Expats

Best supermarkets in Iceland: Where to go grocery shopping?

Knowing which are the best supermarkets in Iceland is essential for saving money due to the high cost of living.

When moving to a new country, one of the first things you’ll need to do is stock the fridge. However, if you’re unfamiliar with the area, it’ll be tricky to know which are the best supermarkets in Iceland. This country is known for its high cost of living, but you can choose from different types of stores offering discounts and deals to suit all budgets.

In this article, we’ve selected the five most characteristic and highly-rated supermarkets in Iceland, as valued by its residents. We’ll explore where they’re located, what products they offer, and their prices. You’ll also get to know some small local shops and other types of establishments that will make your new life in this Nordic country easier.

In this article

What Types of Stores Are There in Iceland?

As we mentioned earlier, this country has a high cost of living and, although it also boasts high wages and an excellent quality of life thanks to its stable economy and security, food prices in Icelandic supermarkets can really add to your monthly budget.

This is because most essential products are imported, making buying food or dining out more expensive than in other European cities. Below are the types of stores you can find:

Discount Supermarkets: Offer lower prices compared to the average store. Example: Bónus and Krónan.
Medium-Sized Supermarkets: Have slightly higher prices but offer more variety, including international brands and fresh products. Example: Nettó.
Premium or Convenience Supermarkets: Located in central urban areas, they have longer opening hours and higher prices.
Local Shops: Small stores in villages and rural areas offering essentials like bread, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and basic products.
Specialty Stores: With international, organic, or gourmet products, increasingly available in cities like Reykjavik.

The 5 Most Noteworthy Supermarkets in Iceland

As a digital nomad, student, or tourist who’s staying in Iceland for a few days or a longer period, it’s important to get to know the supermarkets in Iceland to plan your daily life and budget. So, let’s dive a bit deeper into some of the most well-known stores!

1. Bónus

The first supermarket in Iceland we want to introduce to you is the local chain Bónus, founded in 1989 in Reykjavik. It’s frequently visited by locals, as it’s the most affordable option in the country for both basic, imported, and local products. Currently, it has 33 local stores across Iceland, some in the capital and others along major roads.

It’s a very basic store, without decoration or extra services, as they focus on reducing costs to prioritise food. If you want to visit, it’s open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and here are the prices you can expect:

Milk (500 ml): $2.07 (€1.75)
Eggs (12 pcs): $6.19 (€5.24)
Chicken (0.5 kg): $9.90 (€8.38)
Bread (loaf): $2.88 (€2.44)

Pros	Cons
Low prices for basic products	Less variety of gourmet products
Wide coverage in populated and accessible areas	Simple facilities
Ideal for a basic shop	Stock limitations

Advantages and disadvantages of Bónus supermarket.

2. Krónan

Another discount supermarket chain in Iceland is Krónan, with 26 locations across Reykjavik, the south, Akureyri, Selfoss, and two in the northern part of the country. This store stands out for its environmental efforts with three key focuses: Reducing food waste, saving energy, and focusing on packaging. Here are some of its prices:

Milk (1 litre): $1.65 (€1.40)
Eggs (12 pcs): $4.84 (€4.10)
Chicken (1 kg): $12.22 (€10.35)
Bread (loaf): $2.66 (€2.25)

As a fun fact, kids can eat free fruit while you shop, allowing parents to fill their baskets more peacefully. It offers more customer services, as well as more variety than Bónus, including organic products, fruits, vegetables, and international brands. The opening hours are 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM in the capital, and in smaller stores, they typically close an hour earlier.

Pros	Cons
Variety of basic, fresh, and healthy products	Higher prices than Bónus
Good balance of quality and price	Less variety in remote areas
Longer opening hours

Advantages and disadvantages of Krónan supermarket.

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3. Hlemmur Mathöll (Central Market)

In addition to the typical supermarkets in Iceland, you can also shop at a food hall, the Central Market in the capital, located in the former bus station. It’s a space to eat, socialise, and explore Icelandic and international cuisine, but it’s not a place for a large grocery shop, just for purchasing bread, sweets, or other speciality foods.

