Is Aldi Cheaper Than Coles and Woolworths? The 2026 Answer

Is Aldi cheaper than Coles and Woolworths? It's the most searched grocery question in Australia — and the short answer in 2026 is yes, Aldi is cheaper. But the gap is smaller than many people assume, and knowing exactly where Aldi wins (and where the big two compete) is what separates smart shoppers from those leaving money on the table.

What the Latest Research Says (2026)

CHOICE's most recent government-funded supermarket basket comparison (March 2026) compared a basket of 17 items across all four major supermarkets:

Supermarket	Basket Price	Difference vs Aldi
Aldi	$75.98	—
Woolworths	$90.08	+$14.10 more
Coles	$90.90	+$14.92 more
IGA	$101.84	+$25.86 more

Aldi wins by around $14–$15 per basket. Across a family doing a weekly shop of similar size, that's a saving of $730–$780 per year just by switching your regular shop to Aldi.

GrocerySpy, which compares real-time prices across 12,000+ identical products daily, backs this up: Aldi wins 75% of direct product comparisons. The 25% of times Coles or Woolworths is cheaper tends to be during their weekly half-price specials — which is why the smartest approach uses both.

Where Aldi Is Definitively Cheaper

Aldi's price advantage is strongest and most consistent in these categories:

Dairy — Aldi wins clearly

• Cheese 500g: Aldi $5.99 vs Coles/Woolworths $6.80–$7.00
• Greek yoghurt 1kg: Aldi $4.99 vs Coles/Woolworths $6.00
• Butter 250g: Aldi $3.49 vs Coles/Woolworths $4.00
• Free range eggs x12: Aldi $5.99 vs Coles $6.50, Woolworths $7.00

Meat — Aldi wins clearly

• Chicken thigh fillets 1kg: Aldi $9.99 vs Coles/Woolworths $11.00
• Beef mince 500g: Aldi $6.99 vs Coles/Woolworths $8.00
• Whole chicken ~1.5kg: Aldi $8.99 vs Coles/Woolworths $10.00

Oils, Condiments and Pantry — Aldi wins

• Olive oil 750ml: Aldi $5.99 vs Coles/Woolworths $8.00–$8.50
• Pasta 500g: Aldi $1.09 vs Coles/Woolworths $1.15–$1.20
• Rolled oats 1kg: Aldi $2.49 vs Coles/Woolworths $3.00

Where Coles and Woolworths Are Cheaper

Despite Aldi's overall advantage, there are specific situations where the big two win:

Weekly Half-Price Specials

Both Coles and Woolworths run rotating 50% off deals every week. When yoghurt, cereal, pasta sauce, or chicken is half price at Coles, it will be cheaper than Aldi. The key is checking the catalogues every Sunday night — both apps show the coming week's specials from Sunday evening.

Home-Brand Staples — Much Closer Than You Think

CHOICE's home-brand specific comparison found: Aldi $55.34 vs Coles $56.75 vs Woolworths $57.20. That's a gap of just $1.41–$1.86. If you're already at Woolworths or Coles and buying home-brand products, the price gap largely disappears.

Fresh Produce — Variable

Fresh produce prices fluctuate more than any other category. Seasonal specials at Coles and Woolworths regularly undercut Aldi on specific produce items. Check the catalogues before assuming Aldi is cheaper on fruit and vegetables.

Branded Products

Aldi doesn't sell Vegemite, Tim Tams, Milo, Weet-Bix, or most mainstream Australian brands. If brand loyalty matters for specific items, you'll need Coles or Woolworths for those. Everything else: buy at Aldi.

Aldi's February 2026 Price Cuts

In February 2026, Aldi announced it had applied permanent price reductions to nearly one in five products over the previous 12 months — 19% of its everyday range. The chain stated that 69% of its range is now priced under $5, and 40% under $3. Aldi claims the price gap between it and Coles/Woolworths is now approximately 16.8% for similar items.

Aldi also reports that 5.7 million Australians shopped with them each month as of late 2025 — its highest ever figure — suggesting Australians are already voting with their wallets.

New Supermarket Laws from July 2026

The Australian government is introducing laws banning supermarket price gouging from 1 July 2026. These laws apply only to retailers with revenue over $30 billion — meaning Coles and Woolworths, but not Aldi. The laws are expected to put downward pressure on Coles and Woolworths pricing in the second half of 2026, which may narrow the price gap with Aldi slightly.

The Smartest Shopping Strategy in 2026

The data is clear: no single supermarket wins on everything. The household that saves the most splits strategically:

1. Aldi for staples: Do your main shop at Aldi for dairy, eggs, meat, oils, pasta, rice and frozen goods. These categories are reliably 15–25% cheaper.
2. Check catalogues every Sunday: Both Woolworths and Coles apps show the coming week's half-price specials from Sunday evening. Plan produce and branded item purchases around what's on sale.
3. Use both loyalty programs: Everyday Rewards (Woolworths) and Flybuys (Coles) are both free. Use whichever matches where you're shopping that week. Read our Everyday Rewards vs Flybuys comparison to see which suits you more.
4. Use price comparison apps: GrocerySpy and WiseList show real-time prices across all three stores. Check before your weekly shop to find the biggest gaps.
5. Earn cashback on online orders: When ordering groceries online from Woolworths, click through TopCashback Australia first to earn cashback on top of any specials or loyalty points.

How Much Could You Save by Switching to Aldi?

Based on CHOICE's March 2026 data and Aldi's own estimates:

• Full weekly shop switched to Aldi (vs Coles/Woolworths): save $730–$780/year
• Aldi for staples + catalogues for specials: save $1,500–$2,500/year
• Add loyalty programs + cashback: save $2,000–$3,500/year

The $3,000/year saving Aldi claims for families who shop there weekly is achievable — but only if you're currently doing your full shop at full-price Coles or Woolworths without using specials, loyalty programs or cashback. For most Australians, a realistic saving from switching staples to Aldi is $1,500–$2,500 per year.

Want to cut your grocery bill further? Read our full Woolworths vs Coles vs Aldi guide and our 7 strategies to cut your grocery bill.