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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,619 per month in Hella vs $3,533 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,788 per month in Hella vs $2,478 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,958 per month in Hella vs $1,422 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 20%, Selfoss by 163%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.32 ISK 3,401

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 ISK 18.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.68 ISK 2,823

$19.63 ISK 2,444

15.54%

Cappuccino

$6.15 ISK 765

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

$3.35 ISK 417

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ISK 316

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.72 ISK 1,583

$12.26 ISK 1,527

3.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.15 ISK 1,388

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 241

$1.75 ISK 218

10.29%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 ISK 522

$7.42 ISK 924

-43.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.67 ISK 457

$4.32 ISK 538

-15.05%

Eggs

$6.31 ISK 786

$6.22 ISK 774

1.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.19 ISK 2,265

$16.97 ISK 2,113

7.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.53 ISK 3,053

$21.17 ISK 2,635

15.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.71 ISK 5,193

$33.10 ISK 4,121

26.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ISK 418

$2.76 ISK 344

21.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 ISK 312

$2.59 ISK 322

-3.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 378

$2.57 ISK 320

18.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 ISK 611

$7.15 ISK 891

-31.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 ISK 459

$3.14 ISK 391

17.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 ISK 301

$2.07 ISK 257

16.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 ISK 397

$3.59 ISK 447

-11.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 ISK 247

$1.34 ISK 167

48.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.60 ISK 1,693

$15.37 ISK 1,914

-11.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.47 ISK 2,922

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 ISK 463

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ISK 415

$1.10 ISK 137

203.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 ISK 777

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 ISK 331

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.8 ISK 10.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.43 ISK 302

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

$47.5K ISK 5.9M

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

$51.3K ISK 6.4M

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

$89.4 ISK 11.1K

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

$27.68 ISK 3,446

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.5 ISK 10.6K

Cinema Ticket

$17.43 ISK 2,170

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

$316 ISK 39.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 ISK 7,609

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$186 ISK 23.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$271 ISK 33.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 ISK 359.0K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: June 8, 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 $2,428 per month in Hella and $5,299 in Selfoss. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,619 in Hella and $3,533 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 $1,619, than in Selfoss at $3,533. 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.