Supermarket Prices in Norway in 2024

One of the first things one realizes when arriving in Norway is the cost of literally everything! Norway is renowned for its high cost of living, a factor that extends significantly into the realm of Supermarket prices. Price of groceries in Norway can be a notable expense for tourists and newcomers, reflecting the country’s generally high cost of living. The below guide is based on my own recent trips to Norway, having traveled there a total of 4 times now! My more recent trips have been longer stays often in rural areas with less places to eat out, hence involved a lot more grocery shopping.

Norway can be expensive to travel, but the cost of food should not be prohibitive from exploring this stunning country. Below is a guide to supermarket prices, including typical grocery costs in Norway, prices comparisons across Norweigan’s main supermarkets as well as cost saving tips for grocery shopping in Norway. For more on the cost of dining out in Norway check out my detailed guide on the Cost of Eating Out in Norway.

Grocery Prices in Norway – A quick summary

Below is an guide to the cost of common grocery items found in supermarkets across Norway. We typically bought snacks as well as supplies for simple meals such as sandwiches and pasta. Prices will tend to be higher or exclusive items.

Fresh Produce	Dairy	Meat & Seafood	Pantry Staples	Snacks & Frozen Foods	Beverages

Apples (1 kg) – 28 NOK / $2.55 USD

Milk (1 liter) – 20 NOK / $1.85 USD

Chicken Breast (1 kg) – 100 NOK / $9.10 USD

Rice (1 kg) – 25 NOK / $2.30 USD

Frozen Vegetables (1 kg) – 35 NOK / $3.20 USD

Beer (0.5 liter) – 50 NOK / $4.55 USD

Tomatoes (1 kg) – 40 NOK / $3.65 USD

Cheese (500 g) – 60 NOK / $5.50 USD

Minced Beef (1 kg) – 150 NOK / $13.65 USD

Pasta (1 kg) – 20 NOK / $1.85 USD

Frozen Pizza (1 piece) – 50 NOK / $4.55 USD

Soda (1.5 liter) – 30 NOK / $2.75 USD

Bananas (1 kg) – 22 NOK / $2.00 USD

Butter (250 g) – 35 NOK / $3.20 USD

Fresh Salmon (1 kg) – 180 NOK / $16.40 USD

Flour (1 kg) – 15 NOK / $1.40 USD

Chips (200 g) – 25 NOK / $2.30 USD

Coffee (250 g) – 70 NOK / $6.40 USD

Potatoes (1 kg) – 20 NOK / $1.85 USD

Yogurt (500 g) – 18 NOK / $1.65 USD

Cod (1 kg) – 150 NOK / $13.65 USD

Sugar (1 kg) – 25 NOK / $2.30 USD

Chocolate Bar (200 g) – 30 NOK / $2.75 USD

Tea (20 bags) – 40 NOK / $3.65 USD

Carrots (1 kg) – 18 NOK / $1.65 USD

Shrimp (1 kg) – 200 NOK / $18.20 USD

Cooking Oil (1 liter) – 50 NOK / $4.55 USD

Ice Cream (500 ml) – 45 NOK / $4.10 USD

Juice (1 liter) – 30 NOK / $2.75 USD

Based on the above prices, the cost of some simple meals we prepared at our Airbnb was approximately as follows –

1. Sandwiches (for 2 people)

Ingredients:

Bread (loaf): 28 NOK / $2.55 USD
Butter (250 g): 35 NOK / $3.20 USD (a portion cost) ~ 8 NOK / $0.75 USD (1/4 of the pack)
Cheese (500 g): 60 NOK / $5.50 USD (a portion cost) ~ 12 NOK / $1.10 USD (1/5 of the pack)
Tomatoes (1 kg): 40 NOK / $3.65 USD (a portion cost) ~ 8 NOK / $0.75 USD (2 tomatoes, ~200 g)

An estimated total cost of 56 NOK / $5.15 USD for 2 servings.

2. Pasta Dish (for 2 people)

Ingredients:

Pasta (1 kg): 20 NOK / $1.85 USD (portion cost for ~250 g) ~ 5 NOK / $0.45 USD
Cooking Oil (1 liter): 50 NOK / $4.55 USD (portion cost for ~30 ml) ~ 2 NOK / $0.18 USD
Tomatoes (1 kg): 40 NOK / $3.65 USD (portion cost for ~500 g) ~ 20 NOK / $1.85 USD
Cheese (500 g): 60 NOK / $5.50 USD (portion cost for ~100 g) ~ 12 NOK / $1.10 USD

An estimated total cost of 39 NOK / $3.58 USD for 2 servings.

