In Australia, the average grocery bill for a four-person household (which may include families or four people living under the same roof) is approximately $207 per week.
This translates to around $897 per month or $10,764 per year. Naturally, larger households tend to spend more on groceries, and this amount is primarily allocated to staple or everyday food items.
Back in October 2021, The Healthy Mummy started a shopping experiment to see how buying the same 10 items from the 6 leading supermarket chains compared in price and availability.
Since then we ran the same experiment a few more times, including March 2022 and then again in November 2023.
Now we have purchased the same products 6 months later in April 2024 to see how prices have changed yet again.
Check out the results below!
The Healthy Mummy Shopping Experiment
What did we buy?
We opted for those staple pantry and fridge items most families buy every week.
Shopping List
- Beef Mince 500g – 5 star or premium
- White sliced bread
- Tasty cheese 500g block
- 5 bananas
- 1 iceberg lettuce
- 1 packet of spaghetti
- 1 tin Australian diced tomatoes
- 1 large brown onion
- 1 Garlic head
- 1 litre full fat milk
So that we were comparing apples for apples we went for lean or premium mince, we opted for own brands where available and noted that cheaper brands were limited when buying just 1 litre of milk. Supply issues have meant forcing a purchase of more expensive brands in some cases. It should also be noted that IGA don’t stock own brand bread and this affects price quite considerably.
Where did we shop?
We shopped at a mix of independently owned and popular supermarket chains in Australia.
- Aldi
- Woolworths
- Coles
- Harris Farm
- IGA
- Foodworks
April 2024 result
Can we just say how SURPRISING it is that Coles and Woolworths are actually cheaper than Aldi for once!! WOW!! The own (home brand) labels really do make a difference when shopping for the basics.
| Â | Aldi | Woolworths | Coles | Harris Farm | IGA | Foodworks |
| Beef mince 500gm | $8.99 | $8.00 | $10.00 | $10.99 | $10.00 | $9.99 |
| White sliced bread | $2.29 | $2.70 | $2.40 | $3.49 | $4.19 | $4.20 |
| Tasty Cheese Block 500gm | $6.99 | $7.70 | $7.70 | $9.50 | $10.50 | $11.00 |
| 5 bananas | $3.99kg | $3.60 (72c each) | $3.40 (68c each) | $1.20 each | $3.60 (72c each) | $4.99kg |
| Iceberg Lettuce | $3.29 | $3.50 | $2.90 | $4.99 | $5.00 | $3.99 |
| Packet Spaghetti | 89c | $1.00 | 90c | $3.49 | $2.00 | $2.89 |
| Diced tin Australian tomatoes | $1.39 | $1.10 | $1.00 | $1.69 | $1.70 | $1.79 |
| Large brown onion | 59c | 59c | 70c | $1.00 | 67c | $2.99 kg |
| Garlic head | $1.07 | $1.65 | $1.74 | $2.50 | $1.40 | $3.50 (100g) |
| I ltr full cream milk | $1.59 | $1.60 | $1.60 | $2.50 | $2.55 | $2.99 |
| TOTAL | $31.08 | $31.44 | $29.14 | $41.35 | $41.61 | $48.33 |
November 2023 results
| Â | Aldi | Woolies | Coles | Harris Farm | IGA | Foodworks |
| Beef mince 500gm | $8.99 | $10.00 | $10.00 | $10.99 | $8.99 (on sale)Â | $11.50 |
| White sliced bread | $2.29 | $2.40 | $2.40 | $3.19 | $4.99 | $2.90 |
| Tasty Cheese Block 500gm | $6.99 | $7.70 | $7.70 | $10.00 | $10.50 | $10.00 |
| 1kg bananas | $3.99 | $5.04 | $5.67 | $6.44 |
$5.99 | $4.99 |
| Iceberg Lettuce | $1.49 | $2.90 | $2.00 | $2.50 | $3.99 | $2.99 |
| Packet Spaghetti | $0.89 | $0.90 | $0.90 | $2.50 | $1.85 | $1.46 |
| Diced tin Australian tomatoes | $0.95 | $0.97 | $0.95 | $1.59 | $1.90 | $1.80 |
| Large brown onion | $0.60 | $0.59 | $0.67 | $1.00 | $0.41 | $0.36 |
| Garlic head | $0.82 | $1.65 | $1.20 | $2.80 | $1.03 | $0.93 |
| I ltr full cream milk | $1.59 | $1.60 | $1.70 | $3.30 | $3.05 | $2.59 |
| TOTAL | $28.60 | $33.75 | $33.19 | $44.31 | $42.70 | $39.52 |
What were the results in March 2022?
