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: $3,564 in Selfoss versus $2,341 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,499 in Selfoss versus $3,462 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,435 in Selfoss versus $4,582 in Barcelona.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 52% more expensive than Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 166% above, Barcelona 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.61 €15.04

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 €58.7

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.26 ISK 2,481

$13.75 €11.74

47.35%

Cappuccino

$2.76 €2.36

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

$2.78 €2.38

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 €1.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.03 ISK 1,473

$4.61 €3.93

160.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 €3.92

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ISK 214

$1.28 €1.09

35.94%

White Bread (500g)

$7.26 ISK 889

$2.11 €1.80

244.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 ISK 555

$1.97 €1.68

129.95%

Eggs

$6.29 ISK 770

$3.44 €2.94

82.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.50 ISK 2,021

$18.83 €16.08

-12.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.92 ISK 2,562

$9.45 €8.07

121.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.41 ISK 4,092

$19.01 €16.24

75.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 ISK 331

$2.72 €2.32

-0.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 ISK 321

$2.37 €2.03

10.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 314

$2.08 €1.77

23.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.17 ISK 878

$2.76 €2.36

159.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 ISK 391

$1.97 €1.68

61.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 ISK 251

$1.79 €1.53

14.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.52 ISK 431

$1.51 €1.29

133.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 169

$0.90 €0.77

53.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.96 ISK 1,833

$6.76 €5.77

121.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.55 €6.44

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 €1.23

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ISK 140

$2.41 €2.06

-52.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.03 €2.59

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.39 €24.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.43 €3.78

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 €1.75

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.33 €25.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.89 €1.61

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

$38.7K €33.1K

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

$32.4K €27.6K

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

$189 €161

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

$22.21 €18.96

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.82 €31.44

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 €49.52

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.99 €17.93

Cinema Ticket

$11.05 €9.44

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

$726 €620

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K €13.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.3 €75.4

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.98 €31.58

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €87.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €102

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 €1,304

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,864 ISK 350.8K

$1,218 €1,040

135.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,794 €2,386

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,027 €1,731

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,094 €6,058

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,849 €4,141

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,404 €2,053

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.39

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

Last update for Selfoss: April 28, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 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 52% in total monthly costs ($3,564 vs $2,341 including rent). Barcelona is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,346 in Selfoss and $3,512 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 59% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,564 per month in Selfoss versus $2,341 in Barcelona – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,341 in Barcelona versus $3,564 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 52% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.