For Australian seniors watching every dollar stretch further, the latest supermarket price battle results deliver both relief and strategy.
ALDI has once again trounced the big players, offering a basket of everyday groceries and home brand items for just $55.34—while the same shop at Coles, Woolworths, or IGA would cost you significantly more.
Consumer group CHOICE's government-funded quarterly tracking has consistently found ALDI offers the cheapest groceries nationwide, with baskets typically 25 per cent cheaper than the major chains. For a household doing their weekly shop, that difference compounds quickly into serious savings.
In this article
'ALDI remains the best-value grocery basket'
The numbers that matter to your weekly budget
CHOICE's latest survey found ALDI's basket cost $55.35, compared to Woolworths at $58.92, Coles at $59.22, and IGA at $69.74. But these aren't just abstract figures—they represent real money that stays in your pocket.
Looking specifically at home brand products, where savvy shoppers can make the biggest impact, ALDI topped the list at $20.08.
Coles followed at $21.30, Woolworths at $21.40, and IGA at $23.89. For seniors making strategic choices about where every dollar goes, these differences add up remarkably quickly.
Annual savings from shopping at ALDI vs competitors
- vs Woolworths: Save approximately $186 per year
- vs Coles: Save approximately $202 per year
- vs IGA: Save approximately $748 per year
- Based on weekly shopping differences compounded over 52 weeks
A year-long pattern of savings emerges
CHOICE's tracking from March 2024 to December 2024 shows ALDI's basket price remained almost unchanged (decreasing by just 0.3 per cent), while Coles decreased by 2.5 per cent but Woolworths increased by 3.7 per cent. This consistency makes ALDI particularly appealing for seniors on fixed incomes who need predictable grocery expenses.
The price gap between Coles and Woolworths has widened slightly to $1.79, which CHOICE calculates would cost shoppers more than $90 annually just between these two major chains.
The home brand revolution continues
Australian supermarkets are responding to cost-of-living pressures with significant investments in their private label ranges. Both Woolworths and Coles have slashed prices on popular items, with Woolworths lowering shelf prices on 550 products until at least 2026.
The original article noted impressive growth figures: Woolworths saw 5 per cent growth in own and exclusive brands during the 2025 financial year, while Coles achieved 5.7 per cent growth in own brand products, with its premium Coles Finest range growing by 13 per cent.
These aren't the generic products of decades past. Modern home brands often match or exceed name-brand quality, with many winning industry awards. For seniors who might have once been hesitant about store brands, today's offerings represent genuine value without compromise.
Quality matters as much as price
The CHOICE survey didn't just focus on price—it also tested strawberry freshness across the chains. CHOICE noted that labels in supermarkets are 'often confusing' and make it 'difficult to tell if there is a true discount on offer or not'.
Strawberry freshness test results (Day 1 vs Day 5)
Coles: 100 per cent fresh → 58 per cent fresh
Woolworths: 92 per cent fresh → 44 per cent fresh
ALDI: 75 per cent fresh → 45 per cent fresh
IGA: 50 per cent fresh → 25 per cent fresh
This quality assessment matters particularly for seniors who may shop less frequently and need produce that lasts longer in the fridge.
Geographic reality: where you live affects what you pay
The absence of ALDI in Tasmania and the Northern Territory means shoppers pay higher prices, with IGA baskets costing $41.05 in Tasmania compared to $33.50 at Woolworths, and $46.75 in the Northern Territory compared to $33.54 at Woolworths.
For seniors living in these regions or in areas with limited supermarket competition, the price differences become even more pronounced. Western Australian shoppers also pay about one dollar more on average than eastern states residents.
Smart shopping strategies for Australian seniors
One way shoppers can cut through pricing confusion is to focus on unit pricing, comparing costs by gram or litre, but ultimately the best savings come from shopping between supermarkets where convenient and being flexible with weekly purchases.
For seniors with transport limitations, this might mean:
- Combining shopping trips with family or friends to access different stores
- Focusing on non-perishables from the cheapest retailer
- Using online shopping delivery from ALDI where available
- Taking advantage of specials cycles when they align with your shopping schedule
Did you know?
Did you know?
Nearly 96 per cent of Australians surveyed by CHOICE in January 2025 reported seeing household expenses and bills increase in the previous 12 months, making strategic grocery shopping more important than ever for managing fixed incomes.
The government backs transparency
CHOICE's quarterly government-funded reports represent an official commitment to helping Australian consumers make informed choices. These reports will continue quarterly, with the next scheduled by the end of September 2024 (now extended through 2025).
This government backing ensures the research continues, giving Australian families—including seniors managing tight budgets—reliable, independent information about where their grocery dollars go furthest.
