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: $3,518 in Selfoss versus $1,587 in Drangsnes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,483 in Selfoss versus $2,836 in Drangsnes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,447 in Selfoss versus $4,085 in Drangsnes.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 122% more expensive than Drangsnes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 164% above, Drangsnes 19% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.14 ISK 3,372

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 ISK 17.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.10 ISK 2,498

$22.90 ISK 2,845

-12.23%

Cappuccino

$6.08 ISK 756

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

$3.36 ISK 417

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ISK 327

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.98 ISK 1,489

$12.62 ISK 1,568

-5.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.32 ISK 1,406

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ISK 214

$1.86 ISK 231

-6.99%

White Bread (500g)

$7.26 ISK 902

$4.21 ISK 523

72.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.43 ISK 551

$3.56 ISK 443

24.44%

Eggs

$6.17 ISK 766

$6.43 ISK 798

-4.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.57 ISK 2,059

$18.19 ISK 2,260

-8.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.62 ISK 2,562

$24.03 ISK 2,985

-14.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.37 ISK 4,022

$41.86 ISK 5,201

-22.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ISK 340

$3.31 ISK 411

-17.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 320

$2.54 ISK 316

1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 ISK 326

$3.04 ISK 377

-13.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.12 ISK 885

$4.92 ISK 611

44.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 ISK 384

$3.72 ISK 462

-16.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 257

$2.43 ISK 302

-14.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.48 ISK 432

$3.03 ISK 377

14.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ISK 166

$1.99 ISK 247

-32.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.27 ISK 1,897

$13.57 ISK 1,686

12.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.68 ISK 2,942

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.62 ISK 450

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ISK 141

$3.27 ISK 406

-65.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 ISK 809

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.56 ISK 318

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$87.6 ISK 10.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.45 ISK 304

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

$47.4K ISK 5.9M

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

$51.8K ISK 6.4M

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

$88.6 ISK 11.0K

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

$27.90 ISK 3,466

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.0 ISK 10.4K

Cinema Ticket

$17.62 ISK 2,189

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

$319 ISK 39.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.0K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$137 ISK 17.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.9 ISK 7,690

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$268 ISK 33.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,897 ISK 359.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,084 ISK 755.9K

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Drangsnes: June 15, 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 122% in total monthly costs ($3,518 vs $1,587 including rent). Drangsnes is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,278 in Selfoss and $2,380 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 $3,518 per month in Selfoss versus $1,587 in Drangsnes – a 122% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,587 in Drangsnes versus $3,518 in Selfoss, a $1,000 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 122% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.