Cost of Living Comparison Between Kopavogur and Selfoss Cost of Living Comparison Between Kopavogur and Selfoss

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,718 per month in Kopavogur vs $3,564 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,892 per month in Kopavogur vs $2,499 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,066 per month in Kopavogur vs $1,435 in Selfoss, rent included.

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

Both Kopavogur and Selfoss sit above the global median – Kopavogur by 28%, Selfoss by 166%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.41 ISK 3,234

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.7 ISK 11.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.29 ISK 2,729

$20.26 ISK 2,481

10.02%

Cappuccino

$6.17 ISK 755

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

$2.05 ISK 251

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ISK 309

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.36 ISK 1,268

$12.03 ISK 1,473

-13.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.07 ISK 1,355

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ISK 211

$1.74 ISK 213

-1.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.29 ISK 525

$7.26 ISK 889

-40.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.66 ISK 449

$4.53 ISK 555

-19.21%

Eggs

$6.23 ISK 763

$6.29 ISK 770

-0.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.81 ISK 2,181

$16.50 ISK 2,021

7.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.90 ISK 2,926

$20.92 ISK 2,561

14.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$42.54 ISK 5,209

$33.41 ISK 4,091

27.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 ISK 393

$2.70 ISK 331

18.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 ISK 310

$2.62 ISK 320

-3.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ISK 368

$2.57 ISK 314

16.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.92 ISK 603

$7.17 ISK 878

-31.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.59 ISK 440

$3.19 ISK 391

12.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ISK 300

$2.05 ISK 251

19.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.14 ISK 385

$3.52 ISK 431

-10.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 ISK 237

$1.38 ISK 169

40.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.89 ISK 1,701

$14.96 ISK 1,832

-7.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.73 ISK 2,784

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.69 ISK 451

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ISK 404

$1.15 ISK 140

186.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.49 ISK 550

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.3 ISK 8,726

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 ISK 725

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 ISK 322

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.6 ISK 10.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.54 ISK 311

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

$47.0K ISK 5.8M

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

$53.3K ISK 6.5M

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

$87.8 ISK 10.8K

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

$27.64 ISK 3,384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.9 ISK 10.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.9 ISK 8,440

Cinema Ticket

$16.65 ISK 2,039

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

$326 ISK 39.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$137 ISK 16.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.9 ISK 6,358

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$162 ISK 19.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$264 ISK 32.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,864 ISK 350.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,751 ISK 826.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,553 ISK 802.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,391 ISK 660.1K

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 Kopavogur: April 27, 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

Kopavogur vs Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss costs about 107% more than Kopavogur, 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 $2,577 per month in Kopavogur 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 $1,718 in Kopavogur 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 Kopavogur, where all-in costs run around $1,718, than in Selfoss at $3,564. In Kopavogur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Selfoss it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kopavogur – 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 Kopavogur. 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.