Moving to Australia can bring about what’s often referred to as ‘sticker shock’ (basically when you get that horrible surprise of something being much more expensive than you were expecting).
This is especially true when it comes to grocery shopping, but the good news is that where you shop can actually make a pretty big difference to your weekly budget; it just takes a little bit of extra planning.
ALDI: Best for everyday savings
If your goal is to keep your total grocery bill as low as possible, then ALDI is a good place to start. A recent survey from Choice found that for a full basket of groceries, ALDI’s total cost came to around $10 cheaper than its competitors. Of course, there are some cons to shopping at ALDI, the biggest one being that they don’t have as large a range as some of the bigger chain supermarkets (they’re also not as widely available across the country!). But for building up your pantry staples, having a cheeky look in the centre aisle, where you can find everything from discounted ski gear to gardening equipment, and their weekly international specials, you really can’t go wrong with them.
Woolworths and Coles: Best for convenience
We’re going to lump these two together because for the most part, they don’t really differ. Woolies (as the Aussies call it) and Coles are the two most dominant supermarkets here, so you’ll find one in pretty much every major town, and they’re pretty abundant even across some of the more rural areas.
While they’re generally a bit more expensive than ALDI, they are often the most convenient option in terms of location and a wide range of products. Both Coles and Woolies also have decent rewards/points programs that are worth signing up to if you want to take advantage of some extra specials and bank some savings for Christmas. A good tip is to keep an eye on what’s on special at both Coles and Woolies each week and shop between the two for the best deals. Specials change weekly, and they often seem to swap back and forth across both supermarkets.
IGA: Great for supporting local
IGA stores are independently owned and are often found in some of Australia’s more rural townships. They often sell local produce and can also have some really interesting items in stock, depending on the owners/location. While they’re probably not going to be the best budget-wise for filling up your trolley, it’s always worth having a poke around to support a local business!
Asian grocery stores: Great for specialty items
Definitely don't overlook your local Asian grocery store, especially if you’re wanting to cook some meals from back home. They often offer competitive prices on dry goods like rice, noodles and spices, and usually have a great range of international freezer items, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables. If you’re searching for an ingredient from back home that you can’t seem to find in one of the larger chain supermarkets, check and see if you have an Asian grocery store local to you!
Fresh fruit and veg markets: Great for fresh produce
While they’re not always the cheapest option, fresh fruit and veg markets (especially those with permanent dwellings) often have a really interesting range of fresh, seasonal produce. According to a Nine News article from earlier this month, more and more shoppers are gravitating towards shopping at fresh markets, not only for their produce but for additional items such as bread, dairy products and grab-and-go snacks like nuts. It’s worth checking out your nearest fresh produce market to see what kinds of extra products they sell; you never know if you might get a better deal than at Coles or Woolies!
Compare prices before you shop
Our biggest piece of advice is to compare prices before you head out to do the weekly shop. Apps such as Frugl allow you to compare grocery prices across Australia’s major supermarket chains, and most of the bigger shops have their own apps that let you view specials and catalogues before you even have to leave the house. For your independently owned stores, it’s worth checking if they have a social media page that you can follow for their new specials!
