Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Hafnarfjordur

For one person, living is cheaper in Selfoss: $3,416 a month against $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. The total is higher in Hafnarfjordur despite lower rent and utilities.

Selfoss, Iceland
Hafnarfjordur, Iceland
Selfoss
🇮🇸 Iceland
$3,416
/mo nomad
Hafnarfjordur
🇮🇸 Iceland
$3,853
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Selfoss and in Hafnarfjordur

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Selfoss and in Hafnarfjordur actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,416 per month in Selfoss vs $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

  • Selfoss $3,416
  • Hafnarfjordur $3,853

A couple spends around $2,439 per month in Selfoss vs $5,410 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

  • Selfoss $2,439
  • Hafnarfjordur $5,410

A family of three spends $1,461 per month in Selfoss vs $6,967 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

  • Selfoss $1,461
  • Hafnarfjordur $6,967

Selfoss is about 11% cheaper than Hafnarfjordur, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Selfoss and Hafnarfjordur sit above the global median – Selfoss by 151%, Hafnarfjordur by 183%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Selfoss
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$31.04 ISK 3,768
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$125 ISK 15.1K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.39 ISK 2,475
$16.40 ISK 1,991
24.33%
Cappuccino
-
$6.71 ISK 814
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.33 ISK 405
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.14 ISK 382
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.18 ISK 1,478
$14.02 ISK 1,703
-13.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$12.11 ISK 1,470
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Selfoss
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 ISK 215
$1.67 ISK 203
5.99%
White Bread (500g)
$7.65 ISK 929
$4.21 ISK 511
81.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.55 ISK 552
$3.71 ISK 450
22.64%
Eggs
$6.49 ISK 787
$7.26 ISK 881
-10.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.25 ISK 2,094
$21.51 ISK 2,611
-19.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$21.56 ISK 2,617
$24.40 ISK 2,962
-11.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$33.60 ISK 4,078
$41.76 ISK 5,070
-19.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 ISK 343
$3.24 ISK 394
-12.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.70 ISK 328
$2.48 ISK 301
8.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 ISK 330
$3.19 ISK 388
-14.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.25 ISK 880
$6.41 ISK 779
13.10%
Potato (1kg)
$3.24 ISK 394
$3.93 ISK 477
-17.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 ISK 252
$1.64 ISK 200
26.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.70 ISK 449
$3.69 ISK 448
0.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 ISK 163
$1.82 ISK 221
-26.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.61 ISK 1,895
$14.04 ISK 1,705
11.18%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$24.05 ISK 2,920
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.53 ISK 428
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 ISK 140
$3.38 ISK 411
-65.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Selfoss
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$5.10 ISK 620
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$85.0 ISK 10.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$6.92 ISK 840
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.84 ISK 345
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$80.8 ISK 9,811
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$2.00 ISK 243
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$68.7K ISK 8.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$55.8K ISK 6.8M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Selfoss
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$69.4 ISK 8,419
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$32.65 ISK 3,964
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$85.0 ISK 10.3K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Selfoss
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$65.1 ISK 7,900
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$17.08 ISK 2,073
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Selfoss
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,172 ISK 142.3K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$25.9K ISK 3.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Selfoss
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$125 ISK 15.1K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$67.1 ISK 8,150
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$124 ISK 15.1K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$246 ISK 29.9K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Selfoss
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,496 ISK 303.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,771 ISK 336.4K
$2,075 ISK 251.8K
33.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,232 ISK 392.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,670 ISK 324.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,011 ISK 851.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$7,014 ISK 851.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Selfoss
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,674 ISK 567.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
8.81
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Selfoss: October 25, 2026

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Selfoss
–
Hafnarfjordur
$2.1K
Groceries & Markets
Selfoss
–
Hafnarfjordur
$615
Eating Out
Selfoss
–
Hafnarfjordur
$498
Clothing & Footwear
Selfoss
–
Hafnarfjordur
$253
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Selfoss
–
Hafnarfjordur
$187
Getting Around
Selfoss
–
Hafnarfjordur
$127
Sport & Entertainment
Selfoss
–
Hafnarfjordur
$99
Good to know
🇮🇸 Selfoss
🇮🇸 Hafnarfjordur
🕒 Local time
05:20 5:20 AM
05:20 5:20 AM
Same time as Selfoss
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,000
31,525
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.38 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Selfoss Hafnarfjordur 49 km
From you
  • Selfoss
  • Hafnarfjordur

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Selfoss or Hafnarfjordur?
Hafnarfjordur costs about 13% more than Selfoss, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Selfoss and in Hafnarfjordur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,124 per month in Selfoss and $5,780 in Hafnarfjordur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Selfoss compared to Hafnarfjordur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,416 in Selfoss and $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur. That makes Selfoss about 11% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Selfoss or in Hafnarfjordur?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Hafnarfjordur, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Selfoss or in Hafnarfjordur?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,416 in Selfoss and $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Selfoss or Hafnarfjordur?
It depends on your priorities. Hafnarfjordur has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,416 in Selfoss to $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Selfoss compared to Hafnarfjordur?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Selfoss vs other spots: cost of living compared

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