How to Compare Woolworths, Coles & ALDI Prices in 2026

Quick answer: ALDI was cheapest for the specific 16-item basket in CHOICE's March 2026 supermarket survey. That does not mean ALDI, Woolworths or Coles will always be cheapest for your list. The result changes with the products you buy, pack sizes, specials, availability, location and shopping method. A fair comparison uses the same basket, at the same time, for the same area.

This guide combines independent Australian research with a dated check of official retailer product pages. It also shows where the evidence stops, so a missing price or imperfect product match is not presented as a saving.

What the latest independent basket survey found

CHOICE's latest supermarket price survey, updated 25 June 2026, used undercover shoppers at 104 supermarkets in 27 Australian locations in March 2026. Products were selected for similar pack sizes and ingredients, and CHOICE calculated average prices with and without temporary specials.

Source note: CHOICE's detailed accessible results table reports $68.60 for ALDI without specials, while one summary sentence on the same page says $68.80. We use the detailed table figure above.

For that surveyed basket, ALDI was $8.22 below Woolworths and $9.90 below Coles after specials. This is useful independent evidence, but it is not a universal ranking. CHOICE itself notes that a basket survey gives a general picture and that product ranges, specials and prices change.

Our official product-page price spot check

We checked the Coles and ALDI product pages below on 12 July 2026. The Woolworths pages were checked on 13 July 2026 with pick-up shopping selected at Woolworths Town Hall, store 1248, Cnr Park and George Streets, Sydney NSW 2000. This is a source check, not a controlled local basket comparison: the Coles pages displayed prices without a confirmed shopping location and the ALDI pages resolved to Glenmore Park NSW 2745.

That is why this table includes actual product names and the prices we could verify, but does not add the rows into a supermarket total or declare a winner.

Five original Woolworths links showed products that were out of stock at Town Hall. For those rows we followed the current alternatives or search results shown by Woolworths and used the closest same-size match we could verify: milk, spaghetti, frozen vegetables, eggs and mince. The product names and links above identify those replacements rather than silently carrying over an unavailable item's description.

All rows except rice have the same stated quantity, but brand ingredients and specifications can still differ. The Woolworths frozen vegetable product specifically contains carrots, peas and corn, which may not match the other products' mix. The egg products are not like-for-like because their production systems differ: the ALDI item is caged, the Coles item is cage-free and the Woolworths item is barn-laid. The rice pack sizes differ: ALDI is 2kg while Coles and Woolworths are 1kg, although all three displayed prices work out to about $1.80 per kg. The mince products are all 500g, but their grade, fat content and production claims may differ. These are exactly the kinds of differences a credible comparison should disclose.

Prices can change after publication and may differ by store, state, online shopping method, promotion, loyalty status or availability. Always verify the selected product and final price with the retailer before buying.

How to compare Woolworths, Coles and ALDI fairly

1. Define the basket before checking prices

Write down the products and quantities you actually intend to buy. Choosing the basket after seeing the prices makes it easy to favour one store unintentionally. A useful weekly basket might contain 15 to 25 repeat purchases across dairy, bakery, pantry, meat, produce and frozen food.

2. Match more than the product name

Record the brand tier, pack size, ingredients and any meaningful specification. For example, cage eggs and cage-free eggs are not an exact match, and 2-star and 3-star mince may not be interchangeable for every shopper. If no close equivalent is available, mark the item as unmatched instead of silently substituting it.

3. Use the unit price

The ACCC explains that unit pricing lets shoppers compare similar products using a standard measure such as price per 100g, per kilogram, per litre or per item. Most large supermarkets and online grocery stores must display it.

Unit pricing helps when pack sizes differ, but also record the amount you must actually pay. A 2kg bag can have a lower price per kilogram while still costing more at checkout and leaving you with more than you need.

4. Hold location and shopping method constant

Select stores serving the same postcode and compare them at roughly the same time. Do not mix an online delivery price from one chain with an unlocalised catalogue price from another. Also record delivery fees, service fees and minimum spends if they apply.

