Is Iceland Expensive and other fun facts.
The simple answer is yes, if you are a tourist or a low paid worker.
What makes Iceland affordable is our inexpensive energy, both heating and electricity. The cost per year in Iceland would be about a third of the cost in a similar old house in Europe.
It’s one of the reasons why you see doors open and windows open, in Iceland we have a tendency to leave the heating on, then control the temperature by opening one or more windows or even the door.
Shopping needs to be planned and if its fresh food items buy for a day or two not a week , buy Euro brand products such as packets, tins pouches etc, from BONUS they are the cheaper shop, if you wish named brands try Kronan. Avoid the 10-11 shops, corner stores as they are convenient but are more expensive. If you are feeling flush then shop at Hagkaup (they are open 24hrs) or for super quality and odd things, try FK better known as Fjarðarkaup.
Many Icelanders actually live off takeaway food, will eat Skyr for breakfast, hot dogs for a snack and KFC or Domino’s for tea. Drive-by is common, even for the APOTEK (Chemist or Pharmacy). Most gas stations have a drive by for hot food and general store stuff.
Gas stations ONLY have card operated pumps, you can go inside and pre authorise a fill. Simply just insert your credit card, it can tell which language to display, so you are good to go.
IMPORTANT, if you are a competitor in the event, in your welcome goody bag is an N1 (Esso) fuel discount card, it will also give discount on some store purchases. For fuel insert the discount card before the credit or debit card.
High octane like 98 or 99 is only available in Reykjavik area, try the handy location map
ESSO https://www.n1.is/en/locations/#service=bensin98
BP https://www.olis.is/english/stations
SHELL https://www.orkan.is/english/orkan-stations/
More information will be added or ask a question.