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Speaking about Icelandic supermarkets and Iceland grocery shops just isn’t probably the most thrilling topic. Nevertheless, earlier than our journey to Iceland, we discovered ourselves doing a little analysis concerning the costs within the supermarkets in Iceland. We discovered that we weren’t the one ones questioning and that many individuals really ask concerning the costs of Iceland grocery shops.
It’s an essential a part of budgeting. Given the recognition of camper vans, Airbnb, and tenting, many individuals discover themselves cooking their very own meals to keep away from the loopy excessive meals prices in Iceland. This vacationer information ought to assist save and price range accordingly for purchasing in Iceland grocery shops.
A Information to Iceland Grocery Shops
Icelandic Grocery store Chains To Store At
There are a number of totally different chain markets you possibly can anticipate finding in Iceland. Right here’s a short overview of the totally different grocery shops and that are our favorites.
Iceland Grocery Retailer #1: Bónus
That is probably the most outstanding grocery retailer in Iceland. They’ve a number of areas all through Iceland, and you could find a number of alongside the ring highway. The overwhelming majority of their shops and Iceland markets are in Reykjavik.
Bónus is a price range grocery store in Iceland. The retailers are the Icelandic equal of a Lidl or Aldi. They provide a restricted variety of merchandise and draw back from title manufacturers.
Regardless of having a extra restricted choice, they nonetheless have greater than sufficient for anybody’s primary wants. Until you’re a gourmand, Bónus will probably be greater than sufficient for you. That is our decide for the greatest grocery retailer in Iceland and is what we have now all the time sought to search out.
When you’re having a tricky time discovering a Bonus, simply keep in mind their brand is the cartoon pig with a black eye. Don’t ask us why the pig has a black eye. Perhaps he bought right into a combat with one other pig.
Iceland Grocery Retailer #2: Krónan
Krónan is the closest competitor to Bónus. They carry a bigger choice of merchandise, extra produce, and several other wholesome meals choices. Their costs are a detailed second to Bónus, however we did discover Krónan to be barely greater priced.
They do provide a big recent meat and fish part, however since we eat principally vegetarian, we are able to’t touch upon the costs. This Iceland grocery retailer carries specialty merchandise like natural well being meals and gluten-free bread.
Their brand is a smiling yellow-colored orange. If that’s too complicated, it’s like somebody painted a yellow smiley on an orange.
Iceland Grocery Retailer #3: Nettó
Nettó is one other low cost store based mostly in Akureyri, and we noticed a couple of different shops all through Iceland. They promote a wide array of merchandise, together with issues like garments and kids’s video games. When you want a random family merchandise, we advocate trying inside.
For some motive, their brand is a hole orange apple. If there’s a gifted graphic artist in want of labor, I imagine Iceland has some openings!
Iceland Grocery Retailer #4: Víðir
Víðir might be the nicest meals market in Iceland. The brand new chain has a number of areas round Reykjavík. They’ve a pleasant choice of recent fruit and greens. Additionally they carry a variety of wholesome meals and high quality merchandise. It’s dearer than the price range Iceland supermarkets however carries the highest quality of meals merchandise in Iceland.
Iceland Grocery Retailer #5: 10-11
The primary time we walked into one of many shops, we had been simply looking for some Nescafe. That was till we noticed the value at a staggering $13… Even our favourite habit of Haribo was $6 a bag.
The costs listed below are obscene, and it’s unlikely any locals use the retailers if they’ll keep away from it. Our recommendation is to steer clear as they’re a minimum of double the usual Icelandic worth. Though, we did discover the tour buses conveniently made their cease…
Iceland Grocery Retailer #6: Costco
I cannot touch upon this one. Nevertheless, it was an enormous deal when Costco opened a retailer in Iceland. Even a couple of locals we talked to had been excited concerning the prospect of the megastore. When you’re already a member, we’d recommend giving the shop a cease as their memberships are good worldwide.
