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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,533 per month in Selfoss vs $1,758 in Kopavogur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,478 per month in Selfoss vs $2,907 in Kopavogur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,422 per month in Selfoss vs $4,056 in Kopavogur, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 101% more than Kopavogur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selfoss and Kopavogur sit above the global median – Selfoss by 163%, Kopavogur by 31%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.14 ISK 3,379

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$97.7 ISK 12.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.63 ISK 2,444

$22.72 ISK 2,829

-13.60%

Cappuccino

$5.94 ISK 740

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

$2.05 ISK 255

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ISK 325

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.26 ISK 1,527

$10.42 ISK 1,297

17.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.16 ISK 1,389

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ISK 218

$1.67 ISK 208

4.79%

White Bread (500g)

$7.42 ISK 924

$4.26 ISK 530

74.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 ISK 538

$3.72 ISK 464

16.13%

Eggs

$6.22 ISK 774

$6.28 ISK 782

-0.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.97 ISK 2,113

$18.44 ISK 2,295

-7.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.17 ISK 2,635

$23.79 ISK 2,962

-11.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.10 ISK 4,121

$43.13 ISK 5,370

-23.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ISK 344

$3.25 ISK 404

-15.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ISK 322

$2.52 ISK 314

2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 320

$3.06 ISK 381

-16.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.15 ISK 891

$4.90 ISK 610

45.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 ISK 391

$3.64 ISK 453

-13.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 257

$2.33 ISK 290

-11.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.59 ISK 447

$3.07 ISK 382

16.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ISK 167

$1.99 ISK 248

-32.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.37 ISK 1,914

$13.46 ISK 1,676

14.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.50 ISK 2,926

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.57 ISK 444

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 ISK 137

$3.22 ISK 401

-65.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.29 ISK 534

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.2 ISK 8,986

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.03 ISK 751

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 ISK 321

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$86.9 ISK 10.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.45 ISK 305

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)

$52.0K ISK 6.5M

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)

$27.92 ISK 3,475

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.7 ISK 10.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.8 ISK 8,811

Cinema Ticket

$16.55 ISK 2,061

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

$319 ISK 39.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.1K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$138 ISK 17.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.8 ISK 6,570

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$163 ISK 20.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$265 ISK 33.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 ISK 359.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,690 ISK 832.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,332 ISK 788.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,306 ISK 660.6K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kopavogur: June 8, 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 101% 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 $5,299 per month in Selfoss and $2,637 in Kopavogur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,533 in Selfoss and $1,758 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 $1,758, than in Selfoss at $3,533. 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.