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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,462 per month in Selfoss vs $1,627 in Hella, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,428 per month in Selfoss vs $2,850 in Hella, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,394 per month in Selfoss vs $4,074 in Hella, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 113% more than Hella, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selfoss and Hella sit above the global median – Selfoss by 160%, Hella by 22%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.50 ISK 3,276

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 ISK 18.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.38 ISK 2,519

$22.27 ISK 2,753

-8.49%

Cappuccino

$6.01 ISK 743

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

$3.26 ISK 403

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ISK 312

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.83 ISK 1,462

$12.63 ISK 1,561

-6.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.04 ISK 1,365

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ISK 215

$1.94 ISK 240

-10.31%

White Bread (500g)

$7.09 ISK 876

$4.30 ISK 532

64.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 ISK 529

$3.74 ISK 462

14.44%

Eggs

$6.43 ISK 795

$6.40 ISK 791

0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.96 ISK 2,096

$18.20 ISK 2,250

-6.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.63 ISK 2,549

$24.23 ISK 2,995

-14.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.75 ISK 4,047

$41.93 ISK 5,183

-21.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 ISK 333

$3.22 ISK 398

-16.46%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 ISK 328

$2.54 ISK 314

4.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ISK 323

$3.04 ISK 375

-14.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.27 ISK 898

$4.95 ISK 612

46.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 ISK 393

$3.55 ISK 439

-10.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 256

$2.31 ISK 286

-10.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.56 ISK 440

$3.13 ISK 387

13.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 171

$1.95 ISK 241

-29.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.41 ISK 1,904

$13.41 ISK 1,658

14.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.81 ISK 2,820

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 ISK 439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ISK 141

$3.36 ISK 416

-66.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ISK 803

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.61 ISK 323

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$84.9 ISK 10.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.47 ISK 305

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

$48.2K ISK 6.0M

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

$52.6K ISK 6.5M

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

$88.7 ISK 11.0K

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

$27.34 ISK 3,380

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.8 ISK 10.4K

Cinema Ticket

$17.86 ISK 2,208

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

$317 ISK 39.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 ISK 17.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.7 ISK 7,748

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 ISK 22.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$261 ISK 32.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,903 ISK 358.8K

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: July 25, 2026

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

Selfoss costs about 113% 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 $5,192 per month in Selfoss and $2,440 in Hella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,462 in Selfoss and $1,627 in Hella. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% 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 $1,627, than in Selfoss at $3,462. 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.