What this means for your weekly shop
The research methodology involves mystery shoppers visiting 104 supermarkets across 27 locations nationwide, ensuring the data reflects real-world shopping experiences rather than promotional pricing. Locations were chosen to provide good coverage of socio-economic areas and geographic spread, with supermarkets surveyed in competitive clusters.
For seniors making every dollar count, these findings offer clear direction: ALDI consistently delivers the most value, but don't ignore the potential savings from specials at other chains. The key is strategic flexibility combined with an understanding of your local options.
The quarterly surveys also adapt their baskets seasonally—winter items like drinking chocolate and vegetable stock, summer items like fresh berries—ensuring the comparisons reflect what Australians actually buy throughout the year.
What This Means For You
What's your experience with switching between supermarkets to save money? Have you noticed the quality improvements in home brand products, and do you have any favourite discoveries that deliver both value and taste? Share your grocery shopping wisdom with fellow members below.
Original Article
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/a...battle-with-55-home-brand-shop-190024091.html
Quarterly tracking finds Aldi and Coles prices decreased, Woolworths prices increased during first year of surveys: CHOICE
Cited text: Aldi remains the best-value grocery basket.
Excerpt: Consumer group CHOICE's government-funded quarterly tracking has consistently found Aldi offers the cheapest groceries nationwide, with baskets typically 25 per cent cheaper than the major chains
https://www.choice.com.au/about-us/...025/march/supermarket-basket-wave-four-survey
CHOICE releases first quarterly report on supermarket prices
Cited text: New research finds Aldi has the cheapest groceries nationwide.The research revealed that Aldi's basket was about 25 per cent cheaper than baskets at Coles or ...
Excerpt: Consumer group CHOICE's government-funded quarterly tracking has consistently found Aldi offers the cheapest groceries nationwide, with baskets typically 25 per cent cheaper than the major chains
https://www.choice.com.au/about-us/media/media-releases/2024/june/supermarket-basket-report
Aldi wins supermarket price war as Coles, Woolworths, IGA left in the dust: ‘Best bet’
Cited text: The report found Aldi’s basket was the cheapest at $55.35 for the 14 items without specials. Woolworths came in second place at $58.92, followed by Co...
Excerpt: CHOICE's latest survey found Aldi's basket cost $55.35, compared to Woolworths at $58.92, Coles at $59.22, and IGA at $69.74
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/a...-iga-left-in-the-dust-best-bet-200015988.html
Quarterly tracking finds Aldi and Coles prices decreased, Woolworths prices increased during first year of surveys: CHOICE
Cited text: 'From March 2024 to December 2024, Aldi's basket price with specials remained almost unchanged, decreasing by just 0.3 per cent.
Excerpt: CHOICE's tracking from March 2024 to December 2024 shows Aldi's basket price remained almost unchanged (decreasing by just 0.3 per cent), while Coles decreased by 2.5 per cent but Woolworths increased by 3.7 per cent
https://www.choice.com.au/about-us/...025/march/supermarket-basket-wave-four-survey
Quarterly tracking finds Aldi and Coles prices decreased, Woolworths prices increased during first year of surveys: CHOICE
Cited text: · 'The Coles basket with specials cost on average $68.52 in March, compared to $66.84 in December—a 2.5 per cent decrease. The Woolworths basket with specia...
Excerpt: CHOICE's tracking from March 2024 to December 2024 shows Aldi's basket price remained almost unchanged (decreasing by just 0.3 per cent), while Coles decreased by 2.5 per cent but Woolworths increased by 3.7 per cent
https://www.choice.com.au/about-us/...025/march/supermarket-basket-wave-four-survey
Quarterly tracking finds Aldi and Coles prices decreased, Woolworths prices increased during first year of surveys: CHOICE
Cited text: · 'The first quarter of our grocery basket survey saw Coles and Woolworths prices were closely matched, with only 75 cents between them for a basket w...
Excerpt: The price gap between Coles and Woolworths has widened slightly to $1.79, which CHOICE calculates would cost shoppers more than $90 annually just between these two major chains
https://www.choice.com.au/about-us/...025/march/supermarket-basket-wave-four-survey
Aldi wins supermarket price war as Coles, Woolworths, IGA left in the dust: ‘Best bet’
Cited text: It comes as both Woolworths and Coles slash prices on a range of popular items in a bid to lure shoppers.
Excerpt: Both Woolworths and Coles have slashed prices on popular items, with Woolworths lowering shelf prices on 550 products until at least 2026
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/a...-iga-left-in-the-dust-best-bet-200015988.html
Aldi wins supermarket price war as Coles, Woolworths, IGA left in the dust: ‘Best bet’
Cited text: Woolworths has lowered shelf prices on 550 products until at least 2026, up from the nearly 400 products initially announced, along with lowering pric...
