Iceland is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Here are 8 ways I saved money during my trip.

I paid $852.65 for my round-trip economy ticket on Icelandair. My flight took off from New York City at 11:15 p.m. and landed in Reykjavík at around 9 a.m. local time. I'm not usually a fan of red-eye flights, but it allowed me to maximize my first day in Iceland and save around $100.

I made my rental car reservation through Hotwire, a third-party booking site where I tend to find lower prices. I paid $348.66 for five days.

When I landed in Iceland, I found that only four rental car companies had counters in the arrivals terminal: Avis, Budget, Europcar, and Hertz. To get to the Economy Rent A Car counter where I'd made my reservation, I needed to take a 10-minute ride in a shuttle that only came every 30 minutes.

While it took a little longer to pick up my car, it was several hundred dollars cheaper than the other more conveniently located companies.

Packing some basics like granola bars and trail mix allowed me to avoid paying steep prices for snacks during my trip. I was also grateful to have brought an instant soup cup when I stayed at a remote bubble hotel located in a forest along the Golden Circle. Buubble by Airmango offered a kettle to heat water for coffee or tea, but no restaurant or lobby.

Throughout my visit, I stopped at Icelandic grocery chains like Hagkaup and Krónan to stock up on to-go items like sandwich ingredients and snacks. The prices were higher than the US, but it was still cheaper than eating at restaurants for every meal.

I'm a hotel breakfast enthusiast. I love starting my travel days with a filling meal and sampling local morning staples in different cities and countries. In Iceland, the continental breakfast included in my hotel stay was another meal I didn't have to pay extra for.

I ended up spending a total of $154.16 on food over the course of my five-day trip — about $30 per day.

I was surprised to learn that it's safe to drink straight from many clear rivers and streams in Iceland. On one hike, I filled my reusable bottle with water from melting glaciers instead of paying for bottled water. On other occasions, I filled my bottle with Icelandic tap water, which is widely regarded for its high quality.

One local recommended that I visit the Secret Lagoon, located about 62 miles from Reykjavík, as a non-touristy alternative to the Blue Lagoon. The cheapest ticket to the Blue Lagoon cost 13,228 ISK, or about $93, while the Secret Lagoon cost 3,300 ISK, or about $23.18.

The Blue Lagoon featured more luxurious amenities and included perks like a face mask and drink, but the more rustic Secret Lagoon also provided an enjoyable geothermal pool experience and would be a great option for budget travelers.

I asked another Iceland local to meet at her favorite cafe in Reykjavík. She took me to the Flóran Garden Bistro located inside the Grasagarður Botanical Garden, a gorgeous setting adorned with flowers, string lights, and bubbling fountains. There, a sandwich and a bowl of soup cost 2,490 ISK, or about $17.60, which was one of the most delicious and least expensive meals I purchased during my trip.

While some of Iceland's tourist attractions charge admission fees, many of the country's natural wonders are free to enjoy. While driving south, I happened upon the incredible Seljalandsfoss waterfall on the side of the highway. The site had a free parking lot and bathrooms, plus incredible views that didn't cost a króna.