Consumer advocacy group CHOICE has just published its inaugural quarterly government-funded report on supermarket prices throughout Australia.
As part of the study, CHOICE deployed undercover shoppers to 81 regional and urban supermarkets nationwide, including Aldi, Woolworths, and Coles, to track the prices of 14 everyday grocery items.
The investigation uncovered that Aldi's selection was roughly 25 percent more budget-friendly than the assortments at Coles or Woolworths.
"Aldi emerged as the clear winner in terms of value for money in our initial supermarket basket survey for 2024, with our collection of 14 products totalling just $51.51—approximately 25 percent less expensive than Coles or Woolworths," said CHOICE CEO Ashley de Silva.
"Prices for groceries at Coles and Woolworths are extremely close, with just 75 cents separating the costs of our 14-item assortment without any special promotions. Coles was the most expensive at $69.33, while the assortment at Woolworths stood at $68.58.”
CHOICE's research also highlighted how location can impact the cost of groceries. When the average cost of supermarket assortments in each state was examined, it was found that those residing in Tasmania or the Northern Territory shelled out significantly more each week for groceries.
However, this was mainly because these regions have fewer shopping options than the rest of the country.
"Beyond the Northern Territory and Tasmania, inhabitants of Western Australia are, on average, paying more for their groceries - about a dollar more for this selection of items than people in other areas of the country.”
CHOICE's ongoing supermarket price examination will persist quarterly for the next three years, providing individuals with insights into where they can find the most affordable groceries.
"We are committed to providing consumers nationwide with transparent, dependable information on supermarket prices. This type of openness is increasingly critical as the cost-of-living crisis persists and prices of essential grocery items rise.”
