Food + Beverage
Restaurants and cafes in Sweden run from expensive to very expensive, which can pose a serious challenge for travelers on a budget. Fortunately there is an inexpensive alternative.
While eating out in Sweden is breathtakingly pricey, the cost of groceries at supermarkets is actually quite reasonable, and the selection and quality are excellent.
If you’ve got access to a kitchen, as I do, you’re in luck! You can simply eat most of your meals at home.
I’m finding the cost of most foods cheaper in Sweden than in Hong Kong, where I live.
If you’re staying in a hostel, many hostels have microwaves. If you’ve got access to one, you’ll have no problem buying microwavable meals – both frozen and freshly prepared.
But even if you don’t have a microwave, large supermarkets have excellent salad bars as well as prepared salads and sandwiches, which you can purchase and take back to your room or eat on a park bench.
One of the supermarkets near my flat even has a sort of buffet table with several prepared hot dishes each day but Sunday. As with salad bars, they are sold by weight.
If you do want to eat out, it’s best have lunch rather than dinner at a restaurant or cafe because many food and beverage outlets serve daily specials at discounted prices at lunch.
If you are staying at a hotel with a mini-bar, you might want to ask to have the contents removed. First, it will remove temptation to snack on those vastly overpriced items.
Second, it will make room for the stuff you buy at the supermarket.
Wines + Spirits
Beer is sold at supermarkets and mini marts, but wines and spirits are sold only at government run liquor stores, which stay open until 7.00 pm Monday to Friday and 3 pm on Saturday.
Be sure to stock up as they are closed in Sunday.
Wine prices are reasonable, and boxes of wine represent the best value.
Keep in mind that government taxes are incorporated into the price. What you see is what you pay.
Click here for information on Insight Guides Sweden.
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That’s interesting that the cost of food in the supermarket is cheaper than Hong Kong. I visited Hong Kong 4 years ago and found the food very affordable. Good to know that the supermarket food is an affordable option in Sweden.
I was really surprised! Eating out is costly, but not so supermarkets. And there are many prepared meals that you can buy if you want to save money.