Where's the cheapest place to do grocery shopping?
Based on analysis from Which? as of June 2026, Aldi is consistently ranked as the cheapest supermarket in the UK, often costing significantly less than major competitors for a standard basket of groceries.
Aldi takes the crown as the overall cheapest supermarket in the UK for a standard basket of everyday essentials. Lidl is a very close second, usually costing only a few pounds more. For traditional, full-range supermarkets, Asda consistently ranks as the cheapest option.
Aldi and Lidl consistently offer the lowest prices across most product categories. For a typical weekly shop for one person, you can expect to spend £25–£35 at Aldi or Lidl, compared to £45–£60 at Tesco or Sainsbury's. However, using Tesco Clubcard Prices or Sainsbury's Nectar Prices narrows the gap significantly.
Whether Tesco or Asda is cheaper depends on whether you use a Tesco Clubcard and the size of your shopping list, with Tesco winning when loyalty prices are applied for large shops, while Asda generally offers lower standard prices without needing a card.
Sainsbury's tends to be slightly cheaper than Morrisons overall when using loyalty schemes, though prices fluctuate closely depending on the specific items and promotions. Monthly grocery tracking by consumer groups like Which? routinely shows Sainsbury's (using Nectar prices) edging out Morrisons (using Morrisons More card) for larger trolleys, though individual basic items vary.
Aldi is generally cheaper than Tesco. Regular price tracking data from Which? shows that a standard basket of groceries costs less at Aldi, even when factoring in Tesco's Clubcard discounts.
The 3-3-3 rule for groceries is a simple shopping method where you buy three carbohydrates, three proteins, and three fats to form the base of all your weekly meals.
ASDA Groceries and Tesco Groceries are generally the cheapest major traditional supermarkets offering full national online home delivery, while budget giants like Aldi and Lidl do not offer full conventional home grocery delivery services.
The top three cheapest grocery stores in the United States are Aldi, Walmart, and WinCo Foods, known for offering the lowest prices on everyday food and household items.
Which supermarket is the cheapest to buy groceries at in the UK?
Aldi was the cheapest supermarket for all 12 months, making it the cheapest supermarket of 2024 according to our analysis. Lidl was the second-cheapest supermarket every month, charging £1.99 more than Aldi, on average.
How much should one person spend on groceries a week?
A single person should realistically spend between £34 and £55 per week on groceries in the UK. Your exact target depends on your lifestyle and habits:
Saving money on food shopping requires planning meals, buying supermarket own-brands, and choosing frozen or canned alternatives. Sticking to a strict list, checking unit pricing, and hunting for yellow-sticker reductions will instantly slash your bills.
No, Asda is not always cheaper than Tesco anymore; Tesco with a Clubcard frequently undercuts Asda on large grocery shops, though Asda remains cheaper if you do not use a loyalty card.
Yes, Aldi is cheaper than Sainsbury's overall. Monthly grocery data from consumer group Which? shows that a typical basket of essential items at Aldi consistently costs less than at Sainsbury’s, even when factoring in Sainsbury's Nectar card loyalty pricing and Aldi Price Match guarantees.
Which supermarket in the UK is the cheapest to most expensive?
Based on routine grocery price tracking by Which?, UK supermarkets rank from cheapest to most expensive as Aldi, Lidl, and Asda, followed closely by mid-tier and premium competitors.
Even if you're not able to get the half-priced goods, it's worth popping to your local store in the evening to check out what's been reduced. This is generally around 7pm, although a spokesperson for Tesco noted that it can vary by store.
