Costco has best prices, food, family fun!
We go to Costco regularly in the US and when we saw they had one in Iceland we had to check it out and see if it was different and what they offered. As expected, Costco has the best prices in Iceland and family fun as well!
For the most part the Costco felt just like any other Costco in the US. However, as expected, the prices were higher and they had some interesting items I had not seen before. Also, while I am sure the pricing in this Costco is favorable compared to other stores in Iceland, the cost of having to import just about everything to Iceland is seen here as well.
Iceland Costco price comparisons
The table below shows just a few prices of product in Costco. As you can see pricing is quite a bit higher than the US Costcos and this is representative of almost all prices across the board, but the prices at Costco are considerably lower than prices elsewhere in Iceland making it an ideal place for tourists to stop.
Item | Iceland Price | US Price | Difference |
Coke Zero (per oz) | $0.0547 | $0.0402 | 136% |
Hotdog and drink meal | $2.50 | $1.50 | 167% |
501 Jeans | $56.00 | $29.22 | 192% |
Gasoline (per gal) | $5.38 | $2.99 | 180% |
Food court differences
The food court initially feels very much like the ones in the US but the menu selection is smaller and once again the prices are higher.
Still, Costco is a good place to get a value meal while in Iceland. However, the food is different than in the states. Here are some differences in the food we found.
Hotdogs have crunchy sweet caramelized onions under the hotdog – I would have preferred to have left them off.
Also the chicken bake (one of my wife’s favorites in the US) tasted different here. My wife didn’t like it near as much as the US version. My children also did not like the taste of the smoothies they offered.
Interesting things we found
Oven Roasted Monkey Nuts – I had never heard of these and had to look them up to see what they were since they were out. Basically they are toasted peanuts. I don’t know if I would have chosen that name for a product but Icelanders apparently love them since they were out. I don’t think this is an Iceland specific product though.
Haribo Giant Strawbs / Fizzy Worms / Tangfastics – Candy is always good to browse through in foreign countries as there are always different brands and varieties. While my kids love Haribo gummy bears I had never seen these before.
Cereal – Shreddies / Weetabix – Cereal is another interesting product to check out in foreign countries. They typically have similar products but the names are different. I like the side of the box “Wakey, Wakey, Shreddie or not?”. LOL
Streaky Sandwich Bacon – This is probably just regular marbled bacon but I found the name interesting.
Stealth Fries – This is another name that sounded strange. What makes them stealth? I had to look them up and this article says they are coated so they fry up golden brown and stay hot longer.
Maple Water – I had never heard of maple water until Iceland but this website says it is better for you than regular water and coconut water.
Man Sized Kleenex – Again, I had never heard of Man Sized Kleenex before this trip and based on this article if you haven’t seen them branded as Man Sized by now you may not. Kleenex is rebranding them because of complaints of sexism.
The Real American Super Bun – Accept no substitutes. Nuff said!
Summary
If you go to Iceland, Costco can be a good place to visit for the same reasons as in the US; good prices, quality products and volume. Costco is a good place for an afternoon meal and to look at the prices and products in a setting that is familiar to you! Also if you are driving Costco is a great place to fill up. However there is only one in Iceland so best to hit it early in your trip (or when you return before turning in your rental car) and stock up on things you need. It will save money and will also be a fun experience for you and your family!