Costco Iceland Guide: Groceries, Gas Prices, and Ring Road Tips
Photo note: Unless explicitly credited otherwise, the photos in this Iceland article are our original images from our September 27-October 6, 2024 Ring Road trip.
อ่านบทความนี้เป็นภาษาไทย: เปิดเวอร์ชันภาษาไทย
Our first practical stop in Iceland was Costco. For Costco fans, it is a fun arrival-day experience; for camper-van travelers, it can also be a sensible place to stock up before leaving the Reykjavík area. This Costco Iceland guide covers groceries, gas prices, membership, payment cards, and other useful stops for an Iceland Ring Road trip.
Why Costco made sense on day one
The first day is when you have the widest selection and the most time to think about the trip. We could buy snacks, drinks, breakfast supplies, and simple ingredients before beginning the Ring Road. Buying early also meant we did not have to depend on small convenience stores in remote areas.
Costco is not automatically the best place for every item, especially if you are traveling as a couple and do not need large quantities. Think about refrigerator space, storage, and the length of your rental before buying in bulk.
The pig logo is Bónus
The yellow-and-pink pig logo belongs to Bónus, Iceland's well-known discount supermarket chain. Bónus became one of the most useful names for our road-trip grocery planning because it is aimed at everyday staples and has stores in several Ring Road towns.
Krónan is another useful supermarket chain, while Hagkaup and other larger stores can offer a wider selection. The practical strategy is simple: do the large shop near Reykjavík, then top up in towns such as Vík, Höfn, Egilsstaðir, Akureyri, or Borgarnes when needed. Store locations and opening hours change, so verify the branch before relying on it.
Some of the Bónus groceries we bought for the route.
Our new shopping photos show the practical difference between a bulk shop and a top-up shop. Costco worked for the first stock-up; Bónus was better suited to ordinary quantities later. In a small camper van, the cheapest item is not a bargain if it takes up the space needed for several meals.
Costco grocery receipt and shopping evidence
Trip photo from the Costco grocery stop; product selection and prices are date-specific.
What to buy for a camper van
Focus on food that is compact, flexible, and easy to cook: breakfast items, bread or wraps, fruit, skyr, soup ingredients, pasta, snacks, and drinks. Avoid filling the van with bulky packages that compete with luggage and camping equipment.
The Hertz Benivan's refrigerator and two-burner kitchen made simple meals realistic, but the van is still a small space. See the camper-van food guide for the daily food rhythm.
Bring your Costco membership and more than one card
Costco requires a valid membership for shopping and, in many locations, for using the fuel station. Payment rules can vary by country and by terminal: one warehouse may accept Visa while another may prefer Mastercard, and a Costco-branded credit card may be accepted even when other cards are not. Fuel pumps can have additional card restrictions, so do not assume that a card accepted inside the warehouse will also work at the pump. Carry both a Visa and a Mastercard if possible, and confirm the current rules for the country you are visiting before you go.
Costco gas prices in Iceland: our comparison
The receipt is from a non-Costco gas station and serves as our comparison point; the second photo shows the posted Costco gas price. Looking at them side by side, Costco gas was a good deal for us that day.
This is trip evidence, not a permanent Iceland-wide price rule. Fuel prices, discounts, membership terms, and competing vendor prices change. Check current prices before making a special detour, but Costco is worth considering when it is already convenient on arrival.
For most travelers, the value of Costco is the combination of a useful shop and a fuel stop—not just one or the other.
A good first-day checklist
- Pick up the camper van and learn the controls.
- Visit Costco or another large supermarket near Reykjavík.
- Buy only what fits the van and your planned nights.
- Add a few Bónus or Krónan top-up stops to the route.
- Keep emergency snacks and water separate from the main groceries.
Continue with the complete counter-clockwise route and Hertz camper-van review.