Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,570 in Selfoss versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,495 in Selfoss versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,420 in Selfoss versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 62% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 166% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.91 €13.69

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 €55.7

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.29 ISK 2,501

$10.51 €9.04

93.05%

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.47

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

$2.24 €1.93

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.95 ISK 1,473

$3.49 €3.00

242.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 €3.34

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ISK 213

$1.14 €0.98

50.88%

White Bread (500g)

$7.35 ISK 907

$1.75 €1.51

320.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.47 ISK 551

$1.76 €1.51

153.98%

Eggs

$6.25 ISK 770

$3.22 €2.77

94.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.79 ISK 2,070

$13.49 €11.61

24.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.12 ISK 2,604

$7.91 €6.81

167.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.72 ISK 4,034

$15.87 €13.65

106.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ISK 342

$2.31 €1.99

19.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 317

$1.70 €1.46

51.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ISK 335

$2.01 €1.73

35.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.27 ISK 896

$2.46 €2.12

195.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 ISK 375

$1.84 €1.59

65.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 ISK 250

$2.00 €1.72

1.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.43 ISK 422

$1.93 €1.66

77.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ISK 170

$0.79 €0.68

74.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.40 ISK 1,899

$6.61 €5.68

132.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 €4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 ISK 139

$2.97 €2.56

-61.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 €39.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.30 €15.74

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.78

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

$34.3K €29.5K

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

$39.3K €33.8K

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

$148 €127

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

$20.52 €17.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 €34.08

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.16

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.28

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 €7.90

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

$614 €528

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 €36.18

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 €80.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 €1,400

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,924 ISK 360.6K

$1,255 €1,080

132.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,030 €2,607

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 €1,738

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,800 €6,709

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,273 €3,675

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,603 €1,379

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Selfoss: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss and Lisbon differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($3,570 vs $2,210 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,355 in Selfoss and $3,315 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 89% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,570 per month in Selfoss versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,210 in Lisbon versus $3,570 in Selfoss, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Selfoss. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Selfoss and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.