The easiest way to spend too much on food in Iceland is not some complicated tourist trap. It is doing a full grocery shop at the first small shop you see because it is close to your accommodation.
For an ordinary supermarket shop, start by looking for Prís, Bónus, Nettó, or Krónan. Other shops may be more convenient, open later, or have exactly what you need, but convenience can cost considerably more.
This guide is about supermarkets and everyday groceries. Small late-night shops and petrol-station stores are useful in different circumstances and deserve a separate comparison.
The short version
- Prís is my first price choice when its single Kópavogur location is practical.
- Bónus is usually the easiest lower-cost chain to find.
- Nettó and Krónan are the next places I normally compare.
- A nearby shop can still be the sensible choice if reaching a cheaper one costs more time or transport than you save.
That is my working local hierarchy, not a guarantee that every item will be cheapest in that order. Promotions, pack sizes, own-brand products, and location all affect the final bill. Compare the same useful basket at the stores that are practical for you, and note the date and products if you want a fair comparison.
Prís: the price-first option with one important limitation
Prís states that its goal is to be Iceland's cheapest grocery and household-goods store. It is the first place I would check on price, but at the time of writing it has one location at Smáratorg in Kópavogur. The store lists daily opening hours of 10:00 to 20:00.
That makes Prís relevant if you have a car, are staying nearby, or can combine the trip with something else. It is not automatically a money-saving destination if you must spend a large part of the day travelling there for a small basket.
Bónus: the practical low-cost default
Bónus is often the most practical starting point because it has multiple locations and presents itself as a low-price chain. For many visitors, the best supermarket is not the theoretical cheapest store in Iceland. It is the cheaper chain they can reach easily and use without rearranging the day.
Selection varies by location. A small central branch and a larger suburban branch should not be treated as identical simply because the sign outside is the same.
Nettó and Krónan: compare selection as well as price
Nettó and Krónan are my next lower-cost choices. They can be worth using when their location, opening hours, fresh selection, or a particular product makes them more convenient than the price-first options.
Krónan labels some products ódýrt, meaning “inexpensive.” The chain explains that this marks the cheapest product in that category and one priced comparably with the nearest discount supermarket. That is useful, but it is still better to compare unit prices than to rely on any single shelf label.
Compare a basket, not one dramatic price
A useful comparison needs the same products, quantities, and date. A useful basket contains things a visitor might actually buy:
- Milk or a common plant-based alternative.
- Skyr.
- Bread.
- Eggs.
- Bananas or apples.
- Pasta and a basic sauce.
- Cheese.
- Coffee.
- A simple ready-to-eat lunch item.
- One Icelandic product a visitor may want to try.
We should record both the package price and the unit price. A smaller packet can look cheaper while costing more per kilogram or litre. Promotions should be identified rather than treated as the normal price.
When the more expensive shop is still the right answer
Do not turn grocery shopping into an expedition to save a few hundred krónur. A nearby shop can be the better choice when:
- You only need breakfast or one missing ingredient.
- You would need a taxi or a long detour to reach another store.
- Weather makes the longer trip unpleasant or unsafe.
- The cheaper store does not carry the product you need.
- You are buying food for one or two days rather than a full week.
The goal is not to win Icelandic grocery shopping. It is to avoid paying convenience-store prices for an ordinary supermarket basket without wasting part of your trip.
Check current details before you go
Prices and opening hours change. Check the current branch listings for Nettó, Bónus, Prís, and Krónan before travelling, especially around public holidays. When BlueBlunder publishes a photographed basket comparison, it will identify the branch, date, package size, promotion status, and receipt total so readers can judge it properly.