Booking a trip abroad can come with a hefty price tag, but one traveller was left baffled by the cost of food while visiting a European supermarket, as he claimed, ‘food costs more than the flight’
Food in one European country is so expensive that some tourists are packing food in their suitcases.
Iceland is a prime spot to catch the awe-inspiring Northern Lights, offering a spectacular getaway with its stunning Nordic landscapes, mountainous backdrops, and hot springs.
Yet, the European destination is notoriously pricey, to the extent that holidaymakers have resorted to packing their suitcases with food just to avoid the extortionate prices.
One traveller visited the Nordic island in the North Atlantic earlier this year and visited a local supermarket to see just how much the cost of food really was. In a video, @jesusansal explained that tourists often travel to Iceland with their own food stashed in their luggage because “food costs more than the flight.”
He videoed himself heading into a supermarket, and said: “Let’s see if it’s as expensive as people say”. And it didn’t take long before he found some costly everyday items that are almost double the price of what we’d find in an English supermarket.
Firstly, he found that a small pack of strawberries would set him back 800 Icelandic króna, which is around £4.75. For lunch, there was a baguette on offer for 1,065 króna, which is approximately £6.32, or a cheese sandwich for 750 króna (£4.45).
Elsewhere, a medium-sized bottle of olive oil costs 1,300 króna (£7.72), while instant noodles would set someone back 800 króna (£4.75) – a considerable hike compared to the 45p packs you can find in Tesco. “Mari, this is so expensive,” the TikToker said as he walked around the Iceland supermarket, but it didn’t end there.
He also found slices of Serrano ham for 500 króna (£2.97) and a small jar of the traditional Icelandic delicacy, hákarl, for 1,300 króna (£7.72). When it comes to making a basic breakfast during a stay in Iceland, the influencer found that it would cost someone around 2,000 króna (£11.87), which includes a couple of doughnuts, water, and juice.
Research from The Drinks Business found that Iceland is the most expensive place in Europe to purchase a bottle of wine, with the average cost of a mid-range wine setting someone back £18.30. This is compared to the European average of around £7.17 for the same quality of wine.
Having been left baffled by the prices of essential items, the Spanish traveller ended his video with: “Iceland may have spectacular views, but it’s quite expensive.” And he’s not the only one who feels this way.
Commenting on his TikTok video, one follower wrote: “What surprised me most was definitely the bread.” Another asked: “Can you get a mortgage at the supermarket?”
However, others noted the reason behind the higher prices could be due to their higher salaries. One commented: “In Iceland, the basic monthly salary is €6,000, so I even consider it cheap.”
One more added: “Well, the ham seems cheap to me, and the individual hams there will be five times more expensive than ours.” Another compared the prices to those in Europe and said: “The price of oil and ham is almost the same as in Spain.”
While you can find cheap flights to Iceland and affordable accommodation during your stay, the cost of food items can quickly add up. However, if you keep a budget for food each day and have this in mind before your trip, it’s still well worth a visit.
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