While these costs may not seem that low for home prepared meal, this is still much cheaper than the cost of eating out every meal in Norway, hence a great way to save a little extra when visiting Norway.

Why are groceries more expensive in Norway?

So why exacyly are you paying more for groceries in Norway? Well its a combination of reasons..

Taxes: Norway imposes a 15% VAT on food items and additional taxes on alcohol and some sugary foods.
Wages: Higher wages and benefits here for employees drive up costs.
Logistics: Given its geogrpahy, and Norway’s reliance on imports add to transportation expenses, driving up food costs

Norway Grocery Prices versus US and UK

So how do prices of grocery items in Norway, fare against prices in other countries?

Below is a quick comaprison based on average 2024 prices in the United Kingdom and United States.

tem	Norway	UK	US

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85

$0.91

$0.73

Apples (1 kg)

$2.55

$1.36

$1.10

Chicken (1 kg)

$9.10

$5.46

$4.55

Beer (0.5 liter)

$4.55

$2.73

$2.27

Rice (1 kg)

$2.30

$1.64

$1.45

Frozen Pizza (1 pc)

$4.55

$2.27

$1.82

Despite complaining about how expensive London (where I live) has gotten in terms of grocery prices, I was surpised how cheap it still was relative to Norway!

What are the main supermarkets in Norway?

Depending on your budget and where you are staying, you will have several choices of supermarkets. The following are some of the most common supermarkets you will find in Norway.

Budget Options: Rema 1000, Kiwi, Coop Extra
Mid-range: Meny, Coop Mega
High-end: Jacobs, specialty stores

REMA 1000

This is the largest discount supermarket chain in Norway. Its known for its wide range of staple food items. REMA 1000 also offers a membership app and a 10% discount rate on some grocery essentials like fruits, vegetables which change week to week.

Kiwi

This is another popular chain. Kiwi is widely accessible throughout the country. It is known for its competitive pricing and user-friendly store design. Kiwi stores are common in both large cities and smaller towns, making it a convenient option for many shoppers (Norwegian Routes) (The Norway Guide).

Both REMA 1000 and Kiwi are considered the more affordable supermarkets in Norway. However as a visitor to Norway, who was mostly buying common grocery items and snacks, I would say as a visitor its best to just go to the nearest most convenient supermarket, rather than focusing on just these two, unless you are planning to do a larger grocery shop.

Coop Extra

Part of the larger Coop Norge chain, Coop Extra stores offer a variety of products at lower prices compared to other Coop formats. They are known for their broad product range and presence across Norway

Bunnpris prices are higher on average, although weekly offers can reduce costs on some items. Joker is typically the most expensive among the five, often due to its smaller store size and convenience-focused locations.

*Meny, on the other hand, is considered a premium supermarket with higher end of supermarket prices in Norway, but a broader range of products, including international and specialty items

Price comparison across supermarkets in Norway in 2024

The below table summarises prices for common grocery items in across the most common supermarkets across Norway on an average basis.

Item	REMA 1000	Kiwi	Coop Extra	Bunnpris	Joker
Milk (1 liter)	18 NOK / 1.71 USD	18 NOK / 1.71 USD	18 NOK / 1.71 USD	19 NOK / 1.80 USD	20 NOK / 1.90 USD
Bread (loaf)	25 NOK / 2.38 USD	25 NOK / 2.38 USD	26 NOK / 2.47 USD	28 NOK / 2.66 USD	30 NOK / 2.85 USD
Eggs (12-pack)	30 NOK / 2.85 USD	30 NOK / 2.85 USD	32 NOK / 3.04 USD	34 NOK / 3.23 USD	35 NOK / 3.33 USD
Chicken Breast (1 kg)	95 NOK / 9.03 USD	95 NOK / 9.03 USD	99 NOK / 9.40 USD	105 NOK / 9.97 USD	110 NOK / 10.45 USD
Apples (1 kg)	28 NOK / 2.66 USD	28 NOK / 2.66 USD	30 NOK / 2.85 USD	32 NOK / 3.04 USD	35 NOK / 3.33 USD
Potatoes (1 kg)	20 NOK / 1.90 USD	20 NOK / 1.90 USD	22 NOK / 2.09 USD	24 NOK / 2.28 USD	25 NOK / 2.38 USD
Rice (1 kg)	20 NOK / 1.90 USD	20 NOK / 1.90 USD	22 NOK / 2.09 USD	24 NOK / 2.28 USD	25 NOK / 2.38 USD
Cheese (500 g)	50 NOK / 4.75 USD	50 NOK / 4.75 USD	52 NOK / 4.94 USD	55 NOK / 5.22 USD	58 NOK / 5.51 USD
Butter (250 g)	28 NOK / 2.66 USD	28 NOK / 2.66 USD	30 NOK / 2.85 USD	32 NOK / 3.04 USD	33 NOK / 3.14 USD
Tomatoes (1 kg)	35 NOK / 3.33 USD	35 NOK / 3.33 USD	38 NOK / 3.61 USD	40 NOK / 3.80 USD	42 NOK / 3.99 USD
Beer (0.5 liter)	45 NOK / 4.28 USD	45 NOK / 4.28 USD	45 NOK / 4.28 USD	50 NOK / 4.75 USD	55 NOK / 5.22 USD