The place To Purchase Meals In Iceland?
You shouldn’t anticipate finding a grocery retailer in each little city, however the locals do should eat, and most main cities include some type of an Iceland grocery store.
We had been in a position to drive the whole thing of the Ring Highway and solely shopped at Bónus each couple of days. We discovered an Iceland grocery retailer within the following cities Stykkishólmur, Akureyri, Egilsstadir, and Reykjavik.
What Are The Meals Costs in an Iceland Grocery Retailer?
The meals costs in Iceland range concerning merchandise within the markets. We discovered many meals merchandise affordable, after which we’d discover produce objects like an aubergine (eggplant) for $6. That’s like the most cost effective vegetable subsequent to potatoes! Iceland is among the world’s most costly international locations, and even the meals costs replicate that.
You possibly can nonetheless get by on a price range, however will probably be restricted. We discovered merchandise like milk, bread, rice, frozen greens, and apples to not be ridiculous. We made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch as a budget-saving technique. (What American doesn’t love that?) For snacks, we ate apples and peanuts, all the time strong choices which are wholesome and hold you full.
Product | Worth | Product | Worth |
---|---|---|---|
Rice (kg) | $3.50 | Apples (kg) | $3.25 |
Bread | $4.00 | Tomato (kg) | $2.75 |
Eggs (12) | $6.00 | Bananas (kg) | $2.50 |
Cheese (kg) | $16.00 | Onion (kg) | $1.50 |
Hen (kg) | $20.00 | Lettuce (kg) | $3.00 |
Milk | $1.50 | Potato (kg) | $2.75 |
What to Finances For Meals in Iceland
We ate very modestly and fully vegetarian whereas cooking our personal meals in Iceland. Nevertheless, in 10 days of tenting, we spent $225 on meals. That’s simply over $11 a day in meals per particular person.
It will be simple to spend extra on meals; I suppose we might have spent rather less. We by no means went hungry and had loads of snacks all through the day. When you’re attempting to work out a price range, it could be protected to price range $15-$20 a day per particular person, because it’s all the time higher to come back in below price range than over!
Our Ideas for Saving on Iceland Grocery Procuring
Choose and Select Greens
Some greens are inexpensive, whereas others are simply ridiculous. Contemporary produce, typically, is excessive. That being stated, the essential staples are inside anybody’s price range. Issues like tomatoes, apples, and potatoes had been low cost.
Our saving grace for greens got here within the type of frozen greens. They aren’t nice, and we often keep away from them when cooking at house; nonetheless, Iceland doesn’t develop most of its produce, so the very best costs come from frozen meals.
Overlook the Prepared-Made Meals in Icelandic Supermarkets
Once we’re on the highway, we love to choose up ready-made meals at grocery shops. It’s often an inexpensive and wholesome technique to eat lunch. Nevertheless, in Iceland, we discovered the ready-made choices to be costly or downright dangerous. Anticipate a white bread sandwich with a hefty serving of mayo to value between $8-$9.
Deliver The Proper Stuff From Dwelling
That is actually geared for campers and people doing the Ring Highway. Nevertheless, bringing the fitting merchandise from house can prevent a buck and make your journey far more pleasurable.
- AeroPress: Chopping again on pointless prices like espresso is a simple technique to save a price range, particularly in a spot like Iceland. I’d additionally recommend selecting up a bag of your favourite brew as will probably be cheaper than in Iceland. (*Full disclosure: We’re espresso addicts)
- Go away the freeze-dried meals at house. The fast-cooking meals is pointless until you propose a multi-day hike. I’ve seen a couple of individuals advocate bringing the stuff, don’t do it.
- When you plan to camp or use a campervan, ensure that to convey a multi-functional tenting set. Though our van got here with some cooking tools, it’s a little restricted by itself. It doesn’t damage to choose up one thing like this set is a superb alternative.
