Supermarkets and Food Shopping in Norway: Expat Guide (2026)

Food Shopping in Norway: How the System Works

Norwegian supermarkets are efficient, well-stocked, and expensive by most international standards. Understanding which chains to use, when they are open, and where to buy alcohol saves money and avoids the common Sunday afternoon frustration of finding everywhere closed.

The Supermarket Chains

Budget Chains (Most Norwegians Shop Here)

Rema 1000 — A popular supermarket in Norway. Focuses on a curated product range with fewer brand choices but consistently competitive prices. Often viewed as having the best combination of price and quality. Widespread nationally.

Kiwi — Owned by NorgesGruppen. Very competitive on price, strong on private-label products. High density of locations in cities. A solid default for daily shopping.

Coop Extra / Coop Prix — Coop Extra is a larger discount format; Coop Prix is the smaller neighbourhood budget store. Both are solid budget options. Coop also operates a membership system (Coop Medlem) that earns a small annual dividend — worth joining if you are staying long-term.

Bunnpris — Budget chain with good prices, common in smaller towns and suburban areas. Slightly smaller range than Kiwi or Rema.

Mid-Range Chains

Meny — The premium-positioned chain in NorgesGruppen's portfolio. Broader range, better-quality fresh produce, more international products. Noticeably more expensive than Rema or Kiwi. Worth visiting for specific international ingredients but not ideal for weekly budgets.

Spar — Mid-range, common in smaller towns. Locally run franchise model means store quality varies significantly by location.

Convenience Stores

Joker — Small neighbourhood stores with limited range and higher prices. Use for emergencies, not primary shopping. Some Joker stores have special permission to open on Sundays due to their size.

Narvesen / 7-Eleven / Shell / Circle K: Kiosk and petrol station stores. Very high prices — only for genuine emergencies.

Alcohol Rules: Vinmonopolet and Beer Hours

Norway has strict state control of alcohol sales:

Wine, spirits and other drinks above 4.7% alcohol: Sold at Vinmonopolet (the state wine monopoly). Stores are in most cities and larger towns. By law, Vinmonopolet may sell from 08:30 to 18:00, and from 10:00 to 16:00 on the day before a Sunday or public holiday; sales are banned on Sundays, public holidays, 1 May, 17 May and Christmas Eve. Find locations at vinmonopolet.no.

Beer and other drinks up to 4.7% alcohol: Sold in supermarkets and convenience stores with a municipal licence. The municipality sets the hours within these legal limits:

• Monday–Friday: until 20:00 at the latest (18:00 on a day before a public holiday, except the day before Ascension Day)
• Saturday: until 18:00 at the latest
• Sunday: not sold at all
• Public holidays: treated as Sundays — no sales

This catches many newcomers off guard. If you need beer or wine on a Sunday, you cannot buy it anywhere unless you go to a bar or restaurant.

Sunday Opening Hours

Norwegian law restricts large retail openings on Sundays. In practice:

• Most Rema 1000, Kiwi, Coop stores: closed Sunday
• Shopping mall stores: some open, hours vary by mall
• Small stores under a certain floor area (under ~100m²): can open
• Petrol station shops: open
• Narvesen / 7-Eleven: open

Plan your main grocery shopping for the week no later than Saturday afternoon. Forgetting this in your first weeks is a near-universal expat experience.

Typical Grocery Costs (2026 Approximate)

Norway is expensive. Here are representative prices to set expectations:

A single person doing careful weekly shopping at Kiwi or Rema can expect to spend roughly NOK 700–1,100 per week. This varies significantly by diet and lifestyle.

Norwegian Food Staples

A few things you will see everywhere and should know about:

Brunost (brown cheese): A sweet, caramel-flavoured whey cheese that is a Norwegian national staple. Eaten on bread, waffles, or crackers. Acquired taste for many newcomers but worth trying.

Kaviar (tube): Smoked cod roe in a tube. On breakfast bread. Very common in Norwegian households.

Wasa knekkebrød: Crispbread, eaten with everything. Cheap and filling.

Skyr: Thick Icelandic/Scandinavian dairy product similar to thick yoghurt. High protein, widely available at good prices.

Frozen pizzas: Grandiosa frozen pizza is a cultural institution.

Food Waste Apps

Too Good To Go is active in Norway and available in most Norwegian cities. Restaurants, bakeries, and supermarkets list surplus food at reduced prices for collection at closing time. The app is called Too Good To Go (same as the international version). Useful for cheap lunches or bread near expiry.

There is no separate major "Karma" app in Norway — Too Good To Go is the dominant service here.

International and Ethnic Food Shopping

For ingredients from South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, or Africa, regular Norwegian supermarkets have limited options. Oslo and larger cities have specialist stores:

• Asian food shops: Found in Oslo Grønland district and most large city centres
• Halal butchers and Middle Eastern grocers: Also concentrated around Grønland (Oslo) and in immigrant-heavy suburbs
• Indian/Pakistani grocers: Multiple options in Oslo's east end

These stores are significantly cheaper for spices, lentils, specialty produce, and imported goods than Meny or Spar.

Common Problems and Fixes

Problem: Can't find a specific ingredient at Kiwi or Rema.
Fix: Try Meny for broader range. For international ingredients, find specialist stores. For obscure items, Amazon.de ships to Norway with reasonable delivery times.

Problem: Vinmonopolet is closed by the time you need wine.
Fix: Check Vinmonopolet's exact hours at vinmonopolet.no before going. Plan ahead.

Problem: Grocery budget is higher than expected.
Fix: Switch protein sources — eggs, canned fish, and chicken are the cheapest protein in Norwegian supermarkets. Frozen vegetables are cheaper than fresh. Rema and Kiwi private-label products are roughly 30–40% cheaper than branded equivalents with similar quality.