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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,758 per month in Kopavogur vs $3,533 in Selfoss, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,907 per month in Kopavogur vs $2,478 in Selfoss, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,056 per month in Kopavogur vs $1,422 in Selfoss, rent included.

Kopavogur is about 50% cheaper than Selfoss, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kopavogur and Selfoss sit above the global median – Kopavogur by 31%, Selfoss by 163%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.14 ISK 3,379

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$97.7 ISK 12.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.72 ISK 2,829

$19.63 ISK 2,444

15.74%

Cappuccino

$5.94 ISK 740

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

$2.05 ISK 255

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ISK 325

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.42 ISK 1,297

$12.26 ISK 1,527

-15.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.16 ISK 1,389

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ISK 208

$1.75 ISK 218

-4.57%

White Bread (500g)

$4.26 ISK 530

$7.42 ISK 924

-42.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.72 ISK 464

$4.32 ISK 538

-13.89%

Eggs

$6.28 ISK 782

$6.22 ISK 774

0.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.44 ISK 2,295

$16.97 ISK 2,113

8.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.79 ISK 2,962

$21.17 ISK 2,635

12.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$43.13 ISK 5,370

$33.10 ISK 4,121

30.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 ISK 404

$2.76 ISK 344

17.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 ISK 314

$2.59 ISK 322

-2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.06 ISK 381

$2.57 ISK 320

19.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.90 ISK 610

$7.15 ISK 891

-31.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.64 ISK 453

$3.14 ISK 391

15.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 ISK 290

$2.07 ISK 257

12.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.07 ISK 382

$3.59 ISK 447

-14.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 ISK 248

$1.34 ISK 167

48.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.46 ISK 1,676

$15.37 ISK 1,914

-12.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.50 ISK 2,926

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.57 ISK 444

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 ISK 401

$1.10 ISK 137

192.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.29 ISK 534

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.2 ISK 8,986

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.03 ISK 751

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 ISK 321

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.9 ISK 10.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.45 ISK 305

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)

$52.0K ISK 6.5M

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)

$27.92 ISK 3,475

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.7 ISK 10.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.8 ISK 8,811

Cinema Ticket

$16.55 ISK 2,061

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

$319 ISK 39.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 ISK 17.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.8 ISK 6,570

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$163 ISK 20.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$265 ISK 33.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 ISK 359.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,690 ISK 832.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,332 ISK 788.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,306 ISK 660.6K

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: June 8, 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

Kopavogur vs Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss costs about 101% 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 $2,637 per month in Kopavogur 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 $1,758 in Kopavogur 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 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 $1,758, than in Selfoss at $3,533. 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.