Excerpt: Both Woolworths and Coles have slashed prices on popular items, with Woolworths lowering shelf prices on 550 products until at least 2026
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/a...-iga-left-in-the-dust-best-bet-200015988.html
Grocery prices: Aldi cheapest as Coles specials beat Woolworths
Cited text: De Silva said labels in supermarkets are “often confusing” and make it “difficult to tell if there is a true discount on offer or not”. “Our second qu...
Excerpt: CHOICE noted that labels in supermarkets are 'often confusing' and make it 'difficult to tell if there is a true discount on offer or not'
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2024/09/26/coles-woolworths-aldi-prices
Supermarket price monitoring to help Australians make informed choices at the checkout | Treasury Ministers
Cited text: The absence of Aldi in Tasmania and the Northern Territory, means that shoppers end up paying higher prices.
Excerpt: The absence of Aldi in Tasmania and the Northern Territory means shoppers pay higher prices, with IGA baskets costing $41.05 in Tasmania compared to $33.50 at Woolworths, and $46.75 in the Northern Territory compared to $33.54 at Woolworths
https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/m...market-price-monitoring-help-australians-make
Supermarket price monitoring to help Australians make informed choices at the checkout | Treasury Ministers
Cited text: In Tasmania, the cost of the 10 item IGA basket was $41.05, compared to $33.50 at Woolworths and $34.40 at Coles. In the Northern Territory, the 10 it...
Excerpt: The absence of Aldi in Tasmania and the Northern Territory means shoppers pay higher prices, with IGA baskets costing $41.05 in Tasmania compared to $33.50 at Woolworths, and $46.75 in the Northern Territory compared to $33.54 at Woolworths
https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/m...market-price-monitoring-help-australians-make
Supermarket price monitoring to help Australians make informed choices at the checkout | Treasury Ministers
Cited text: The average price of the basket in Western Australia was about one dollar higher than in the eastern states.
Excerpt: Western Australian shoppers also pay about one dollar more on average than eastern states residents
https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/m...market-price-monitoring-help-australians-make
Grocery prices: Aldi cheapest as Coles specials beat Woolworths
Cited text: One way shoppers can try and cut through the confusion is to focus on unit pricing, which compares how much products cost based on quantity, such as b...
Excerpt: One way shoppers can cut through pricing confusion is to focus on unit pricing, comparing costs by gram or litre, but ultimately the best savings come from shopping between supermarkets where convenient and being flexible with weekly…
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2024/09/26/coles-woolworths-aldi-prices
Which is the cheapest supermarket chain in Australia? | CHOICE
Cited text: · In our most recent survey, conducted in January 2025, nearly everyone in our nationally representative survey—96 per cent—told us they'd seen household ...
Excerpt: Nearly 96 per cent of Australians surveyed by CHOICE in January 2025 reported seeing household expenses and bills increase in the previous 12 months
https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/...markets/articles/cheapest-groceries-australia
Aldi wins supermarket price war as Coles, Woolworths, IGA left in the dust: ‘Best bet’
Cited text: CHOICE has released the results of its latest quarterly, government-funded report on supermarket prices.
Excerpt: CHOICE's quarterly government-funded reports represent an official commitment to helping Australian consumers make informed choices
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/a...-iga-left-in-the-dust-best-bet-200015988.html
Aldi wins supermarket price war as Coles, Woolworths, IGA left in the dust: ‘Best bet’
Cited text: CHOICE has been tracking the price of groceries at Australian supermarkets since March last year with its quarterly government-funded report.
Excerpt: CHOICE's quarterly government-funded reports represent an official commitment to helping Australian consumers make informed choices
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/a...-iga-left-in-the-dust-best-bet-200015988.html
Supermarket price monitoring to help Australians make informed choices at the checkout | Treasury Ministers
Cited text: CHOICE’s next quarterly grocery price report will be released by the end of September 2024.
Excerpt: These reports will continue quarterly, with the next scheduled by the end of September 2024
https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/m...market-price-monitoring-help-australians-make
CHOICE releases first quarterly report on supermarket prices
Cited text: Supermarket locations were chosen to give good coverage of socio-economic status based on ABS Indexes and geographic spread across the country. We sur...
Excerpt: Locations were chosen to provide good coverage of socio-economic areas and geographic spread, with supermarkets surveyed in competitive clusters
https://www.choice.com.au/about-us/media/media-releases/2024/june/supermarket-basket-report
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