| Â | Aldi | Woolies | Coles | Harris Farm | IGA | Foodworks |
| Premium Beef mince 500gm | $9.49 | $10.50 | $10.50 | $9.99 | $11.77 | $11.65 |
| White sliced bread | $1.39 | $1.40 | $1.40 | $3.99 | $4.00 | $2.00 |
| Tasty Cheese Block 500gm | $4.79 | $8.50 (home brand NA) | $6.00 | $7.99 | $7.80 (only had 750gm) | $9.82 |
| 1kg bananas | $2.99 | $3.50 | $3.00 | $2.99 | $4.49 | $3.99 |
| Iceberg Lettuce | $3.99 | $3.90 | $4.50 | $4.49 | $3.99 | $5.49 |
| Packet Spaghetti | $0.79 | $1.25 | $0.80 | $1.49 | $1.40 | $1.95 |
| Diced tin Australian tomatoes | $0.99 | $1.40 | $1.40 | $1.49 | $1.55 | $1.49 |
| 1 lg brown onion | $0.66 | $0.71 | $0.93 | $0.69 | $0.88 | $0.51 |
| Garlic head | $1.57 | $1.55 | $1.15 | $2.68 | $1.40 | $2.70 |
| I ltr full cream milk | $1.35 | $2.10 | $1.35 | $2.39 | $2.60 | $2.39 |
| TOTAL | $28.01 | $34.81 | $31.03 | $38.19 | $39.88 | $41.99 |
And the results from our first shopping experiment back in October 2021……
| Â | Aldi | Woolies | Coles | Harris Farm | IGA | Foodworks |
| Beef mince 500gm | $7.99 | $7.50 | $7.50 | $8.99 | $10.45 | $9.72 |
| White sliced bread | $1.29 | $1.60 | $1.40 | $2.69 | $3.60 | $4.15 |
| Tasty Cheese Block 500gm | $4.79 | $5.30 | $5.30 | $7.50 | $8.00 | $8.49 |
| 1kg bananas | $1.20 | $2.59 | $3.53 | $1.55 | $3.24 | $3.55 |
| Iceberg Lettuce | $1.99 | $2.00 | $1.90 | $2.99 | $2.50 | $1.99 |
| Packet Spaghetti | $0.79 | $1.00 | $0.80 | $1.49 | $2.60 | $3.49 |
| Diced tin Australian tomatoes | $0.99 | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.49 | $1.65 | $1.49 |
| Large brown onion | $0.49 | $0.55 | $0.80 | $0.62 | $0.63 | $0.73 |
| Garlic head | $1.22 | $1.55 | $1.03 | $2.05 | $1.49 | $1.50 |
| I ltr full cream milk | $1.29 | $1.29 | $1.29 | $2.39 | $2.40 | $2.59 |
| TOTAL | $21.96 | $24.38 | $24.55 | $31.76 | $36.56 | $37.70 |
Also worthy of a mention is stock availability and the time of day you shop. For example, shopping at Foodworks in the evening may see fresh stock like bread limited. If you shop in the evening you can only get your hands on the local bakery white sliced, with own brand Best Buys shelf empty.
Harris Farm and independent stores boast less packaging, which may be a consideration for some but you are looking at paying at least 30% more for your shop, vs a more modest difference of 10% to shop at Coles or Woolies. Harris Farm arguably boasts the best fresh seasonal food offers. But ALDI will never be beaten for the best budget shop!
More Budget Tips!
We compare the prices of back-to-school snacks to save you time and MONEY!
BUDGET MAKING INGREDIENTS: How this mum makes her mince meals go further!
How these mums are cooking healthy family meals on a BUDGET
Are you ready to become a Healthy Mummy?
