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: $3,462 in Selfoss versus $1,624 in Grundarfjordur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,428 in Selfoss versus $2,827 in Grundarfjordur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,394 in Selfoss versus $4,029 in Grundarfjordur.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 113% more expensive than in Grundarfjordur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 160% above, Grundarfjordur 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.96 ISK 3,332

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 18.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.38 ISK 2,519

$22.30 ISK 2,756

-8.61%

Cappuccino

$6.09 ISK 753

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

$3.38 ISK 418

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 ISK 321

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.83 ISK 1,462

$12.80 ISK 1,583

-7.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.16 ISK 1,380

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ISK 215

$1.86 ISK 231

-6.45%

White Bread (500g)

$7.09 ISK 876

$4.30 ISK 532

64.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 ISK 529

$3.73 ISK 461

14.75%

Eggs

$6.43 ISK 795

$6.26 ISK 774

2.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.96 ISK 2,096

$18.28 ISK 2,260

-7.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.63 ISK 2,549

$23.62 ISK 2,920

-12.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.75 ISK 4,047

$42.85 ISK 5,296

-23.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 ISK 333

$3.21 ISK 397

-16.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 ISK 328

$2.49 ISK 308

6.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ISK 323

$3.13 ISK 387

-16.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.27 ISK 898

$4.92 ISK 608

47.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 ISK 393

$3.69 ISK 456

-13.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 256

$2.36 ISK 292

-12.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.56 ISK 440

$3.20 ISK 396

11.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 171

$1.93 ISK 239

-28.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.41 ISK 1,904

$13.58 ISK 1,679

13.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.20 ISK 2,868

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.61 ISK 446

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ISK 141

$3.33 ISK 411

-65.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.48 ISK 802

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 ISK 327

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.4 ISK 10.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.45 ISK 303

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

$47.6K 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)

$87.7 ISK 10.8K

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

$27.85 ISK 3,443

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.3 ISK 10.5K

Cinema Ticket

$17.37 ISK 2,147

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

$323 ISK 39.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 ISK 17.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 ISK 7,509

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$184 ISK 22.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$268 ISK 33.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,903 ISK 358.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,122 ISK 138.7K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Grundarfjordur: July 28, 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 113% in total monthly costs ($3,462 vs $1,624 including rent). Grundarfjordur 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 $2,436 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 17% 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 $1,624 in Grundarfjordur – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,624 in Grundarfjordur versus $3,462 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 113% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.