Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Hella

For one person, living is cheaper in Hella: $1,723 a month against $3,397 in Selfoss, rent and utilities included – about $20,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Selfoss outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Selfoss, Iceland
Hella, Iceland
Selfoss
🇮🇸 Iceland
$3,397
/mo nomad
Hella
🇮🇸 Iceland
$1,723
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Selfoss and in Hella

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 Hella actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,397 per month in Selfoss vs $1,723 in Hella, rent included.

  • Selfoss $3,397
  • Hella $1,723

A couple spends around $2,424 per month in Selfoss vs $2,927 in Hella, rent included.

  • Selfoss $2,424
  • Hella $2,927

A family of three spends $1,451 per month in Selfoss vs $4,131 in Hella, rent included.

  • Selfoss $1,451
  • Hella $4,131

Selfoss costs about 97% more than Hella.

Both Selfoss and Hella sit above the global median – Selfoss by 151%, Hella by 27%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Selfoss
Hella
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$31.22 ISK 3,790
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$121 ISK 14.7K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.19 ISK 2,451
$27.24 ISK 3,307
-25.88%
Cappuccino
-
$6.89 ISK 836
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.25 ISK 395
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.08 ISK 374
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.45 ISK 1,511
$14.16 ISK 1,719
-12.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$12.30 ISK 1,493
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Selfoss
Hella
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 ISK 214
$2.00 ISK 243
-12.00%
White Bread (500g)
$7.43 ISK 902
$4.30 ISK 522
72.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.37 ISK 531
$3.66 ISK 444
19.40%
Eggs
$6.34 ISK 770
$7.27 ISK 883
-12.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.92 ISK 2,054
$21.85 ISK 2,652
-22.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$21.39 ISK 2,597
$24.10 ISK 2,925
-11.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$33.81 ISK 4,104
$41.15 ISK 4,995
-17.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 ISK 343
$3.36 ISK 408
-15.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.59 ISK 314
$2.83 ISK 343
-8.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.68 ISK 325
$3.21 ISK 390
-16.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.37 ISK 895
$6.56 ISK 797
12.35%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 ISK 378
$3.91 ISK 475
-20.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 ISK 262
$1.69 ISK 205
27.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.49 ISK 424
$3.64 ISK 442
-4.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 ISK 170
$1.83 ISK 223
-23.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.52 ISK 1,884
$13.97 ISK 1,696
11.10%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$23.32 ISK 2,832
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.66 ISK 445
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 ISK 141
$3.49 ISK 423
-66.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Selfoss
Hella
Difference
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$6.76 ISK 821
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.75 ISK 333
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$80.8 ISK 9,805
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$2.10 ISK 255
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$67.9K ISK 8.2M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$56.3K ISK 6.8M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Selfoss
Hella
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$96.8 ISK 11.8K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$32.49 ISK 3,944
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$85.0 ISK 10.3K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Selfoss
Hella
Difference
Cinema Ticket
-
$19.81 ISK 2,405
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Selfoss
Hella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,205 ISK 146.3K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$25.4K ISK 3.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Selfoss
Hella
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$150 ISK 18.2K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$66.8 ISK 8,105
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$185 ISK 22.4K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$252 ISK 30.6K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Selfoss
Hella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,756 ISK 334.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Selfoss
Hella
Difference
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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Hella: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Selfoss
–
Hella
$619
Eating Out
Selfoss
–
Hella
$535
Clothing & Footwear
Selfoss
–
Hella
$294
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Selfoss
–
Hella
$214
Sport & Entertainment
Selfoss
–
Hella
$40 *
Getting Around
Selfoss
–
Hella
$20 *
Accommodation & Living
Selfoss
–
Hella
- *

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Selfoss
🇮🇸 Hella
🕒 Local time
21:17 9:17 PM
21:17 9:17 PM
Same time as Selfoss
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,000
900
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Selfoss Hella 32 km
From you
  • Selfoss
  • Hella

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 Hella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Selfoss compared to Hella?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,095 per month in Selfoss and $2,584 in Hella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Selfoss or Hella?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,397 in Selfoss and $1,723 in Hella. That makes Hella about 49% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Selfoss – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Hella, where all-in costs run around $1,723, than in Selfoss at $3,397. In Hella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Selfoss it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Selfoss and Hella?
It depends on your priorities. Selfoss has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,723 in Hella to $3,397 in Selfoss. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Selfoss vs other spots: cost of living compared

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