5. Separate ordinary prices from promotions

Temporary specials, loyalty prices and multi-buy offers should be identified separately. A two-for offer is not a fair one-pack price if your basket only needs one. Coles and Woolworths publish offer periods on their current offers and specials pages, but the price you see can still depend on location and eligibility.

6. Compare totals, then account for real-world costs

Calculate three useful numbers:

• One-store total: the cost of buying all available matched items from one supermarket.
• Split-store total: the sum of the lowest matched price for each item across the stores compared.
• Practical total: the split-store total plus delivery fees, travel cost and the value you place on extra time.

Report unmatched items alongside each total. A low subtotal that excludes several products is not the cheapest complete shop.

Why the cheapest supermarket can change

Woolworths, Coles and ALDI use different product ranges, private labels, pack sizes and promotions. Stock availability and local pricing can also change the products that can be matched. That produces two conclusions that can both be true:

• A carefully designed national basket survey can find ALDI cheapest on average for that basket.
• Your own list can produce a different result in a particular week or postcode.

The strongest answer to “which supermarket is cheapest?” therefore names the basket, date, location and matching rules instead of giving an unconditional winner.

How RecipeRun helps compare your grocery list

RecipeRun starts with the ingredients in your recipes, meal plan and grocery list. For Australian users, it can show indicative prices for selected matched products at Woolworths, Coles and ALDI stores you choose.

Compare your real basket, not a generic one

Standard supermarket comparisons usually use a fixed basket of generic or closely matched products. That creates a useful benchmark, but it may not reflect the brands, varieties and pack sizes a particular household would actually choose.

RecipeRun lets you select a preferred product for each grocery item—such as the milk, rice or pasta you normally buy—and remembers that choice for future shops. As you save more preferences, the comparison increasingly reflects your household's usual products rather than default generic matches.

• One-stop comparison helps you compare the displayed matched-item total at each selected store.
• Cheapest Mode groups matched items by the lowest displayed price across the selected stores, if you are willing to split the shop.
• Preferred variants let you choose the brand and size you would normally buy instead of relying on a generic ingredient match.

Prices may be cached, incomplete or different at checkout, and not every ingredient will have an equivalent product at every store. Treat the result as a planning aid, review unmatched products and confirm retailer prices before purchasing. You can read more about RecipeRun's recipe manager and grocery list features or review the full price-data limitations in our Terms.

RecipeRun is free to download on Google Play and the App Store.

Frequently asked questions

Which app compares Woolworths, Coles and ALDI prices?

RecipeRun can show indicative prices for selected matched products on your grocery list across Woolworths, Coles and ALDI stores you choose in Australia. Prices and availability can change, so verify the final product and price with the retailer.

Which is cheapest: Woolworths, Coles or ALDI?

ALDI was cheapest for CHOICE's 16-item March 2026 survey basket, but no supermarket is guaranteed to be cheapest for every list, location or week. Compare the same products and quantities for your own basket.

How do I compare different grocery pack sizes?

Use the displayed unit price, then also consider the total pack price and how much you will use. Match product specifications as well as weight or volume.

How often do supermarket prices change?

Regular prices and temporary promotions can change, and displayed prices may also vary by location or shopping method. Recheck a comparison close to the time you plan to shop.

Is splitting a shop always cheaper?

Not necessarily. Choosing the lowest displayed price for each matched item can reduce the item subtotal, but extra travel, delivery fees, time and unmatched products can remove that saving.

Sources and disclosure

• CHOICE supermarket basket survey, updated 25 June 2026; fieldwork conducted March 2026.
• ACCC guidance on grocery unit pricing.
• Official Coles and ALDI product pages linked directly in the price spot-check table, accessed 12 July 2026.
• Official Woolworths product pages linked directly in the price spot-check table, checked in pick-up mode with Woolworths Town Hall selected, accessed 13 July 2026.
• Coles current offers and Woolworths current specials, accessed 12 July 2026.

This guide is published by the team that makes RecipeRun. RecipeRun is not affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by Woolworths, Coles or ALDI. Retailer names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.