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: $3,564 in Selfoss versus $1,621 in Grundarfjordur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,499 in Selfoss versus $2,790 in Grundarfjordur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,435 in Selfoss versus $3,960 in Grundarfjordur.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 120% more expensive than Grundarfjordur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 166% above, Grundarfjordur 21% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.87 ISK 3,290

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 18.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.26 ISK 2,481

$22.88 ISK 2,802

-11.45%

Cappuccino

$6.23 ISK 762

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

$3.33 ISK 407

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 ISK 322

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.03 ISK 1,473

$12.87 ISK 1,576

-6.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.19 ISK 1,371

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ISK 213

$1.87 ISK 229

-6.95%

White Bread (500g)

$7.26 ISK 889

$4.33 ISK 530

67.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 ISK 555

$3.75 ISK 459

20.80%

Eggs

$6.29 ISK 770

$6.48 ISK 793

-2.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.50 ISK 2,021

$18.46 ISK 2,260

-10.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.92 ISK 2,561

$23.76 ISK 2,909

-11.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.41 ISK 4,091

$42.81 ISK 5,242

-21.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 ISK 331

$3.33 ISK 407

-18.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 ISK 320

$2.44 ISK 299

7.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 314

$3.04 ISK 372

-15.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.17 ISK 878

$4.91 ISK 601

46.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 ISK 391

$3.56 ISK 436

-10.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 ISK 251

$2.32 ISK 284

-11.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.52 ISK 431

$3.04 ISK 373

15.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 169

$2.02 ISK 247

-31.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.96 ISK 1,832

$13.86 ISK 1,697

7.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.12 ISK 2,831

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.63 ISK 444

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ISK 140

$3.36 ISK 412

-65.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.21 ISK 761

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 ISK 325

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$87.7 ISK 10.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.45 ISK 299

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

$46.4K ISK 5.7M

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

$51.7K ISK 6.3M

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

$86.3 ISK 10.6K

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

$27.70 ISK 3,391

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.5 ISK 10.5K

Cinema Ticket

$17.27 ISK 2,115

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

$326 ISK 39.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$136 ISK 16.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.6 ISK 7,545

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$185 ISK 22.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$264 ISK 32.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,864 ISK 350.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,175 ISK 143.8K

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 Grundarfjordur: April 27, 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 120% in total monthly costs ($3,564 vs $1,621 including rent). Grundarfjordur 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 $2,432 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 $3,564 per month in Selfoss versus $1,621 in Grundarfjordur – a 120% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,621 in Grundarfjordur versus $3,564 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 120% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.