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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,533 per month in Selfoss vs $1,619 in Hella, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,478 per month in Selfoss vs $2,788 in Hella, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,422 per month in Selfoss vs $3,958 in Hella, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 118% more than Hella, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selfoss and Hella sit above the global median – Selfoss by 163%, Hella by 20%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.32 ISK 3,401

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 ISK 18.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.63 ISK 2,444

$22.68 ISK 2,823

-13.45%

Cappuccino

$6.15 ISK 765

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

$3.35 ISK 417

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 ISK 316

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.26 ISK 1,527

$12.72 ISK 1,583

-3.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.15 ISK 1,388

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ISK 218

$1.93 ISK 241

-9.33%

White Bread (500g)

$7.42 ISK 924

$4.19 ISK 522

77.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 ISK 538

$3.67 ISK 457

17.71%

Eggs

$6.22 ISK 774

$6.31 ISK 786

-1.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.97 ISK 2,113

$18.19 ISK 2,265

-6.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.17 ISK 2,635

$24.53 ISK 3,053

-13.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.10 ISK 4,121

$41.71 ISK 5,193

-20.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ISK 344

$3.36 ISK 418

-17.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ISK 322

$2.51 ISK 312

3.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 320

$3.04 ISK 378

-15.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.15 ISK 891

$4.91 ISK 611

45.62%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 ISK 391

$3.69 ISK 459

-14.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 257

$2.42 ISK 301

-14.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.59 ISK 447

$3.19 ISK 397

12.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ISK 167

$1.99 ISK 247

-32.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.37 ISK 1,914

$13.60 ISK 1,693

13.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.47 ISK 2,922

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 ISK 463

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 ISK 137

$3.34 ISK 415

-67.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 ISK 777

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 ISK 331

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.8 ISK 10.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.43 ISK 302

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

$47.5K ISK 5.9M

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

$51.3K ISK 6.4M

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

$89.4 ISK 11.1K

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

$27.68 ISK 3,446

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.5 ISK 10.6K

Cinema Ticket

$17.43 ISK 2,170

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

$316 ISK 39.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.9K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$141 ISK 17.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 ISK 7,609

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$186 ISK 23.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$271 ISK 33.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 ISK 359.0K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Hella: June 7, 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 118% 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 $5,299 per month in Selfoss and $2,428 in Hella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,533 in Selfoss and $1,619 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 $1,619, than in Selfoss at $3,533. 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.