Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Kopavogur Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Kopavogur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,564 per month in Selfoss vs $1,718 in Kopavogur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,499 per month in Selfoss vs $2,892 in Kopavogur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,435 per month in Selfoss vs $4,066 in Kopavogur, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 107% more than Kopavogur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selfoss and Kopavogur sit above the global median – Selfoss by 166%, Kopavogur by 28%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.41 ISK 3,234

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.7 ISK 11.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.26 ISK 2,481

$22.29 ISK 2,729

-9.11%

Cappuccino

$6.17 ISK 755

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

$2.05 ISK 251

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ISK 309

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.03 ISK 1,473

$10.36 ISK 1,268

16.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.07 ISK 1,355

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ISK 213

$1.72 ISK 211

1.16%

White Bread (500g)

$7.26 ISK 889

$4.29 ISK 525

69.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 ISK 555

$3.66 ISK 449

23.77%

Eggs

$6.29 ISK 770

$6.23 ISK 763

0.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.50 ISK 2,021

$17.81 ISK 2,181

-7.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.92 ISK 2,561

$23.90 ISK 2,926

-12.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.41 ISK 4,091

$42.54 ISK 5,209

-21.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 ISK 331

$3.21 ISK 393

-15.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.62 ISK 320

$2.53 ISK 310

3.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 314

$3.00 ISK 368

-14.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.17 ISK 878

$4.92 ISK 603

45.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 ISK 391

$3.59 ISK 440

-11.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 ISK 251

$2.45 ISK 300

-16.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.52 ISK 431

$3.14 ISK 385

12.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 169

$1.94 ISK 237

-28.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.96 ISK 1,832

$13.89 ISK 1,701

7.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.73 ISK 2,784

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.69 ISK 451

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ISK 140

$3.30 ISK 404

-65.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.49 ISK 550

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.3 ISK 8,726

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 ISK 725

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 ISK 322

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.6 ISK 10.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.54 ISK 311

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

$47.0K ISK 5.8M

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

$53.3K ISK 6.5M

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

$87.8 ISK 10.8K

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

$27.64 ISK 3,384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.9 ISK 10.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.9 ISK 8,440

Cinema Ticket

$16.65 ISK 2,039

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

$326 ISK 39.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.2K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$137 ISK 16.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.9 ISK 6,358

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$162 ISK 19.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$264 ISK 32.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,864 ISK 350.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,751 ISK 826.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,553 ISK 802.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,391 ISK 660.1K

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Kopavogur: April 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 Kopavogur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss costs about 107% more than Kopavogur, 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 $5,346 per month in Selfoss and $2,577 in Kopavogur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,564 in Selfoss and $1,718 in Kopavogur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% 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 Kopavogur, where all-in costs run around $1,718, than in Selfoss at $3,564. In Kopavogur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Selfoss it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kopavogur – 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 Kopavogur. 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.