20.19 ISK 2,451
34.92%
Cappuccino
$6.89 ISK 836
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 ISK 395
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 ISK 374
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$14.16 ISK 1,719
$12.45 ISK 1,511
13.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.30 ISK 1,493
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hella
Selfoss
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 ISK 243
$1.76 ISK 214
13.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.30 ISK 522
$7.43 ISK 902
-42.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.66 ISK 444
$4.37 ISK 531
-16.25%
Eggs
$7.27 ISK 883
$6.34 ISK 770
14.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.85 ISK 2,652
$16.92 ISK 2,054
29.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.10 ISK 2,925
$21.39 ISK 2,597
12.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.15 ISK 4,995
$33.81 ISK 4,104
21.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 ISK 408
$2.83 ISK 343
18.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 ISK 343
$2.59 ISK 314
9.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.21 ISK 390
$2.68 ISK 325
19.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.56 ISK 797
$7.37 ISK 895
-10.99%
Potato (1kg)
$3.91 ISK 475
$3.11 ISK 378
25.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.69 ISK 205
$2.16 ISK 262
-21.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.64 ISK 442
$3.49 ISK 424
4.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ISK 223
$1.40 ISK 170
30.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.97 ISK 1,696
$15.52 ISK 1,884
-9.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.32 ISK 2,832
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.66 ISK 445
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 ISK 423
$1.16 ISK 141
200.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Hella
Selfoss
Difference
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.76 ISK 821
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.75 ISK 333
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$80.8 ISK 9,805
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.10 ISK 255
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.9K ISK 8.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$56.3K ISK 6.8M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hella
Selfoss
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.8 ISK 11.8K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.49 ISK 3,944
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.0 ISK 10.3K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hella
Selfoss
Difference
Cinema Ticket
$19.81 ISK 2,405
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hella
Selfoss
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,205 ISK 146.3K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.4K ISK 3.1M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hella
Selfoss
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$150 ISK 18.2K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.8 ISK 8,105
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$185 ISK 22.4K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$252 ISK 30.6K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hella
Selfoss
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,756 ISK 334.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hella
Selfoss
Difference
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
0
-

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

Last update for Hella: November 2, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Hella
$619
Selfoss
–
Eating Out
Hella
$535
Selfoss
–
Clothing & Footwear
Hella
$294
Selfoss
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hella
$214
Selfoss
–
Sport & Entertainment
Hella
$40 *
Selfoss
–
Getting Around
Hella
$20 *
Selfoss
–
Accommodation & Living
Hella
- *
Selfoss
–

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Hella
🇮🇸 Selfoss
🕒 Local time
05:49 5:49 AM
05:49 5:49 AM
Same time as Hella
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
900
9,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hella Selfoss 32 km
From you
  • Hella
  • Selfoss

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
What salary covers living expenses in Hella compared to Selfoss?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,584 per month in Hella and $5,095 in Selfoss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hella or Selfoss?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,723 in Hella and $3,397 in Selfoss. That makes Hella about 49% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Selfoss – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Hella, where all-in costs run around $1,723, than in Selfoss at $3,397. In Hella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Selfoss it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Hella and Selfoss?
It depends on your priorities. Selfoss has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,723 in Hella to $3,397 in Selfoss. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Hella vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?