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: $3,518 in Selfoss versus $1,613 in Grundarfjordur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,483 in Selfoss versus $2,819 in Grundarfjordur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,447 in Selfoss versus $4,026 in Grundarfjordur.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 118% more expensive than in Grundarfjordur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 164% above, Grundarfjordur 21% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.09 ISK 3,365

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 ISK 17.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.10 ISK 2,498

$22.22 ISK 2,761

-9.54%

Cappuccino

$6.28 ISK 780

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

$3.33 ISK 413

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ISK 323

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.98 ISK 1,489

$12.71 ISK 1,579

-5.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.29 ISK 1,403

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ISK 214

$1.94 ISK 242

-10.82%

White Bread (500g)

$7.26 ISK 902

$4.22 ISK 524

72.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.43 ISK 551

$3.70 ISK 459

19.73%

Eggs

$6.17 ISK 766

$6.47 ISK 804

-4.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.57 ISK 2,059

$18.22 ISK 2,264

-9.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.62 ISK 2,562

$23.81 ISK 2,959

-13.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.37 ISK 4,022

$43.12 ISK 5,357

-24.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ISK 340

$3.27 ISK 406

-16.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 320

$2.50 ISK 310

2.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 ISK 326

$2.96 ISK 368

-11.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.12 ISK 885

$4.98 ISK 619

42.97%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 ISK 384

$3.67 ISK 456

-15.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 257

$2.45 ISK 304

-15.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.48 ISK 432

$3.14 ISK 390

10.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ISK 166

$2.01 ISK 250

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.27 ISK 1,897

$13.70 ISK 1,702

11.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.97 ISK 2,854

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 ISK 462

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ISK 141

$3.36 ISK 418

-66.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.42 ISK 798

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.61 ISK 324

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$87.7 ISK 10.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.45 ISK 304

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

$46.6K ISK 5.8M

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

$51.5K ISK 6.4M

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

$86.9 ISK 10.8K

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

$27.96 ISK 3,474

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.1 ISK 10.6K

Cinema Ticket

$17.69 ISK 2,198

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

$322 ISK 40.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.0 ISK 7,708

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$266 ISK 33.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,897 ISK 359.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,173 ISK 145.7K

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 Grundarfjordur: 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 Grundarfjordur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss and Grundarfjordur differ by about 118% in total monthly costs ($3,518 vs $1,613 including rent). Grundarfjordur 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 $2,419 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 19% 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 $1,613 in Grundarfjordur – a 118% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,613 in Grundarfjordur versus $3,518 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 118% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.