Eating here will cost you more than shopping at a supermarket, but if you live in this country, you must visit its stalls. It’s open from late morning until approximately 10:00 PM.

Pros	Cons
Variety of food	Higher prices
Social atmosphere	Less variety of products to buy
Central Location	Very crowded

Advantages and disadvantages of the Central Market.

4. 10-11

This small convenience store is spread across the country, in central areas, stations, airports, or gas stations. Although there are many 10-11 stores, they’re not as common as Icelandic supermarkets, and their prices are slightly higher than Bónus or Krónan, about 50% more.

Here you’ll find snacks, drinks, convenience products, sandwiches, bread, hot drinks, and some basic foods. It’s the perfect shop for an emergency purchase or grabbing something to eat on the go. The opening hours depend on the location, with some stores staying open until night or even 24 hours.

Pros	Cons
For urgent purchases	Higher prices
24-hour opening	No fresh products
Perfect for when you’re travelling	No weekly shopping

Advantages and disadvantages of the Central Market.

best supermarket in iceland

5. Corner Market, Local Shop

In Iceland, you can also buy basic food in small local shops, such as bread, milk, eggs, drinks, cold cuts, or cheese. These types of stores are great for daily, small purchases as they’re usually located in every neighbourhood.

Although their prices are higher than in supermarkets, the convenience of having it around the corner is worth it. Corner Market is one of these small stores located in downtown Reykjavik, with opening hours from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Here are its approximate prices:

Milk (1 litre): $2.88 (€2.10)
Eggs (12 pcs): $7.44 (€6.30)
Chicken (1 kg): $20.66 (€17.50)
Bread (loaf): $5.90 (€5.00)

Pros	Cons
Long opening hours	Higher prices
Local products	Lower stock than in a supermarket
Central Location	Not recommended for big shopping

Pros and cons of Corner Market.

best supermarket in iceland

Other Noteworthy Stores and Shops in Iceland

In addition to shopping for food in the supermarkets in Iceland we’ve just seen, it’s also very useful to know where to find stores selling thermal clothing, electronics, DIY, home products, or footwear. Although, being an island country, there is not as much variety of chains as in Europe, in the main cities you can find anything you need.

Elko, Electronics Store

This is the largest electronics chain in the country, similar to MediaMarkt, and part of the Festi group, which also owns the Krónan supermarkets mentioned earlier. They have several branches in Reykjavik (Smáralind, Skeifan, Kringlan) and in Akureyri, with opening hours from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM or 8:00 PM.

If you need a fridge, washing machine, coffee maker, computer, or accessories for your new home, you’ll find them here at prices higher than in other European countries due to import costs and taxes. For example, an iPhone may cost 15% more than in Spain or Germany.

Pros	Cons
Wide variety of products	Higher prices than in Europe
Spacious and organised stores	Limited selection of international brands
Good after-sales service and local warranty	Only available in major cities

Advantages and disadvantages of Elko.

66°North (Icelandic Clothing Store)

Now you can start buying clothes to keep warm in the winter, and the best place to do so is at this Icelandic store founded in 1926. This brand is a national symbol and exports its high-quality winter clothing designed for Iceland’s extreme climate to other countries.

There are several stores across the country, such as on Laugavegur Street in Reykjavik, with opening hours from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and prices that reflect the durability and resistance of their materials. For instance, a jacket starts at $430 (€365).

Pros	Cons
The best clothing for cold weather	Very high prices
International prestige	Only technical clothing
Central locations	Only available in major cities

Advantages and disadvantages of 66°North.

Icelandic clothing that you can buy in a specialised shop.

Húsasmiðjan, DIY Store

Looking to make some small renovations in your new home in Iceland? If you’re searching for a store like Leroy Merlin or Home Depot, the largest hardware chain in the country is Húsasmiðjan. It’s located in the capital and other towns like Akureyri and Selfoss, with opening hours from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Here you can find tools, building materials, simple furniture, and gardening items, with higher prices than in other countries for imported products.