Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Drangsnes Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Drangsnes

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,496 in Selfoss versus $1,742 in Drangsnes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,470 in Selfoss versus $2,973 in Drangsnes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,444 in Selfoss versus $4,204 in Drangsnes.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 101% more expensive than in Drangsnes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 156% above, Drangsnes 27% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.65 ISK 3,733

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$135 ISK 16.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.93 ISK 2,549

$26.74 ISK 3,257

-21.73%

Cappuccino

$6.73 ISK 820

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

$3.31 ISK 404

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 ISK 400

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.41 ISK 1,512

$13.97 ISK 1,702

-11.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.22 ISK 1,489

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ISK 215

$2.14 ISK 260

-17.76%

White Bread (500g)

$7.28 ISK 886

$4.30 ISK 524

69.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 ISK 546

$3.65 ISK 445

23.01%

Eggs

$6.59 ISK 802

$7.13 ISK 869

-7.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 ISK 2,071

$20.86 ISK 2,540

-18.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.05 ISK 2,564

$24.71 ISK 3,010

-14.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.45 ISK 4,196

$41.41 ISK 5,044

-16.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ISK 333

$3.43 ISK 418

-20.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.70 ISK 329

$2.91 ISK 355

-7.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 ISK 321

$3.34 ISK 406

-20.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.04 ISK 857

$6.32 ISK 770

11.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 ISK 398

$3.94 ISK 480

-17.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 ISK 264

$1.66 ISK 203

30.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.56 ISK 433

$3.77 ISK 460

-5.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ISK 173

$1.82 ISK 222

-21.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.55 ISK 1,894

$13.76 ISK 1,676

13.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.08 ISK 2,933

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.84 ISK 468

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ISK 144

$3.45 ISK 420

-65.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.94 ISK 845

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.84 ISK 346

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$74.2 ISK 9,035

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 ISK 234

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

$51.5K ISK 6.3M

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

$54.0K ISK 6.6M

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

$89.3 ISK 10.9K

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

$33.62 ISK 4,095

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.9 ISK 10.5K

Cinema Ticket

$20.09 ISK 2,447

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

$1,173 ISK 142.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K ISK 3.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$157 ISK 19.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.2 ISK 8,184

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$252 ISK 30.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 ISK 344.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,076 ISK 740.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.88

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

Last update for Selfoss: September 12, 2026

Last update for Drangsnes: September 13, 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 Drangsnes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss and Drangsnes differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($3,496 vs $1,742 including rent). Drangsnes is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,244 in Selfoss and $2,613 in Drangsnes 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.

Shoppers in Selfoss pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,496 per month in Selfoss versus $1,742 in Drangsnes – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,742 in Drangsnes versus $3,496 in Selfoss, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Drangsnes but tight or insufficient in Selfoss. The gap between the two cities makes Drangsnes 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 Drangsnes 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 Drangsnes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.