Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Hafnarfjordur Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Hafnarfjordur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,533 per month in Selfoss vs $3,661 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,478 per month in Selfoss vs $5,235 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,422 per month in Selfoss vs $6,808 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

Selfoss is about 4% cheaper than Hafnarfjordur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selfoss and Hafnarfjordur sit above the global median – Selfoss by 163%, Hafnarfjordur by 172%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.17 ISK 3,383

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 ISK 18.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.63 ISK 2,444

$16.06 ISK 2,000

22.23%

Cappuccino

$6.26 ISK 779

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

$3.33 ISK 414

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ISK 312

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.26 ISK 1,527

$12.85 ISK 1,599

-4.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.35 ISK 1,413

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ISK 218

$1.68 ISK 209

4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$7.42 ISK 924

$4.25 ISK 529

74.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 ISK 538

$3.56 ISK 443

21.35%

Eggs

$6.22 ISK 774

$6.51 ISK 810

-4.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.97 ISK 2,113

$18.32 ISK 2,281

-7.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.17 ISK 2,635

$24.43 ISK 3,042

-13.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.10 ISK 4,121

$41.97 ISK 5,225

-21.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ISK 344

$3.35 ISK 417

-17.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ISK 322

$2.46 ISK 306

5.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 320

$3.02 ISK 376

-14.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.15 ISK 891

$5.05 ISK 629

41.58%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 ISK 391

$3.57 ISK 444

-12.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 257

$2.45 ISK 305

-15.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.59 ISK 447

$3.19 ISK 397

12.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ISK 167

$2.01 ISK 250

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.37 ISK 1,914

$13.54 ISK 1,686

13.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.20 ISK 2,888

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.70 ISK 460

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 ISK 137

$3.25 ISK 405

-66.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.09 ISK 634

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.4 ISK 10.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.25 ISK 778

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 ISK 328

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.6 ISK 10.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.49 ISK 311

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

$48.1K ISK 6.0M

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

$52.4K ISK 6.5M

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

$68.0 ISK 8,465

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

$27.22 ISK 3,389

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 ISK 10.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.7 ISK 8,053

Cinema Ticket

$16.66 ISK 2,074

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

$325 ISK 40.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$119 ISK 14.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.5 ISK 7,778

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ISK 14.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$266 ISK 33.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,423 ISK 301.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 ISK 359.0K

$2,037 ISK 253.6K

41.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,250 ISK 404.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,547 ISK 317.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,850 ISK 852.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,826 ISK 849.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,665 ISK 580.8K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: June 7, 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 Hafnarfjordur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hafnarfjordur costs about 4% more than Selfoss, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,299 per month in Selfoss and $5,492 in Hafnarfjordur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,533 in Selfoss and $3,661 in Hafnarfjordur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Hafnarfjordur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Selfoss, where all-in costs run around $3,533, than in Hafnarfjordur at $3,661. In Selfoss it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hafnarfjordur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Selfoss – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Selfoss. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hafnarfjordur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.