Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Hella Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Hella

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,496 per month in Selfoss vs $1,694 in Hella, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,470 per month in Selfoss vs $2,923 in Hella, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,444 per month in Selfoss vs $4,152 in Hella, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 106% more than Hella, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selfoss and Hella sit above the global median – Selfoss by 156%, Hella by 24%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.93 ISK 3,645

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$137 ISK 16.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.93 ISK 2,549

$26.99 ISK 3,287

-22.45%

Cappuccino

$6.87 ISK 837

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

$3.25 ISK 396

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ISK 392

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.41 ISK 1,512

$13.88 ISK 1,690

-10.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.29 ISK 1,497

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ISK 215

$2.12 ISK 259

-16.98%

White Bread (500g)

$7.28 ISK 886

$4.32 ISK 526

68.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 ISK 546

$3.69 ISK 450

21.68%

Eggs

$6.59 ISK 802

$7.01 ISK 854

-5.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 ISK 2,071

$21.12 ISK 2,573

-19.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.05 ISK 2,564

$24.72 ISK 3,011

-14.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.45 ISK 4,196

$42.94 ISK 5,230

-19.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ISK 333

$3.35 ISK 408

-18.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.70 ISK 329

$2.92 ISK 356

-7.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 ISK 321

$3.16 ISK 385

-16.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.04 ISK 857

$6.25 ISK 762

12.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 ISK 398

$4.13 ISK 504

-20.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 ISK 264

$1.66 ISK 202

30.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.56 ISK 433

$3.81 ISK 465

-6.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ISK 173

$1.76 ISK 214

-19.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.55 ISK 1,894

$13.87 ISK 1,690

12.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.10 ISK 2,936

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.79 ISK 462

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ISK 144

$3.37 ISK 410

-64.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 ISK 827

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.83 ISK 345

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$74.9 ISK 9,118

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 ISK 246

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

$50.8K ISK 6.2M

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

$54.3K ISK 6.6M

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

$88.2 ISK 10.7K

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

$32.75 ISK 3,989

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.8 ISK 10.2K

Cinema Ticket

$19.68 ISK 2,396

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

$1,190 ISK 144.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$161 ISK 19.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.1 ISK 8,170

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$182 ISK 22.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$252 ISK 30.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 ISK 344.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.88

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

Last update for Selfoss: September 12, 2026

Last update for Hella: September 14, 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 Hella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss costs about 106% more than Hella, 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 $5,244 per month in Selfoss and $2,541 in Hella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,496 in Selfoss and $1,694 in Hella. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Selfoss – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Hella, where all-in costs run around $1,694, than in Selfoss at $3,496. In Hella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Selfoss it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hella – 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 Hella. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Selfoss makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.