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: $3,462 in Selfoss versus $1,602 in Drangsnes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,428 in Selfoss versus $2,826 in Drangsnes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,394 in Selfoss versus $4,050 in Drangsnes.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 116% more expensive than in Drangsnes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 160% above, Drangsnes 20% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.09 ISK 3,349

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$146 ISK 18.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.38 ISK 2,519

$22.43 ISK 2,772

-9.14%

Cappuccino

$6.21 ISK 767

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

$3.37 ISK 416

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 ISK 316

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.83 ISK 1,462

$12.80 ISK 1,582

-7.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.29 ISK 1,396

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ISK 215

$1.96 ISK 243

-11.22%

White Bread (500g)

$7.09 ISK 876

$4.35 ISK 537

62.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 ISK 529

$3.67 ISK 453

16.62%

Eggs

$6.43 ISK 795

$6.48 ISK 801

-0.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.96 ISK 2,096

$18.10 ISK 2,237

-6.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.63 ISK 2,549

$24.54 ISK 3,033

-15.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.75 ISK 4,047

$41.85 ISK 5,172

-21.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 ISK 333

$3.21 ISK 397

-16.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 ISK 328

$2.46 ISK 304

7.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ISK 323

$3.11 ISK 384

-16.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.27 ISK 898

$5.14 ISK 636

41.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 ISK 393

$3.72 ISK 459

-14.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 256

$2.32 ISK 286

-10.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.56 ISK 440

$3.04 ISK 376

17.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 171

$2.01 ISK 249

-31.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.41 ISK 1,904

$13.39 ISK 1,655

15.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.52 ISK 2,907

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.57 ISK 441

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ISK 141

$3.26 ISK 403

-65.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.33 ISK 782

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 ISK 327

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.5 ISK 10.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.53 ISK 313

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

$46.9K ISK 5.8M

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

$52.7K ISK 6.5M

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

$86.7 ISK 10.7K

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

$27.67 ISK 3,420

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.9 ISK 10.6K

Cinema Ticket

$17.91 ISK 2,213

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

$315 ISK 38.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.5K ISK 3.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$139 ISK 17.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.9 ISK 7,523

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$184 ISK 22.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$266 ISK 32.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,903 ISK 358.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,921 ISK 731.8K

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 Selfoss: July 25, 2026

Last update for Drangsnes: July 26, 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 116% in total monthly costs ($3,462 vs $1,602 including rent). Drangsnes is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,192 in Selfoss and $2,403 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 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,462 per month in Selfoss versus $1,602 in Drangsnes – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,602 in Drangsnes versus $3,462 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 116% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.