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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,496 per month in Selfoss vs $1,820 in Kopavogur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,470 per month in Selfoss vs $3,023 in Kopavogur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,444 per month in Selfoss vs $4,226 in Kopavogur, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 92% more than Kopavogur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selfoss and Kopavogur sit above the global median – Selfoss by 156%, Kopavogur by 33%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.20 ISK 3,678

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.7 ISK 10.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.93 ISK 2,549

$24.76 ISK 3,016

-15.47%

Cappuccino

$6.59 ISK 802

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

$3.03 ISK 369

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 ISK 394

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.41 ISK 1,512

$10.87 ISK 1,324

14.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.20 ISK 1,486

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ISK 215

$1.68 ISK 205

4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$7.28 ISK 886

$4.42 ISK 539

64.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 ISK 546

$3.59 ISK 437

25.07%

Eggs

$6.59 ISK 802

$7.19 ISK 875

-8.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 ISK 2,071

$21.58 ISK 2,629

-21.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.05 ISK 2,564

$24.52 ISK 2,987

-14.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$34.45 ISK 4,196

$42.80 ISK 5,213

-19.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ISK 333

$3.38 ISK 412

-18.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.70 ISK 329

$2.83 ISK 345

-4.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 ISK 321

$3.28 ISK 399

-19.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.04 ISK 857

$6.49 ISK 791

8.47%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 ISK 398

$4.09 ISK 498

-20.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 ISK 264

$1.71 ISK 209

26.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.56 ISK 433

$3.65 ISK 445

-2.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ISK 173

$1.76 ISK 214

-19.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.55 ISK 1,894

$14.25 ISK 1,735

9.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.97 ISK 2,920

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.73 ISK 454

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ISK 144

$3.36 ISK 409

-64.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.56 ISK 556

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.7 ISK 9,221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 ISK 726

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.80 ISK 341

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$75.5 ISK 9,196

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.94 ISK 237

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)

$54.0K ISK 6.6M

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

$89.3 ISK 10.9K

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

$32.72 ISK 3,985

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.8 ISK 10.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.7 ISK 8,608

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.5 ISK 6,520

Cinema Ticket

$17.23 ISK 2,099

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

$477 ISK 58.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.7K ISK 3.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$151 ISK 18.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.3 ISK 6,616

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$165 ISK 20.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$251 ISK 30.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 ISK 344.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,709 ISK 817.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,469 ISK 788.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,341 ISK 650.5K

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 Kopavogur: 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 Kopavogur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss costs about 92% 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 $5,244 per month in Selfoss and $2,730 in Kopavogur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,496 in Selfoss and $1,820 in Kopavogur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% 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 $1,820, than in Selfoss at $3,496. 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.