Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,517 in Selfoss versus $2,434 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,487 in Selfoss versus $3,473 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,456 in Selfoss versus $4,512 in Barcelona.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 44% more expensive than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 157% above, Barcelona 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.80 €16.09

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 €59.4

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.56 ISK 2,498

$14.08 €12.05

46.02%

Cappuccino

$3.12 €2.66

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

$2.91 €2.49

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 €1.60

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.99 ISK 1,457

$4.00 €3.42

199.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.64 €3.97

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 ISK 215

$1.19 €1.02

48.74%

White Bread (500g)

$7.32 ISK 890

$2.13 €1.82

243.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 ISK 549

$1.84 €1.57

145.65%

Eggs

$6.33 ISK 768

$5.13 €4.39

23.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.95 ISK 2,059

$16.39 €14.02

3.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.73 ISK 2,519

$9.71 €8.31

113.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.89 ISK 4,118

$19.65 €16.81

72.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 ISK 328

$3.13 €2.68

-13.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.67 ISK 324

$2.18 €1.87

22.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ISK 317

$2.46 €2.11

6.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.14 ISK 867

$2.77 €2.37

157.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ISK 396

$2.12 €1.82

53.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 ISK 255

$2.23 €1.90

-5.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.62 ISK 440

$1.49 €1.27

142.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ISK 172

$0.91 €0.78

56.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.35 ISK 1,865

$7.26 €6.21

111.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.29 €7.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 €1.32

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 ISK 135

$2.68 €2.30

-58.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.07 €2.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.93 €22.18

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 €2.86

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 €1.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.98 €29.92

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.74 €1.49

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

$36.5K €31.2K

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

$31.5K €27.0K

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

$183 €156

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

$15.70 €13.43

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.73 €31.42

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 €45.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.13 €14.65

Cinema Ticket

$11.51 €9.85

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

$952 €815

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K €13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.5 €70.5

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.47 €34.62

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 €92.2

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,668 €1,426

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,856 ISK 347.0K

$1,288 €1,101

121.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,663 €2,278

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,904 €1,628

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,513 €6,427

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,178 €4,429

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,451 €2,096

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.12

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

Last update for Selfoss: August 18, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: August 17, 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

Selfoss vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss and Barcelona differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($3,517 vs $2,434 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,275 in Selfoss and $3,651 in Barcelona to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,517 per month in Selfoss versus $2,434 in Barcelona – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,434 in Barcelona versus $3,517 in Selfoss, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Barcelona but tight or insufficient in Selfoss. The gap between the two cities makes Barcelona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Selfoss and Barcelona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Barcelona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.