Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Kirkjubaejarklaustur Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Kirkjubaejarklaustur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,496 per month in Selfoss vs $1,728 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,470 per month in Selfoss vs $2,993 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,444 per month in Selfoss vs $4,258 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 102% more than Kirkjubaejarklaustur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selfoss and Kirkjubaejarklaustur sit above the global median – Selfoss by 156%, Kirkjubaejarklaustur by 26%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.42 ISK 3,706

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$139 ISK 16.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.93 ISK 2,549

$27.14 ISK 3,305

-22.88%

Cappuccino

$6.88 ISK 838

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

$3.28 ISK 400

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ISK 406

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.41 ISK 1,512

$14.04 ISK 1,710

-11.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.58 ISK 1,532

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ISK 215

$2.12 ISK 258

-16.98%

White Bread (500g)

$7.28 ISK 886

$4.39 ISK 535

65.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 ISK 546

$3.71 ISK 452

21.02%

Eggs

$6.59 ISK 802

$7.15 ISK 871

-7.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 ISK 2,071

$21.33 ISK 2,598

-20.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.05 ISK 2,564

$25.23 ISK 3,073

-16.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.45 ISK 4,196

$42.74 ISK 5,206

-19.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ISK 333

$3.44 ISK 419

-20.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.70 ISK 329

$2.82 ISK 343

-4.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 ISK 321

$3.19 ISK 388

-17.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.04 ISK 857

$6.55 ISK 798

7.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 ISK 398

$4.09 ISK 498

-20.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 ISK 264

$1.66 ISK 203

30.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.56 ISK 433

$3.68 ISK 448

-3.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ISK 173

$1.78 ISK 216

-20.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.55 ISK 1,894

$14.19 ISK 1,728

9.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 ISK 2,899

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.87 ISK 471

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ISK 144

$3.40 ISK 414

-65.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 ISK 805

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.87 ISK 350

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$74.6 ISK 9,090

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.00 ISK 243

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

$51.5K ISK 6.3M

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

$53.0K ISK 6.5M

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

$86.7 ISK 10.6K

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

$33.29 ISK 4,055

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.0 ISK 10.1K

Cinema Ticket

$19.71 ISK 2,400

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

$1,172 ISK 142.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.8K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$160 ISK 19.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.8 ISK 8,012

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$176 ISK 21.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$250 ISK 30.5K

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 Kirkjubaejarklaustur: 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 Kirkjubaejarklaustur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss costs about 102% more than Kirkjubaejarklaustur, 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 $2,592 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur. 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 $1,728 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Selfoss – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, where all-in costs run around $1,728, than in Selfoss at $3,496. In Kirkjubaejarklaustur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Selfoss it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kirkjubaejarklaustur – 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 Kirkjubaejarklaustur. 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.