These are average prices only and can differ from region and different times of the year.

Oslo Supermarket prices

Food prices in Oslo tend to be higher compared to other Norwegian cities, but this is more reflection of iit being a larger more cosmopolitan hub with a relatively higher cost of living compared to Norway’s other cities. I found that fresh produce like apples and potatoes are more reasonably priced, but still cost more than in smaller cities. Overall, shopping in Oslo does require budgeting for higher grocery bills, especially for imported goods and meats and any speciality / ethnic food stores. To manage costs, many residents take advantage of discounts and loyalty programs with the various supermarket chains. Despite the higher prices, the quality and variety of food available in Oslo’s supermarkets is pretty high.

Bergen Supermarket prices

Food prices in Bergen city are somewhat lower than in Oslo for equivalent items, making it a bit more affordable for residents and tourists alike. One great aspect of shopping in Bergen if you’re a seafood fan is the availability of fresh fish and seafood, often caught locally. I highly recommend visiting the famous Bergen Fish Market by the harbour. Here you can purchase fresh fish and seafood, as well as enjoy ready-to-eat delicacies. However given its location is close to the harbour and cruise shop arrivals, it is frequented by a lot of tourists. As such, I did find prices here a tad more on the expensive side. For those moving to Bergen, it’s useful to know that while staples like milk and bread are reasonably priced, shopping at local markets can provide fresher options and sometimes better deals.

Supermarket prices in Norway by city

The following are supermarket prices in Norway compared across different Norweigan cities for the most common grocery products, reflecting prices grocery prices as of 2024.

Item	Oslo (NOK / USD)	Bergen (NOK / USD)	Trondheim (NOK / USD)	Stavanger (NOK / USD)
Milk (1 liter)	20 NOK / 1.90 USD	18 NOK / 1.71 USD	19 NOK / 1.80 USD	18 NOK / 1.71 USD
Bread (loaf)	28 NOK / 2.66 USD	25 NOK / 2.38 USD	26 NOK / 2.47 USD	25 NOK / 2.38 USD
Eggs (12-pack)	35 NOK / 3.33 USD	30 NOK / 2.85 USD	32 NOK / 3.04 USD	30 NOK / 2.85 USD
Chicken Breast (1 kg)	110 NOK / 10.45 USD	95 NOK / 9.03 USD	99 NOK / 9.40 USD	95 NOK / 9.03 USD
Apples (1 kg)	35 NOK / 3.33 USD	28 NOK / 2.66 USD	30 NOK / 2.85 USD	28 NOK / 2.66 USD
Potatoes (1 kg)	25 NOK / 2.38 USD	20 NOK / 1.90 USD	22 NOK / 2.09 USD	20 NOK / 1.90 USD
Rice (1 kg)	25 NOK / 2.38 USD	20 NOK / 1.90 USD	22 NOK / 2.09 USD	20 NOK / 1.90 USD
Cheese (500 g)	58 NOK / 5.51 USD	50 NOK / 4.75 USD	52 NOK / 4.94 USD	50 NOK / 4.75 USD
Butter (250 g)	33 NOK / 3.14 USD	28 NOK / 2.66 USD	30 NOK / 2.85 USD	28 NOK / 2.66 USD
Tomatoes (1 kg)	42 NOK / 3.99 USD	35 NOK / 3.33 USD	38 NOK / 3.61 USD	35 NOK / 3.33 USD
Beer (0.5 liter)	45 NOK / 4.28 USD	40 NOK / 3.80 USD	42 NOK / 3.99 USD	40 NOK / 3.80 USD

What about the cost of eating out in Norway?

