If you’ve been feeling the pinch at the checkout lately, you’re not alone. With the cost of living rising and winter’s chill making comfort food all the more tempting, every dollar counts for the weekly grocery shop.
But which supermarket is giving you the best bang for your buck? The latest CHOICE survey has crunched the numbers, and the results might surprise you.
CHOICE, Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group, recently rolled up its sleeves and did the hard yards for us.
Their team visited 104 supermarkets across 27 locations nationwide, comparing the prices of a basket of everyday essentials and winter warmers.
The contenders? Our four supermarket heavyweights: Coles, Woolworths, ALDI, and IGA.
The shopping list included staples and seasonal must-haves—think full-cream milk, carrots, chicken breast fillets, strawberries, drinking chocolate, brown onions, and garlic. The aim was to see where Australians could fill their trolleys for less.
Drumroll, please! Here’s how the average basket stacked up:
- ALDI: $55.35
- Woolworths: $58.92
- Coles: $59.92
- IGA: $69.64
ALDI again takes the crown for the cheapest basket, while IGA remains the priciest option. But it’s not all black and white—there are some interesting twists in the details.
While ALDI is the overall winner, the survey found that each supermarket had its bargains:
- Woolworths offered the cheapest chicken breasts and pumpkin (without specials).
- Coles was the place to go for apples.
- IGA surprised everyone with the lowest prices on carrots and garlic.
However, for most other products, ALDI was the clear winner. So, if you’re planning a hearty porridge breakfast or craving a mug of hot chocolate, ALDI should be your first port of call.
Why are prices closer than ever?
CHOICE chief executive officer Ashley de Silva noted that the price gap between ALDI, Coles, and Woolworths has narrowed compared to last year.
That’s good news for shoppers, and it’s likely thanks to increased public scrutiny and pressure on the big supermarkets to keep things fair.
Independent Tasmanian Senator Tammy Tyrrell sees this as a win for everyday Australians.
‘Australians said they were fed up with cowboy behaviour and dodgy deals from major supermarkets,’ she said.
‘After shining a spotlight on their bad habits, this CHOICE report shows prices between ALDI, Coles and Woolworths are much closer than they were a year ago. It’s a win for standing up to the big guys.’
While ALDI’s low prices are a boon for many, Tasmanians still miss out. Senator Tyrrell is leading the charge to bring ALDI to the Apple Isle, pointing out that Tasmanians have the lowest wages and the least supermarket competition in the country.
‘I’m just a girl, standing in front of an ALDI, asking you to come to Tasmania,’ she quipped, echoing the famous line from Notting Hill.
Earlier this year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released a report stating that while our supermarkets are among the most profitable in the world, there’s no evidence of price gouging or misconduct.
Still, with so much public attention on grocery prices, it’s clear that Australians are watching closely.
We’d love to hear from you! Do you have a favourite supermarket for bargains? Have you noticed prices creeping up, or do you have a secret tip for saving at the checkout? And if you’re in Tasmania, do you wish ALDI would finally set up shop?
Share your thoughts and shopping hacks in the comments below—let’s help each other make every dollar count!
Also read: Are you too tired to cook? New survey reveals surprising dinner habits
Well as there is barely any difference in prices between the top three, which excludes IGA, other factors come into play such as product variety and rewards cards.
On those factors Coles and Woolies would IMO be better than ALDI.
I go to Aldi occassionally, but also they really don’t have a huge range to pick from. I’ll get some items from them, but it’s usually Coles and Woolworths, but then I’ll also go to Costco. Everyone needs to shop around and do your homework regarding specials and have a shopping list. If you watch the specials you can organize buying your staples from the different supermarkets and save money.
A the end of the day there is not much of a choice ,as there are only 4 supermarket contenders anyway .Nothing will change until more supermarkets chains are allowed to operate in this country . This might not help a lot but time to give it a go .
More supermarket chains, where are they going to come from ???
You mean like Kaufland, the German Supermarket Chain, which came, failed and went home !!!!
The real losers in this are the people in the smaller and more remote communities, where there is no Coles, Woolworths or Aldi. IGA or Spar are the only options.