How to save money on groceries in Australia
Last updated 2 May 2026
The average Australian household spends around $207 per week on groceries according to Finder’s March 2026 data. A family of four spends around $240 per week. Small changes to where you shop and how you compare prices can add up to hundreds of dollars in savings each year.
Start with Aldi for staples
Aldi’s everyday prices on staple groceries are consistently cheaper than Woolworths and Coles. Our basket tracking shows Aldi costs $69.30 for 19 essential items versus $136.12 at Coles on the same list. Switching staple purchases to Aldi is the single biggest lever most households have.
Use price history to judge specials
Not every special is a genuine deal. Check the price history before stocking up on a promoted item. If the current special price is similar to what the product cost six months ago the saving may not be as large as the promotional label suggests.
How to tell if a supermarket special is real →
Compare unit prices before you buy
Bigger packs are not always cheaper per unit. Always check the unit price shown on the ShopHop product card or on the supermarket shelf label before choosing a pack size.
Set price alerts on products you buy regularly
ShopHop price alerts notify you when a tracked product drops in price. Set alerts on things you buy regularly and stock up when a genuine price drop occurs.
The shop hopping approach
Research shows 61% of Australians now visit two or more supermarkets each week. Aldi for staples, specials at Coles or Woolworths for specific items you have checked with price history, and unit price comparisons for everything else is the approach that delivers consistent savings.
Frequently asked questions
Our basket data shows Aldi’s essentials basket costs $66.82 less than Coles and $51.37 less than Woolworths on the same list of staple items. Over a year those savings compound significantly.