Eating out in Norway can get expensive depending on where you go and prices can vary widely – check out our guide on Cost of Food in Norway to learn more. Nonetheless, I found food here is exceptionally fresh and most restaurants place a high importance on food quality and freshness, which really came across whilst dining out in Norway.

Things you should know when shopping for Groceries in Norway

Grocery shopping in Norway can be a unique experience for tourists and newcomers. My second day in Bergen, I was fortunate enough to do an amazing walking tour where our guide imparted some extremely helpful tips on supermarkets and grocery shopping in Norway. Some useful tips to know are:

Supermarket Opening Hours in Norway

Norwegian supermarkets generally have shorter opening hours compared to those in many other countries. Typcial Supermarket opening hours are –

Monday to Friday: 7:00 or 8:00 AM to 10:00 or 11:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 or 8:00 AM to 8:00 – 10:00 PM
Sunday: Most supermarkets are closed

Most stores close by 9 /10PM on weekdays and have limited hours on Saturdays, often closing by 6 PM. Further, many supermarkets close on Sundays!

I personally struggled with this because I was flying out of Norway on the Sunday and really wanted to buy some local delicacies before leaving, and I can tell from experience its much easier if you do your groceries/ Norwegian supermarket haul on Monday to Saturday. Some smaller convenience stores like Joker or Bunnpris may open for a few hours on a Sunday, but these shops can often be much smaller with a limited grocery range.

Membership Discounts

Many supermarkets offer membership programs that can help save money. For example, REMA 1000’s app provides discounts on fruits, vegetables, and your ten most purchased items (not quite as helpful if you are just a tourist shopping 1 or 2 times). These programs are free to join and can be linked to your payment card for automatic savings.

Reusable Bags

Norway like most Scandinavian countries places a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags, and plastic bags are available for purchase at a small fee. I noticed in Norway that you will hardly see any locals shopping without their own bags.

Purchasing Alcohol in Norway

If you’re looking to buy alcohol, be aware that beer can be purchased in supermarkets but only until 8 PM on weekdays and 6 PM on Saturdays.For wine and spirits, you’ll need to visit a ‘Vinmonopolet‘. This is what is known as a state-run liquor store – given the market for these is more regulated in Norway. The Vinmonopolet also has more restricted hours and is closed on Sundays.

Unique Grocery items to be found in Norway Supermarkets

I personally love doing a grocery haul and picking up some local delicacies and unique items when traveling to a new country and Norway was no exception! These are some items I’ve picked up myself or had recommended to me by locals if you’re visiting or new to Norway.

Brunost (Brown Cheese) – 70 NOK / 6.65 USD: This caramel-colored cheese has a sweet and tangy flavor, often eaten on bread or waffles.
Knekkebrød (Crispbread) – 25 NOK / 2.38 USD: A type of dry, flat cracker made from whole grain, popular for breakfast and lunch.
Lefse – 40 NOK / 3.80 USD: A traditional soft flatbread made from potatoes, flour, butter, and milk or cream.
Kaviar (Caviar) – 30 NOK / 2.85 USD: A spreadable fish roe paste, commonly used on bread or crispbread for breakfast or snacks.
Lutefisk – 150 NOK / 14.25 USD: Dried whitefish soaked in lye and then rehydrated, often a seasonal delicacy around Christmas.
Cloudberries (Molter) – 100 NOK / 9.50 USD: Rare and expensive berries, often found in jam form with a unique, tart flavor.
Reindeer and Elk Meat – 120 NOK / 11.40 USD: Available in various forms such as sausages, steaks, and dried snacks.
Tubed Foods – 25 NOK / 2.38 USD: Including kaviar and various cheese spreads, these are convenient and popular for quick snacks.
Rømme – 20 NOK / 1.90 USD: A type of sour cream that is richer and thicker than its American counterpart.
Local Seafood – 150 NOK / 14.25 USD: Fresh seafood including salmon, mackerel, cod, and herring, often prepared in traditional ways like smoked or pickled.