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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,570 per month in Selfoss vs $1,606 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,495 per month in Selfoss vs $2,825 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,420 per month in Selfoss vs $4,044 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 122% more than Kirkjubaejarklaustur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selfoss and Kirkjubaejarklaustur sit above the global median – Selfoss by 166%, Kirkjubaejarklaustur by 20%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.77 ISK 3,301

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 ISK 17.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.29 ISK 2,501

$22.74 ISK 2,804

-10.77%

Cappuccino

$6.08 ISK 750

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

$3.36 ISK 414

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 ISK 323

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.95 ISK 1,473

$12.71 ISK 1,567

-5.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.37 ISK 1,402

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ISK 213

$1.89 ISK 233

-8.99%

White Bread (500g)

$7.35 ISK 907

$4.35 ISK 537

68.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.47 ISK 551

$3.54 ISK 437

26.27%

Eggs

$6.25 ISK 770

$6.20 ISK 765

0.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.79 ISK 2,070

$18.15 ISK 2,238

-7.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.12 ISK 2,604

$24.30 ISK 2,996

-13.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.72 ISK 4,034

$42.15 ISK 5,197

-22.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ISK 342

$3.21 ISK 396

-13.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 317

$2.45 ISK 302

4.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ISK 335

$3.14 ISK 387

-13.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.27 ISK 896

$5.03 ISK 620

44.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 375

$3.71 ISK 457

-18.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 ISK 250

$2.34 ISK 289

-13.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.43 ISK 422

$3.19 ISK 394

7.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 170

$1.92 ISK 237

-28.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.40 ISK 1,899

$13.86 ISK 1,708

11.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.12 ISK 2,850

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.59 ISK 443

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 ISK 139

$3.20 ISK 394

-64.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 ISK 768

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.52 ISK 311

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.0 ISK 10.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.43 ISK 300

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

$47.9K ISK 5.9M

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

$52.9K ISK 6.5M

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

$88.1 ISK 10.9K

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

$27.26 ISK 3,361

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.7 ISK 10.7K

Cinema Ticket

$17.82 ISK 2,197

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

$323 ISK 39.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K ISK 3.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$137 ISK 16.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.4 ISK 7,450

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$183 ISK 22.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$266 ISK 32.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,924 ISK 360.6K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Kirkjubaejarklaustur: May 31, 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 122% 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 $5,355 per month in Selfoss and $2,408 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,570 in Selfoss and $1,606 in Kirkjubaejarklaustur. 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 $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Kirkjubaejarklaustur, where all-in costs run around $1,606, than in Selfoss at $3,570. 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.