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: $3,564 in Selfoss versus $1,583 in Drangsnes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,499 in Selfoss versus $2,763 in Drangsnes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,435 in Selfoss versus $3,943 in Drangsnes.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 125% more expensive than Drangsnes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 166% above, Drangsnes 18% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.38 ISK 3,231

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 ISK 17.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.26 ISK 2,481

$22.74 ISK 2,785

-10.91%

Cappuccino

$6.21 ISK 761

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

$3.36 ISK 411

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 ISK 324

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.03 ISK 1,473

$12.89 ISK 1,579

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.15 ISK 1,366

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ISK 214

$1.92 ISK 236

-9.37%

White Bread (500g)

$7.26 ISK 889

$4.21 ISK 516

72.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 ISK 555

$3.55 ISK 435

27.61%

Eggs

$6.29 ISK 770

$6.19 ISK 758

1.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.50 ISK 2,021

$18.04 ISK 2,210

-8.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.92 ISK 2,562

$24.15 ISK 2,958

-13.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.41 ISK 4,092

$42.81 ISK 5,243

-21.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 ISK 331

$3.22 ISK 394

-16.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 ISK 321

$2.41 ISK 295

8.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 314

$3.11 ISK 380

-17.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.17 ISK 878

$5.04 ISK 617

42.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 ISK 391

$3.59 ISK 440

-11.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 ISK 251

$2.32 ISK 284

-11.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.52 ISK 431

$3.13 ISK 384

12.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 169

$1.94 ISK 237

-28.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.96 ISK 1,833

$13.63 ISK 1,669

9.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.76 ISK 2,788

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.58 ISK 438

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ISK 140

$3.22 ISK 394

-64.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.42 ISK 786

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 ISK 308

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.4 ISK 10.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.48 ISK 304

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

$47.2K ISK 5.8M

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

$52.2K ISK 6.4M

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

$88.2 ISK 10.8K

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

$27.68 ISK 3,391

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.6 ISK 10.4K

Cinema Ticket

$17.39 ISK 2,130

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

$319 ISK 39.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.4K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$137 ISK 16.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 ISK 7,644

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$183 ISK 22.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$268 ISK 32.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,864 ISK 350.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,054 ISK 741.4K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Drangsnes: April 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 125% in total monthly costs ($3,564 vs $1,583 including rent). Drangsnes 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 $2,375 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 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $3,564 per month in Selfoss versus $1,583 in Drangsnes – a 125% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,583 in Drangsnes versus $3,564 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 125% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.