Friday Night Pizza at Home: Woolies Beats Coles by $14

Pizza delivery in Australia will set a family back $40 to $60 on a good night, and that's before the service fees. Make-your-own pizza night costs a fraction of that, and if you shop at the right store, it costs a fraction of that. We priced a full Friday night pizza basket across Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA so you don't have to guess.

What Does This Pizza Basket Cost at Each Store?

Here's the headline: Woolworths and Aldi are almost identical, Coles is $14 dearer than both, and IGA sits in the middle with one item not even stocked.

The Woolworths and Aldi totals are separated by just two cents. That's not a rounding error, it's a genuine dead heat. Either store gets you a full pizza night for under $39. Coles comes in at $53.13, which is a real difference: $14.17 more for the exact same basket.

IGA's $52.13 looks like it competes with Coles, but one item wasn't available at all, so that total is already short. Add it in and the real IGA bill would likely push past Coles.

Where the Biggest Savings Are

A few items are doing most of the heavy lifting on that Coles-versus-Woolies price gap.

Mozzarella is the one to watch. Aldi's shredded 500 g mozzarella comes in at $6.29, which is the cheapest in this basket for that item. If you've ever bought pizza cheese at Coles or Woolies without thinking about it, you've probably paid noticeably more. Cheese is one of those items where the private-label and house-brand pricing at Aldi consistently undercuts the duopoly's own-brand equivalents, and at $6.29 for 500 g, you've got enough for two generous rounds.

Pizza bases at Aldi are $2.59 for a two-pack, and this basket includes two packs of them. At $5.18 for four bases total, you're covering every member of a family of four with their own pizza and still have change. The Coles and Woolies equivalents cost more, though the gap on bases is less dramatic than on cheese.

Ice cream rounds out the night for $4.50 at Woolworths, the cheapest across all four stores. A 2-litre tub for dessert at that price is hard to argue with.

Pepperoni (100 g) is cheapest at Woolworths at $2.95. Not a huge amount, but it adds up when you're counting every line.

Where Prices Are Basically the Same

Not every item tells a dramatic story, and you should know that too.

Pizza sauce is $1.59 at Aldi, the cheapest, but it's a pantry staple and the kind of thing many households already have in the cupboard. If you do need to buy it, the difference between stores is a matter of cents rather than dollars.

Garlic (3-pack) is actually cheapest at Coles, of all places, at $1.98. That's one of the few line items where the usually-pricier option wins.

Cup mushrooms and red onion are both cheapest at Woolworths ($2.50 and $0.63 respectively), but these are produce items that vary week to week based on what's in season and what your local store has on special. Don't treat those prices as permanent, check the shelf when you get there.

Olives and pineapple are both cheapest at Aldi ($2.19 and $1.99), and if you're already doing your main shop there, these aren't a reason to change.

Is the Cherry-Pick Worth the Extra Trip?

Splitting your shop across multiple stores gets you to $34.04, saving $4.92 compared to Woolworths. That's not nothing, but it also isn't enough to justify driving to three suburbs.

The realistic cherry-pick for this basket is two stores, not four. If you're already near a Woolworths and an Aldi, here's what makes sense: buy your mozzarella, pizza bases, pizza sauce, olives, and pineapple at Aldi, then pick up your pepperoni, mushrooms, red onion, and ice cream at Woolworths. Ham is cheapest at IGA ($3.20) and capsicum at IGA too ($1.21), but unless an IGA is literally on your way, you won't claw back enough to cover the extra trip.

The honest answer is: Woolworths or Aldi for the full shop, with an Aldi stop for cheese and bases if you happen to pass one. Skip the three-store run unless you genuinely enjoy it.

Who Should Shop Where

Families who shop at Aldi anyway will love this basket. Everything is available, the two-cent difference from Woolworths means you're essentially paying the same, and Aldi's mozzarella and pizza bases are legitimately the cheapest on the list. You're not compromising quality for price here, pizza toppings taste the same regardless of which store the mozzarella came from.

Woolworths regulars don't need to change a thing. At $38.96 for all 12 items, it's the cheapest single-store shop, and you're picking up pepperoni, mushrooms, red onion and ice cream at their lowest prices anyway. The Everyday Rewards points are a bonus if you're collecting.

Coles loyalists are paying a $14 premium on this basket with no offsetting benefit. If you're a Coles shopper mainly because of habit or location, this basket is a useful reminder to compare, especially on cheese and bases, where Aldi is considerably cheaper.

IGA shoppers should note the missing item and the higher overall cost. IGA works well for top-up shops and convenience, but for a planned pizza night basket, it's the most expensive option with the least complete range.

One thing worth knowing for any household: according to data from Compare the Market, the average Australian now spends around $206 a week on groceries. A full make-your-own pizza night for the family at under $39 is a genuine alternative to a $50+ delivery order, and you'll have leftovers for tomorrow's lunch.

The two-cent gap between Woolies and Aldi on this basket is almost certainly the closest finish we'll see all year. Flip a coin, pick your loyalty card, and enjoy the pizza.