Copenhagen on a budget – best places to buy cheap food

As with most Scandinavian countries, the cost of living in Copenhagen is extremely high. This means cheap food in Copenhagen is scarce. But a budget traveller’s goal is to save money in Copenhagen.

So, where can you buy cheap food in Copenhagen? Where can you get a cheap meal?

Copenhagen on a budget – best places to buy cheap food has the answers.

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To get cheap food in Copenhagen and keep costs down, visit any of the local supermarkets. Supermarkets are a great way to eat healthy and dramatically reduce your food bill. So what are the cheaper supermarkets in Copenhagen?

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Here is a list of the cheapest supermarkets in Copenhagen.

Lidl is the number one supermarket in Copenhagen with the lowest prices. It’s an established and popular discount supermarket chain in Europe, and with good reason. You can’t beat the prices. If you are serious about saving money, this should be your first supermarket stop.

The only downside is you won’t see your favourite big supermarket brands here. They are Lidl’s preferred products, but they are extremely comparable to the big name brands.

Fruit, vegetables, fresh meat and seafood, and dried pantry staples are here as well as other foodstuffs.

There are a few Lidls scattered throughout Copenhagen, so there is sure to be one close by.

REMA 1000

REMA 1000 is another cheap chain of supermarkets in Copenhagen. Some say it equals Lidl in its cheap prices. It’s a no-nonsense discount supermarket. No fancy promotions. Just a well-stocked supermarket carrying everything you need, such as fresh produce, meat, dairy, frozen food and meals, and more.

With many stores in Copenhagen, there will be one nearby.

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Netto

Netto is a fierce competitor to Lidl. It’s small with a more limited variety of products, but don’t let that fool you. This discount supermarket is jam packed with all your food necessities like – fruit, vegetables, meat, pantry and dry goods, bakery and baked food and other ready to cook meal options.

There are quite a few Netto supermarkets throughout Copenhagen. This Netto was close to where I was staying in Copenhagen and it’s my favourite discount supermarket.

Meny

Meny is a supermarket that is popular with the Copenhagen locals. It’s a full-service supermarket versus the discount variety, offering a choice of fresh and high-quality foods.

In Copenhagen Central, you’ll find a Meny supermarket in the popular Illum department store. The food items sold are fresh meat, fish and seafood, fruit and vegetables, gourmet foods, and ready to go meals.

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There are some things to be aware of when visiting supermarkets in Copenhagen.

Most supermarkets in Copenhagen open at 7am and close at 10pm. This can vary depending on the supermarket chain you’re visiting.

Denmark still accepts cash, but like other Scandinavian countries, it operates as a cashless society. Some supermarkets accept credit cards and mobile payments only.

Also, if the supermarket you’re in accepts cash, they will stop accepting it at about 8pm. The preferred currency if using cash is the Danish Krone, not the Euro.

Supermarkets in Copenhagen will not give you free plastic bags. You will need to pay extra if you need one. Bring your own bags to save money.

After you have finished shopping, you’ll need to scan your receipt at the exit barrier to get out of the supermarket.

What if you are longing for a meal instead of supermarket food? Where do you go to buy a cheap one?

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Copenhagen has a wide range of dining options catering to everyone’s budget.

If you decide to go to a restaurant for a meal, expect to pay a hefty price. The meal will be delicious, but don’t expect the bill to be. I recently had a small fish and chips lunch while in Copenhagen, which set me back $70 in my local currency. Lesson learned.

If you were to do this for every meal, it would gobble up your budget.

To still get an enjoyable meal but at a cheaper price, head to a local Danish street food market. These are like food courts or eateries, and you can choose from a wide variety of scrumptious cuisines.

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The popular street food markets in Copenhagen are:

• Reffen Street Food Market – is in Refshaleoen, Copenhagen
• Broens Street Food Market – in Strandgade between Christianshavn and Nyhavn, Copenhagen

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