Budget Groceries for One Person: save $4.28 by splitting the shop
Budget Groceries for One Person came to $45.81 at Aldi, the cheapest store that could supply the whole basket. Buying each item wherever it was cheapest saved a further $4.28.
White Sandwich Sliced Bread 650g
Aldi$2.39
Light Milk 2L×2
Aldi$3.39
Free Range Eggs 6 Pack
Coles$4.50
Rolled Oats 750g
Aldi$1.49
Beef Noodles 5 Pack 425g×2
Aldi$3.58
Brown Rice Microwave Pouch 250g×2
Aldi$2.98
Tuna Chunks in Springwater 425g×4
Aldi$3.29
Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Coles$2.80
Ingham's Large Fresh Chicken Breast Fillets
IGA$4.59
Tasty Cheese Block 250g
Aldi$4.49
Cavendish Bananas Loose
Aldi$4.49
Woolworths Australian Grown Carrots 1kg
Woolworths$1.70
Pasta Spirals 500g
Aldi$0.89
Chopped Tomatoes Canned
Coles$0.95Every item at all 4 stores
| Item | Coles | Woolworths | Aldi | IGA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| white bread 650 g | ||||
| milk 1 L · × 2 | ||||
| free range eggs 6 pack | ||||
| rolled oats 500 g | ||||
| instant noodles 5 pack · × 2 | ||||
| microwave rice 250 g · × 2 | — | |||
| tuna in springwater 95 g · × 4 | ||||
| frozen mixed vegetables 500 g | ||||
| chicken breast 500 g | ||||
| tasty cheese 250 g | ||||
| bananas 1 kg | ||||
| carrots 1 kg | ||||
| pasta 500 g | ||||
| diced tomatoes 400 g |
Prices collected on 27 October 2026 from Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA.
What the basket costs
| Store | Total | Items found |
|---|---|---|
| Aldi | $45.81 | all 14 |
| Coles | $49.33 | 13, 1 missing |
| Woolworths | $49.71 | all 14 |
| IGA | $50.99 | all 14 |
A store that could not supply every item is not directly comparable — a smaller basket is naturally cheaper.
The bigger saving
Buying each item at whichever store sold it cheapest came to $41.53, $4.28 below the $45.81 at Aldi — the cheapest shop that could actually fill the basket.
Every item
| Item | Cheapest | Store |
|---|---|---|
| white bread | $2.39 | Aldi |
| milk | $3.39 | Aldi |
| free range eggs | $4.50 | Coles |
| rolled oats | $1.49 | Aldi |
| instant noodles | $3.58 | Aldi |
| microwave rice | $2.98 | Aldi |
| tuna in springwater | $3.29 | Aldi |
| frozen mixed vegetables | $2.80 | Coles |
| chicken breast | $4.59 | IGA |
| tasty cheese | $4.49 | Aldi |
| bananas | $4.49 | Aldi |
| carrots | $1.70 | Woolworths |
| pasta | $0.89 | Aldi |
| diced tomatoes | $0.95 | Coles |
Prices change daily. Search for any product to see today's.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Aldi actually cheaper than Woolworths for a single person's weekly shop?
On this 14-item basket, yes. Aldi came to $45.81 versus Woolworths at $49.71, a $3.90 difference. The gap is biggest on instant noodles, cheese, and chicken breast.
Should I buy the 12-pack of eggs at Aldi or the 6-pack at Coles?
Aldi's 12-pack of free range eggs costs $5.99, which is the cheapest per egg. But if you won't get through a dozen before they go off, Coles' 6-pack for $4.50 is the better value for a single-person household, less waste, lower upfront spend.
Is it worth shopping at multiple supermarkets to save money on groceries?
The theoretical saving from buying each item at its cheapest store is $41.53, which is $4.28 less than sticking entirely to Aldi. For most people, the time and petrol cost of visiting three or four stores wipes out that saving. The exception is if you already pass multiple stores on your regular route.