Grocery Shopping - but Where?

It might be hard in the beginning to get an overview of the different supermarkets and the quality of the products and prices. In retrospective we might even realize that we have made mistakes in choosing the supermarket.

In that context, I picked a few (random) products and compared the prices in the most common grocery stores. To provide an even better overview you will find some general information about the stores as well.

1.Rema 1000

Let us start with a classic. Rema 1000 might be one of the most popular supermarkets among international students, and that for a good reason: here you will most likely find the cheapest groceries. Most of the stores also have quite a decent size, which means that you can be sure to find anything you need there. Especially, lactose free products seem to be quite popular at Rema due to their reasonable prices.

If you live in Sogn, you are probably already well acquainted with Rema and you should consider yourself lucky to have such a cheap store next door. I am well aware that “cheap” is a relative term, but you have to keep in mind that the word is interpreted according to Norwegian standards.

Now take a look at the prices yourself:

• 0,5l Coca Cola: 19,40kr
• Tine milk: 19,40kr
• Tine natural yoghurt: 18,70kr

2. Kiwi

Another students’ favorite is Kiwi. You can find the store in all sizes and shapes, and all I basically mean by that is that some of the stores are huge, while others only fit a few customers. As we all know, the size does not matter, and it is all about the quality. If you just need some basic groceries, Kiwi is definitely the place to go to. You will find everything you need for your next meal and do not even have to spend a fortune. There are even some gluten-free and vegan options for all of you, who depend on that.

If you take a look at the prices, you will see that surviving as a student in Oslo is possible:

• 0,5l Coca Cola: 19,40kr
• Tine milk: 19,40kr
• Tine natural yoghurt: 18,70kr

3. Bunnpris

If you spend most of your time on campus in Blindern, then there is no way you haven’t heard of Bunnpris yet. It might not be the cheapest store, and it may not have the best selection of products but the store has nice offers once in a while. Another benefit is that especially the supermarket located at Blindern has self-service checkouts, which should make your next stop there more time-efficient.

As long as you only go there once in a while, you should not be out of pocket right away. See for yourself:

• 0,5l Coca Cola: 21,90kr
• Tine milk: 21,50kr
• Tine natural yoghurt: 19,90kr

4. Coop

Coop is a nice choice if you are actually looking for specific brands or products. The store offers a bigger variety of imported goods, and you have more than just one type and brand of pasta to choose from. Moreover, you will find a lot of options for carnivores but also for the herbivores among us. And check out the gluten-free section because it is quite extensive. Of course, with such a large selection you must also expect higher prices, but I am pretty sure that is similar in all other countries. However, if you are ever looking for something slightly cheaper at Coop try finding the supermarkets’ own brand products. I guarantee you that you will save some money by looking out for those.

Important side note: Usually the stores are quite big so that you do not have to squeeze past other people.

Although a bit more expensive, the prices are not shockingly high:

• 0,5l Coca Cola: 19,50kr
• Tine milk: 20,50kr
• Tine natural yoghurt: 20,90kr

5. Meny

Meny is a pricier option but ideal for all the food savvies out there. It does not only look fancier, but it truly is fancier. Need a salad to go? Then stop by the salad bar. And do not forget to check out by the way if the store has some offers because you might be surprised about their discounts. They for sure do not disappoint.

Depending on the type of product the prices might be slightly cheaper or slightly more expensive than at Coop. Still, you should definitely check Meny out and make your own impression.

Look at the prices and compare them to the ones in other stores. Do you see what I mean?

• 0,5l Coca Cola: 21,70kr
• Tine milk: 21,30kr
• Tine natural yoghurt: 19,90kr

6. Joker

Joker may seem daunting at first because of its small size and the high prices. But you have to look at the big picture: all supermarkets are closed on Sundays in Norway, but guess, which one you can still count on? Exactly – Joker! The small size of the store is due to the fact that larger stores could not operate on Sundays. This way joker is still in compliance with the law. I still do not recommend doing your groceries there during the week and not ever. Firstly, because of the prices as it is said that they are approx. 15 % higher than in other discount stores. And secondly, the store does not have a wide range of products.

Now if you just compare the prices to all the other above-mentioned supermarkets, you will understand what I mean:

• 0,5l Coca Cola: 24,90kr
• Tine milk: 22,90kr
• Natural yoghurt: 21,90kr

Sometimes the price does not necessarily say anything about the quality as can be seen by those examples. So, if you really need to save some money in Norway - do it while you are grocery shopping. Also plan your meals well because you definitely do not want to end up hungry at Joker every single Sunday.