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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,462 per month in Selfoss vs $1,745 in Kopavogur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,428 per month in Selfoss vs $2,854 in Kopavogur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,394 per month in Selfoss vs $3,962 in Kopavogur, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 98% more than Kopavogur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selfoss and Kopavogur sit above the global median – Selfoss by 160%, Kopavogur by 31%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$26.96 ISK 3,333

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$97.5 ISK 12.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.38 ISK 2,519

$22.21 ISK 2,745

-8.24%

Cappuccino

$6.06 ISK 749

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

$2.03 ISK 251

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 ISK 312

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.83 ISK 1,462

$10.31 ISK 1,274

14.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.16 ISK 1,379

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ISK 215

$1.71 ISK 212

1.75%

White Bread (500g)

$7.09 ISK 876

$4.38 ISK 541

61.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 ISK 529

$3.60 ISK 445

18.89%

Eggs

$6.43 ISK 795

$6.46 ISK 798

-0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.96 ISK 2,096

$18.36 ISK 2,269

-7.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.63 ISK 2,549

$23.88 ISK 2,952

-13.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.75 ISK 4,047

$43.17 ISK 5,336

-24.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 ISK 333

$3.27 ISK 404

-17.74%

Banana (1kg)

$2.65 ISK 328

$2.40 ISK 297

10.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ISK 323

$3.02 ISK 373

-13.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.27 ISK 898

$5.02 ISK 621

44.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 ISK 393

$3.71 ISK 459

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 256

$2.36 ISK 291

-12.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.56 ISK 440

$3.12 ISK 386

14.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 171

$1.94 ISK 239

-28.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.41 ISK 1,904

$13.61 ISK 1,682

13.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.86 ISK 2,825

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.73 ISK 462

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ISK 141

$3.23 ISK 400

-64.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.51 ISK 558

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.1 ISK 8,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.75 ISK 711

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.54 ISK 314

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.5 ISK 10.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.47 ISK 306

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

$47.6K ISK 5.9M

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

$52.7K ISK 6.5M

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

$88.2 ISK 10.9K

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

$27.85 ISK 3,442

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.0 ISK 10.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.2 ISK 8,428

Cinema Ticket

$16.50 ISK 2,039

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

$320 ISK 39.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.0K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$140 ISK 17.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 ISK 6,567

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$163 ISK 20.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$266 ISK 32.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,903 ISK 358.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,605 ISK 816.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,390 ISK 789.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,128 ISK 633.8K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Kopavogur: July 26, 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 98% 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 $5,192 per month in Selfoss and $2,618 in Kopavogur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,462 in Selfoss and $1,745 in Kopavogur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% 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 $1,745, than in Selfoss at $3,462. 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.