- When you can, we advocate carrying a jet boil for each campers and people in a campervan. Whereas our van got here with one burner having an extra backpacking range could make life far more snug. Like cooking breakfast and low within the morning!
Keep away from Gasoline Station Meals
Be warned, gasoline stations are costly in Iceland! That extends past the whopping gasoline costs ($8/gallon)! We’ve seen a scorching canine or cheeseburger meal in a gasoline station go for $15 a meal. The restricted meals merchandise they carry are usually double the usual worth in Iceland. Keep away from!
Don’t Miss the Iceland Regional Specialties
You don’t should eat out to take pleasure in native meals while you journey. Certainly one of our favourite issues is selecting specialty merchandise in international locations after which cooking them on our personal.
Our two favourite merchandise we present in Iceland had been skyr and smoked char. Smoked char is much like salmon however approach higher, and it’s definitely worth the excessive value.
Plan Your Journey to Iceland
E book a Camper!
A campervan is one of the simplest ways to get round Iceland on a price range. Whereas a camper is barely dearer than a automotive, you possibly can sleep and prepare dinner in it! You don’t should seek for accommodations or cope with costly eating places in Iceland.
Plus, you sleep in nature and nonetheless use a heater if you want! If you wish to journey with a Glad Campers van as we did (and you must. They’re the BEST!) ensure that to learn our full evaluate. You possibly can simply guide utilizing this hyperlink, however ensure that to guide effectively prematurely in the course of the excessive season.
When is the Greatest Time to Go to Iceland?
In my view, the very best instances to go to Iceland are June, July, September, October, and December – but it surely all is determined by what you need! June-August is the excessive season, however additionally it is summer season in Iceland when you can find probably the most nice temperatures.
It’s additionally when you’ll expertise probably the most quantity of daylight and get probably the most out of your journey. December is nice as a result of it’s winter, you stand a robust likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights, it’s off-season, and the temperatures haven’t gone to finish freezing but.
Nevertheless, my private favourite time to journey to Iceland is in the course of the fall months. It’s September and October when you will notice the leaves change vibrant colours across the nation. Temperatures are nonetheless delicate, and tourism is slowing down. You possibly can see the complete month-by-month breakdown for Iceland journey right here.
Issues to do in Iceland
There are actually so many issues to do in Iceland I might write a guide about it. Sadly, I don’t have that type of time so I’m exhibiting you the last word Iceland bucket checklist right here. Some issues which are a should do are go to an Iceland swimming pool, soak in a pure scorching spring, stand below a waterfall, and see the Northern Lights.
Is Iceland Costly?
Iceland is mega costly. One of the vital costly international locations in all the world really. Just be sure you plan accordingly and consistent with your price range. It’s actually attainable to do Iceland on a price range of lower than $100 in case you are tenting, cooking all your individual primary meals, and touring by public transport or rating a superb deal on a rental.
The excellent news is that nature is free, and also you’ll be capable of see Iceland’s magnificence with out paying for it. So sure – it’s fully doable to have an inexpensive Iceland trip. When you plan on consuming you should definitely decide up responsibility free alcohol earlier than you allow the airport. A pint of beer can simply run you $15-$20!
Useful Iceland Journey Ideas
- Icelanders communicate Icelandic, however each single particular person I got here throughout spoke English.
- The native forex is the Icelandic króna (ISK). ATMs are discovered all through the nation
- Iceland is among the most secure international locations on the planet; nonetheless, it’s all the time essential to make use of frequent sense when strolling alone at evening.
- Tipping just isn’t customary in Iceland.
- Iceland has a robust web infrastructure and you must be capable of simply keep related.
- To really feel extra at house we use Airbnb you possibly can try some suggestions and browse extra about getting an Airbnb coupon code right here. Or simply take this coupon on your first keep!
- Generally it’s good simply to have an actual guide in your arms when touring. We advocate Lonely Planet to get you thru these wi-fi nights.
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