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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,462 per month in Selfoss vs $3,743 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,428 per month in Selfoss vs $5,243 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,394 per month in Selfoss vs $6,742 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

Selfoss is about 8% cheaper than Hafnarfjordur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selfoss and Hafnarfjordur sit above the global median – Selfoss by 160%, Hafnarfjordur by 181%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.51 ISK 3,277

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 ISK 18.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.38 ISK 2,519

$16.15 ISK 1,997

26.19%

Cappuccino

$5.95 ISK 735

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

$3.26 ISK 403

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ISK 323

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.83 ISK 1,462

$12.64 ISK 1,562

-6.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.36 ISK 1,404

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ISK 215

$1.69 ISK 209

2.96%

White Bread (500g)

$7.09 ISK 876

$4.31 ISK 532

64.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 ISK 529

$3.56 ISK 440

20.22%

Eggs

$6.43 ISK 795

$6.21 ISK 767

3.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.96 ISK 2,096

$18.06 ISK 2,232

-6.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.63 ISK 2,549

$23.82 ISK 2,944

-13.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.75 ISK 4,047

$43.07 ISK 5,324

-23.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 ISK 333

$3.35 ISK 414

-19.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 ISK 328

$2.34 ISK 289

13.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ISK 323

$3.14 ISK 388

-16.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.27 ISK 898

$5.03 ISK 622

44.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 ISK 393

$3.67 ISK 453

-13.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 256

$2.40 ISK 296

-13.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.56 ISK 440

$3.07 ISK 380

15.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 171

$1.92 ISK 237

-28.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.41 ISK 1,904

$13.77 ISK 1,703

11.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.38 ISK 2,890

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.64 ISK 450

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ISK 141

$3.21 ISK 397

-64.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.19 ISK 642

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.2 ISK 10.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.47 ISK 800

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.52 ISK 312

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.7 ISK 10.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.45 ISK 303

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

$46.5K ISK 5.7M

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

$52.0K ISK 6.4M

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

$69.5 ISK 8,589

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

$27.05 ISK 3,344

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.3 ISK 10.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.1 ISK 7,917

Cinema Ticket

$16.45 ISK 2,033

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

$321 ISK 39.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$118 ISK 14.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.9 ISK 7,527

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ISK 15.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$271 ISK 33.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,379 ISK 294.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,903 ISK 358.8K

$2,013 ISK 248.8K

44.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,196 ISK 395.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,588 ISK 319.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,883 ISK 850.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,652 ISK 822.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,538 ISK 560.9K

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 Hafnarfjordur: July 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 Hafnarfjordur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hafnarfjordur costs about 8% 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 $5,192 per month in Selfoss and $5,615 in Hafnarfjordur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,462 in Selfoss and $3,743 in Hafnarfjordur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $3,462, than in Hafnarfjordur at $3,743. 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.