How to do Your Grocery Shopping on a Budget
How to Do Your Grocery Shopping on a Budget
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 3.1% in the year to February 2026, contributing significantly to the overall Consumer Price Index increase of 3.7%. Within food, meat and seafood prices rose 4.5%, driven by beef and veal (+13.5%) and lamb and goat (+12.9%) due to strong overseas demand for Australian red meat.
The ACCC also found that the majority of respondents in low-income households are now spending more than 20% of their net income on groceries, and that consumers are losing trust in supermarkets’ sale price claims. With Woolworths holding 38% and Coles 29% of national supermarket grocery sales, the inquiry described the market as an oligopolistic structure with limited incentive for the two major chains to compete vigorously on price.
How Do Rising Fuel Prices Affect Our Grocery Spending?
We found that Toowoomba and Bendigo have the largest average distances to a supermarket among Australia’s 21 largest cities (2,159m and 2,154m, respectively). Based on the ACCC’s reported average retail petrol price of 180.4 cents per litre in Q4 2025, if residents from these two cities drove to the supermarket every week rather than using a delivery service, they would be adding around $45 in petrol cost to their annual grocery spend.
Not to mention the cost of tolls, parking, and car maintenance (as well as the stress of city traffic!). How is your location secretly affecting your spending? Check the full breakdown below.
Annual cost of driving to the supermarket for Australia’s 21 largest cities, ranked by cost:
| City | Average Distance to supermarket (km) | Annual distance driven to/from supermarket per year, assuming one journey per week (km) | Annual petrol consumption of driving to/from supermarket (litre) | Annual petrol cost (dollars) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toowoomba | 2.159 | 224.54 | 24.92 | $44.96 |
| Bendigo | 2.154 | 224.02 | 24.87 | $44.86 |
| Townsville | 1.919 | 199.58 | 22.15 | $39.96 |
| Hobart | 1.819 | 189.18 | 21.00 | $37.88 |
| Mackay | 1.661 | 172.74 | 19.17 | $34.59 |
| Albury-Wodonga | 1.648 | 171.39 | 19.02 | $34.32 |
| Newcastle | 1.628 | 169.31 | 18.79 | $33.90 |
| Gold Coast | 1.601 | 166.50 | 18.48 | $33.34 |
| Cairns | 1.578 | 164.11 | 18.22 | $32.86 |
| Wollongong | 1.526 | 158.70 | 17.62 | $31.78 |
| Ballarat | 1.47 | 152.88 | 16.97 | $30.61 |
| Sunshine Coast | 1.456 | 151.42 | 16.81 | $30.32 |
| Darwin | 1.419 | 147.58 | 16.38 | $29.55 |
| Brisbane | 1.403 | 145.91 | 16.20 | $29.22 |
| Geelong | 1.39 | 144.56 | 16.05 | $28.95 |
| Perth | 1.279 | 133.02 | 14.76 | $26.64 |
| Adelaide | 1.216 | 126.46 | 14.04 | $25.32 |
| Melbourne | 1.173 | 121.99 | 13.54 | $24.43 |
| Sydney | 1.164 | 121.06 | 13.44 | $24.24 |
| Canberra | 1.058 | 110.03 | 12.21 | $22.03 |
| Launceston | 1.039 | 108.06 | 11.99 | $21.64 |
How to Save Money on Groceries
With the cost of living continuing to squeeze household budgets, Australians are looking for every possible way to save at the checkout. The PwC Voice of the Consumer Survey 2025 found that 74% of Australians identify rising living costs as their top concern, with 55% feeling financially insecure.
Meanwhile, the Resonate CX Current State of Omni-Channel Retail study (2025) found that 74% of Australians have changed their shopping behaviour in the past 12 months, with reduced non-essential spending, more budget-conscious buying, and a shift toward cheaper alternatives.
The same study found that in-store shopping leads to twice as many unplanned purchases as online, with 23% of shoppers often making impulse buys in-store compared to just 12% online. To help Aussies save money, we’ve provided some tips to follow when planning and doing your weekly grocery shopping:
Make a Shopping List: Plan your meals for the week and create a shopping list based on the ingredients you need. Stick to your list to avoid impulse purchases.
Shop with a Full Stomach: Shopping when you’re hungry can lead to buying more items than you actually need. Eat a meal or snack before heading to the grocery store and you’ll make fewer impulse purchases.
Look for Sales and Discounts: Check store flyers, websites, and apps for sales and discounts on items you regularly buy. Be mindful of promotional pricing, as the ACCC’s 2025 inquiry noted that consumers are losing trust in supermarket sale price claims. Stock up on non-perishable items when they’re genuinely on sale.
Buy Generic or Store Brands: Generic or store-brand products are often cheaper than name brands but can be of similar quality. Compare prices and opt for the more economical option.
Shop Seasonally: Purchase fruits and vegetables that are in season, as they tend to be cheaper and fresher. You can also buy in bulk and freeze or preserve seasonal produce for later use.
Avoid Convenience Foods: Pre-packaged and convenience foods are usually more expensive than cooking from scratch. Buy whole ingredients and prepare meals at home to save money and also eat healthier.
Compare Prices: Compare prices per unit to get the best value for your money. Sometimes buying a larger package is cheaper in the long run, but make sure it won’t lead to waste if you can’t use it all before it spoils. If you can freeze half a pack of something, then do it.
Shop Online: Sometimes online grocery shopping offers discounts, deals, or coupons that may not be available in-store. Additionally, it can help you avoid impulse purchases. You can also shop meal delivery services like EveryPlate online, helping you plan the exact amount of ingredients you need each week.
With so many additional costs associated with the everyday grocery run, Australians are turning to meal kit delivery services to avoid extra spending and shop savvier each week. We’re proud to say that our meal kits cost less than other meal delivery services, thanks to minimal packaging and a focus on including only the ingredients you really need for fuss-free mealtimes.
For a variety of great-value dishes you can cook from home (without the added travel expenses), just head to our Weekly Menu.
How to Grocery Budget With Meal Planning
Meal planning is a powerful strategy for making cheap meals while ensuring you have nutritious meals throughout the week. By dedicating some time each week to planning your meals, you can significantly reduce your grocery expenses. Start by planning your meals weekly, taking into account ingredients you already have on hand to minimise waste. Utilising leftovers from previous meals is also a smart way to stretch your ingredients further and reduce food waste. By incorporating leftovers creatively, such as using roast chicken for sandwiches or salads, you can save both time and money.
If you’re only cooking for two people, you can minimise the amount of ingredients and waste you produce by planning five meals that use the same base ingredients. This can be choosing three meats, three different vegetables and two starches (such as pasta and potatoes). Switch up your recipes with different seasonings and cooking methods.
If you’re only cooking for two people, you can minimise the amount of ingredients and waste you produce by planning five meals that use the same base ingredients. This can be choosing three meats, three different vegetables and two starches (such as pasta and potatoes). Switch up your recipes with different seasonings and cooking methods. For example, you could have chicken fajita pasta and chicken fajita wraps, two different recipes that use the same base ingredients! Before heading to the grocery store, take stock of what you already have in your cupboards, fridge, and freezer. Base your meal plan around these items to avoid buying duplicates and make the most of what you already have.
Additionally, consider buying staple items like grains, beans, and spices in bulk to save money in the long run. Cooking in batches is a great way to save both time and money. By preparing large batches of meals and portioning them out for future lunches or dinners, you can reduce the need for takeout or convenience foods, ultimately saving you money.
