Where you can shop

No one has to travel far for everyday shopping: both Vimmerby and Västervik have a solid range of supermarkets that differ in selection and price. In Vimmerby there's an ICA Supermarket as well as a larger ICA Kvantum, plus a Coop and, more recently, a Willys — the Swedish discount chain with large pack sizes and noticeably lower prices than ICA or Coop. In Västervik, the choice is even bigger: an ICA Maxi on the edge of town (ICA's large, affordable hypermarket format with a huge range), plus Willys, Coop and even a Lidl — for anyone from Germany who'll recognise the familiar yellow-and-blue façade.

As a rule of thumb: the bigger the store, the cheaper it tends to be. Small village shops nearby are handy for a quick top-up shop, but noticeably more expensive than an ICA Maxi or Willys in town. If you're planning the weekly big shop, it's best to drive specifically to Vimmerby or Västervik and stock up there.

What does the weekly shop really cost?

As a general rule: groceries in Sweden are on average somewhat more expensive than in Germany — how much more depends heavily on the category. Fruit and vegetables are usually only moderately above German levels, often within the range of price swings you're used to at home. The difference is much more noticeable for dairy products and meat, which can be markedly pricier in Sweden, as well as for sweets and snacks. The biggest gap by far is alcohol: beer, wine and spirits are significantly more expensive than in Germany due to high alcohol taxes — and anything over 3.5% alcohol isn't sold in regular supermarkets at all, only at the state-run Systembolaget.

Bottom line: it's worth planning a somewhat more generous budget for the weekly shop than at home — especially if meat and dairy feature heavily on the menu. Lean more on fish, vegetables and Swedish own-brand products instead, and you'll come out noticeably cheaper.

Dagens Lunch: cheap at midday, pricier in the evening

One of the nicest Swedish traditions for your wallet is Dagens Lunch (also "Dagens Rätt", "dish of the day"): between roughly 11 am and 2 pm, almost every restaurant and café offers a changing set menu at a fixed price — usually a choice of main course (meat, fish or vegetarian), plus a hearty salad buffet, bread and butter, a soft drink, and a cup of coffee to finish. All for a fraction of what a comparable dish costs in the evening — ideal for a day out in Vimmerby or Västervik when you're already there anyway.

In the evening, the bill looks different: a regular restaurant meal costs noticeably more than the lunch set, often several times as much — Swedes eat out in the evening less often than Germans do, and prices reflect that. For families, it's worth deliberately timing your restaurant visit for lunch and cooking a relaxed dinner back at the house instead.

Conclusion: at Ullevi, self-catering is a real pleasure

This is exactly where the charm of a holiday home comes in: Ullevi has a fully equipped kitchen ready for whatever the day brings, whether that's the day's catch from Lake Hällsjön or a simple dinner with fresh vegetables. Enjoy Dagens Lunch in Vimmerby or Västervik at midday, then cook a relaxed dinner back at your own holiday home — combine the best of both worlds, and keep the holiday budget noticeably in check.

  • Vimmerby: ICA Supermarket, ICA Kvantum, Coop, Willys
  • Västervik: ICA Maxi, Willys, Coop, Lidl
  • More expensive than Germany: dairy products, meat, sweets, and especially alcohol
  • Moderately more expensive: fruit and vegetables
  • Money-saving tip: use Dagens Lunch at midday, cook for yourself in the evening