Cheap Student Groceries: save $3.48 by splitting the shop
Cheap Student Groceries came to $55.93 at Aldi, the cheapest store that could supply the whole basket. Buying each item wherever it was cheapest saved a further $3.48.
Mi Goreng Noodles 5 Pack 425g
Aldi$2.39
Pasta Spirals 500g×2
Aldi$1.78
Tomato Pasta Sauce 500g×2
Aldi$3.18
White Sandwich Sliced Bread 650g
Aldi$2.39
Cage Eggs 700g
Aldi$5.00
Tuna Chunks in Oil 425g×4
Aldi$3.29
Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce 420g×2
Aldi$2.18
Tasty Cheese Block 500g
Aldi$5.99
Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Coles$2.80
Chicken Nuggets 1kg
Aldi$6.49
Light Milk 2L
Aldi$3.39
Aroma Classic Instant Coffee 200g
Aldi$6.39
Rolled Oats 750g
Aldi$2.98
Vegemite Spread 150g
Woolworths$4.20Every item at all 4 stores
| Item | Coles | Woolworths | Aldi | IGA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi goreng 5 pack | ||||
| pasta 500 g · × 2 | ||||
| pasta sauce 500 g · × 2 | ||||
| bread 650 g | ||||
| eggs 12 pack | ||||
| tuna 95 g · × 4 | ||||
| baked beans 400 g · × 2 | — | |||
| tasty cheese 500 g | ||||
| mixed vegetables 1 kg | ||||
| frozen chicken nuggets 1 kg | ||||
| milk 2 L | ||||
| instant coffee 150 g | ||||
| oats 1 kg | ||||
| vegemite 150 g | — |
Prices collected on 21 October 2026 from Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA.
What the basket costs
| Store | Total | Items found |
|---|---|---|
| Coles | $53.85 | 13, 1 missing |
| Aldi | $55.93 | all 14 |
| Woolworths | $60.60 | 13, 1 missing |
| IGA | $71.40 | 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 $52.45, $3.48 below the $55.93 at Aldi — the cheapest shop that could actually fill the basket.
Every item
| Item | Cheapest | Store |
|---|---|---|
| mi goreng | $2.39 | Aldi |
| pasta | $1.78 | Aldi |
| pasta sauce | $3.18 | Aldi |
| bread | $2.39 | Aldi |
| eggs | $5.00 | Aldi |
| tuna | $3.29 | Aldi |
| baked beans | $2.18 | Aldi |
| tasty cheese | $5.99 | Aldi |
| mixed vegetables | $2.80 | Coles |
| frozen chicken nuggets | $6.49 | Aldi |
| milk | $3.39 | Aldi |
| instant coffee | $6.39 | Aldi |
| oats | $2.98 | Aldi |
| vegemite | $4.20 | Woolworths |
Prices change daily. Search for any product to see today's.
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Frequently asked questions
Which supermarket is cheapest for student groceries in Australia?
Aldi is the cheapest for this 14-item student basket at $55.93, which is $15.47 less than IGA ($71.40). Coles covers 13 of 14 items for $53.85 but doesn't stock vegemite, so it's not a complete basket.
Can you eat on $50 a week in Australia as a student?
It's tight but possible if you're shopping at Aldi and sticking to basics like pasta, eggs, frozen veg, oats, and tinned tuna. This 14-item basket at Aldi comes to $55.93, so $50 a week means being selective or buying smaller quantities of a few items.
Is it worth shopping at multiple supermarkets to save money?
On this basket, buying each item at its cheapest store saves $3.48 compared to doing the whole shop at Aldi. That's a $52.45 total versus $55.93. Whether a second stop is worth it depends on how far apart the stores are.
Why is IGA so much more expensive than Aldi?
IGA is typically a franchise model with smaller buying power, and some IGA stores stock different pack sizes (like 3 × 400 g nuggets instead of a 1 kg bag) that end up costing more. On this basket, IGA's $71.40 total is $15.47 more than Aldi's $55.93.