It's the question every Australian household is asking as the cost of living bites: which supermarket is actually the cheapest? We pulled the most recent independent data — the CHOICE basket survey from March 2026, which priced identical baskets across 104 supermarkets in 27 locations — to settle it.
Short answer: ALDI wins on shelf price. But the cheapest total shop isn't that simple. Here's the full breakdown.
For a dated, repeatable comparison of a smaller everyday basket, visit the MealPantry Weekly Grocery Index and see which supermarket is cheapest this week.
The verdict: 16-item basket, March 2026
| Supermarket | Full basket (16 items) | Base basket (8 items) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALDI | $68.60 | $37.14 | Cheapest overall |
| Woolworths | $76.82 | $40.08 | +12% vs ALDI |
| Coles | $78.50 | $40.10 | +14% vs ALDI |
| IGA | $86.33 | $45.42 | +26% vs ALDI |
Source: CHOICE Supermarket Basket Survey, March 2026 (full basket with specials). ALDI came out cheapest in every measurement.
ALDI: cheapest shelf price, fewer choices
ALDI's model — mostly home brands, smaller ranges, no-frills stores — delivers the lowest everyday prices, full stop. The 16-item basket came in at $68.60, around 12% below Woolworths and 26% below IGA. The trade-off is choice: fewer brands, fewer specials to chase, and you won't find every product you want. For a straightforward staples shop, it's very hard to beat.
Woolworths: strong specials, biggest range
Woolworths sat second at $76.82. Its edge isn't the everyday price — it's the half-price specials that refresh every Wednesday. Shop only the catalogue deals and a Woolworths trip can undercut ALDI on the specific items that are discounted that week. Add Everyday Rewards points and the effective price drops further. The range is the widest of the four.
Coles: neck-and-neck with Woolworths
Coles landed at $78.50 — statistically a photo-finish with Woolworths. Its Down Down program holds lower prices on staples for months, and the weekly half-price catalogue mirrors Woolworths. Flybuys offers can sweeten a shop with personalised bonus points. Between Coles and Woolworths, the winner in any given week is simply whoever has your items on special.
IGA: convenient, but you pay for it
IGA came in dearest at $86.33 — about 26% above ALDI. Because IGA stores are independently owned, pricing varies a lot between locations, and the smaller-format convenience comes at a premium. It shines for topping up locally, not for the big weekly shop.
MealPantry compares this week's specials across Woolworths, Coles, ALDI and IGA at once — and builds your meal plan around the cheapest combination.
⬇ Start Your 30-Day Free TrialThe catch: cheapest store ≠ cheapest shop
Here's what the basket survey can't capture. ALDI has the lowest average shelf price, but the cheapest actual shop in any given week is almost always split across stores. Your meat might be half price at Coles, your pantry run cheapest at Woolworths, your fresh produce best at ALDI. The CHOICE numbers are a snapshot; real prices move every Wednesday when the new catalogues drop.
That's why chasing a single "cheapest supermarket" leaves money on the table. The real win is buying each item wherever it's cheapest this week — which is impossible to track by hand across four rotating catalogues.
Let MealPantry find the cheapest shop for you
Instead of picking a supermarket and hoping, MealPantry reads all four catalogues every week, cross-references them against thousands of recipes, and builds a meal plan and shopping list around the cheapest available deals — wherever they are. You get the ALDI-level total without giving up the specials, range and points at Woolworths and Coles.
Stop guessing which store is cheapest. Let MealPantry price the whole week for you.
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Frequently asked questions
Which supermarket is cheapest in Australia in 2026?
ALDI, according to the March 2026 CHOICE basket survey. A 16-item basket cost $68.60 at ALDI, versus $76.82 at Woolworths, $78.50 at Coles and $86.33 at IGA.
Is ALDI always the cheapest?
On average, yes — but Woolworths and Coles half-price specials can beat ALDI on specific items each week. The cheapest actual shop is usually split across stores.
How do I get the cheapest grocery shop overall?
Buy each item wherever it's cheapest that week. MealPantry compares the Woolworths, Coles, ALDI and IGA catalogues and builds your meal plan around the best combination of deals.