I'm an American who visited Iceland's only Costco location. I was shocked by how similar it was to US stores.
Talia Lakritz
- I visited Iceland's only Costco store, which is in Garðabær, about 6 miles south of Reykjavík.
- It looked exactly the same as US Costco stores I've been to, aside from Icelandic signs.
A $60 annual Costco membership is valid at all 854 warehouse locations worldwide, including Canada, China, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and the UK.
On a recent trip to Iceland, I visited the country's only Costco store. I found items that I've never seen at US locations, but I was mostly surprised to find how similar it was to American stores.
Here's what my shopping experience was like.
Iceland's first and only Costco store opened in 2017.
The store is located in Garðabær, about 6 miles south of Reykjavík.
When I walked inside, I felt transported right back to my local New York City Costco store. The layout was exactly the same.
The first section near the entrance sold pieces of technology like tablets and laptops, just like my local New York Costco. I could also spot the grocery section and aisle of household items further into the store, exactly where I'm used to finding them. With its familiar layout and identical design, I wouldn't have known I was in Iceland.
The only indication that I was in Iceland were the Icelandic signs for different sections of the store.
I was able to guess that "apótek" meant "pharmacy" based on the protein powder and vitamins in the aisles, as well what looked like a counter to pick up prescriptions.
The food court, located near the checkout counters, was smaller than those I've seen at Costco stores on the East Coast, but sold many of the same items.
The food court didn't have smoothies, salads, or churros — items I'm used to seeing at US stores — but it did sell pizza, gelato, burgers, chicken bakes, coffee, and hot dogs.
The food-court prices in Iceland were a bit higher than in the US.
Pizza cost 600 ISK, or $4.44, per slice and 2,200 ISK, or $16.27, for a whole take-home pie. Hot dogs, a popular street food in Iceland, cost 299 ISK, or $2.20.
In the US, a slice of pizza at Costco costs $1.99 while a whole pie is $9.95, and hot dogs cost $1.50.
The main difference I noticed was the addition of an orange-flavored Icelandic soda called Egils Appelsin on the soda fountains.
Produced by Iceland's Skallagrímsson Brewery since 1955, Egils Appelsin is often served at festive occasions and holidays like Christmas. It's a beverage unique to Iceland, one that I've never seen at my Costco stores on the East Coast of the US.
Warm clothes like sweaters, which are still necessary during Iceland's summer months, were on full display when I visited in June.
During the summer, Fahrenheit temperatures in Iceland usually hover around the 50s, according to Icelandic travel agency Guide to Iceland.
The grocery section mostly featured Costco's Kirkland-brand products and the same baked goods sold in stores worldwide, though the prices were a bit steeper.
I recognized the same muffins, croissants, and cookies that I've eaten dozens of times.
Two packages of muffins cost 1,999 ISK, or about $15.12. In the US, they cost $8.99.
I loved seeing whimsical cakes with "Happy birthday" written in Icelandic.
This dinosaur cake cost 2,499 ISK, or about $18.70.
Costco samples appeared to be a standard practice, as well.
The Icelandic Costco was giving out samples of Greek yogurt and small bites of vegan pizza.
I did spot some unique Icelandic items, like these Vikingr dried fish fillets, called hardfiskur.
The dried and flattened fish fillets, usually made with cod, haddock, or wolffish, have been a staple of the Icelandic diet for centuries, according to Atlas Obscura.
I was also surprised to find numerous British products for sale.
Iceland is only a quick three-hour flight from London, so it made sense that Iceland's Costco stocked British favorites like Marmite, Cadbury chocolate, and Victoria sandwiches.
The toilet paper cost slightly less at the Costco in Iceland than in the US.
In Iceland, 40 rolls of Kirkland toilet paper cost 4,099 ISK, or about $31.04, which comes out to about 78 cents per roll. In the US, a package of 30 rolls costs $23.99, or about 80 cents per roll.
Aisles of sporting equipment featured kayaks, bicycles, and scooters.
The Icelandic Costco also sold tents and camping gear, a popular way to see Iceland in the summer despite the chilly temperatures.
Like in the US, the store's optical section sold glasses and offered eye exams.
"Sjóntæki" directly translates to "optical device," while "sjónmæling" means "optical measurement."
I found that Costco in Iceland was mostly identical to Costco stores I've visited in the US, aside from some higher prices and a few unique local items.
Having visited touristy spots like the Blue Lagoon and the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, I enjoyed getting a glimpse of everyday life in Iceland as I explored the aisles.
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