Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Grundarfjordur Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Grundarfjordur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,514 in Selfoss versus $1,717 in Grundarfjordur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,499 in Selfoss versus $2,938 in Grundarfjordur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,484 in Selfoss versus $4,158 in Grundarfjordur.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 105% more expensive than in Grundarfjordur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 161% above, Grundarfjordur 27% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.70 ISK 3,717

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$134 ISK 16.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.57 ISK 2,490

$26.46 ISK 3,204

-22.26%

Cappuccino

$6.85 ISK 829

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

$3.26 ISK 395

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 ISK 402

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.39 ISK 1,501

$14.26 ISK 1,727

-13.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.31 ISK 1,490

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ISK 209

$2.09 ISK 253

-17.22%

White Bread (500g)

$7.52 ISK 910

$4.27 ISK 517

76.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 ISK 554

$3.69 ISK 447

23.85%

Eggs

$6.39 ISK 773

$7.21 ISK 873

-11.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.14 ISK 2,075

$21.63 ISK 2,620

-20.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.36 ISK 2,587

$24.42 ISK 2,957

-12.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.54 ISK 4,061

$42.11 ISK 5,099

-20.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ISK 335

$3.38 ISK 409

-18.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.68 ISK 325

$2.77 ISK 336

-3.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ISK 335

$3.28 ISK 398

-15.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.06 ISK 855

$6.43 ISK 778

9.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.22 ISK 390

$4.15 ISK 503

-22.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 ISK 255

$1.64 ISK 199

28.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.59 ISK 435

$3.80 ISK 460

-5.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ISK 171

$1.77 ISK 215

-19.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.41 ISK 1,866

$13.81 ISK 1,673

11.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.97 ISK 2,903

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 ISK 468

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 ISK 136

$3.37 ISK 408

-66.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.94 ISK 841

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.91 ISK 352

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$75.3 ISK 9,112

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 ISK 233

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

$51.1K ISK 6.2M

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

$53.9K ISK 6.5M

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

$88.7 ISK 10.7K

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

$32.34 ISK 3,916

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.9 ISK 10.2K

Cinema Ticket

$19.43 ISK 2,353

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

$1,194 ISK 144.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K ISK 3.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$156 ISK 18.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.5 ISK 7,936

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 21.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$256 ISK 31.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,898 ISK 350.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,165 ISK 141.1K

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 21, 2026

Last update for Grundarfjordur: September 20, 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 Grundarfjordur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss and Grundarfjordur differ by about 105% in total monthly costs ($3,514 vs $1,717 including rent). Grundarfjordur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,271 in Selfoss and $2,576 in Grundarfjordur 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 $3,514 per month in Selfoss versus $1,717 in Grundarfjordur – a 105% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,717 in Grundarfjordur versus $3,514 in Selfoss, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grundarfjordur but tight or insufficient in Selfoss. The gap between the two cities makes Grundarfjordur 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 Grundarfjordur 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 Grundarfjordur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.