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Here’s how I’d think about meal boxes on a student budget: they’re a convenience you pay for, not a way to save money. That can still be a good deal, depending on what you’d otherwise eat.
Quick answer
Meal boxes cost roughly 32 to 50 kr per portion, more than cooking the same food from a discount supermarket. They’re worth it if you’d otherwise order takeaway, or if planning and shopping are what stop you from cooking. The cheapest boxes are RetNemt and Aarstiderne’s budget box. HelloFresh has the most recipe choice. Factor is ready-made meals you only heat up.
Who meal boxes make sense for
Meal boxes don’t make food cheaper. They make it easier: everything for three to five dinners arrives at your door, portioned, with recipe cards. What you pay for is skipping the planning and the shopping, and throwing away less food.
They make sense if you:
- Order takeaway several times a week. A box at 40 kr a portion is far cheaper than Wolt at 120 kr.
- Share a kitchen and want to cook together a few nights a week.
- Want to learn to cook without buying a full spice cupboard first.
They make less sense if you already cook from Netto, Rema 1000 or Lidl and plan your week. A pasta dinner from a discount supermarket costs 15 to 20 kr a portion.
The four main options
| Price per portion (approx.) | Best for | Links | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RetNemt | From about 32 kr | Classic Danish weekday food, simple recipes, good value | Go to RetNemt |
| Aarstiderne | From about 32 kr (budget box) | Organic vegetables; the budget box is the cheapest way in | Go to Aarstiderne |
| HelloFresh | About 46 kr on average, lower for bigger orders | Most recipes to pick from each week, international dishes | Go to HelloFresh |
| Factor | Higher than the cooking boxes | Ready meals, no cooking at all; exam periods | Go to Factor |
Price per portion drops with the number of people and dinners per week. A box for one person for three dinners is the most expensive per portion; sharing a four-person box with flatmates brings it down.
RetNemt
RetNemt is Danish and focuses on quick, familiar weekday dinners. Recipes are short, and the family boxes are among the cheapest per portion in Denmark.
Aarstiderne
Aarstiderne started as an organic vegetable delivery and still leans organic. Their regular boxes cost more, but the budget box competes with RetNemt on price.
HelloFresh
HelloFresh is the biggest meal box in Denmark and has the widest weekly menu, with more international dishes than the Danish boxes.
Factor
Factor is different: the meals arrive cooked and you heat them in a few minutes. It’s the most expensive option here, and only worth it for weeks when you won’t cook at all, like exam periods.
How not to overpay
- Use the first-box discount, then decide. All four run large discounts on the first one or two boxes.
- Skip weeks instead of cancelling. Every box lets you pause deliveries in your account. Set a reminder for the deadline, usually several days before delivery.
- Split a bigger box with a flatmate. A two-person box for four dinners shared between two of you costs less per portion than two single boxes.
- Cancel when the discount ends if you only wanted it for the discount. There’s no binding period.
FAQ
What is the cheapest meal box in Denmark?
RetNemt and Aarstiderne’s budget box, both from around 32 kr per portion on larger orders. Prices per portion rise for single-person boxes.
Is a meal box cheaper than buying groceries?
No. Cooking the same dish from Netto or Lidl is cheaper. A meal box saves time and food waste, and it is cheaper than takeaway.
Can I pause or cancel a meal box subscription?
Yes. All four let you skip weeks and cancel online without a binding period. Check the weekly deadline so you don’t get a box you didn’t want.
Do meal boxes have recipes in English?
Mostly not; recipes are in Danish. The steps are short, and a translation app on your phone handles them fine.
Last checked: October 2026. Prices per portion depend on box size and campaigns. Check the current price before you order.