Fact Checked
Buying groceries is one of our biggest living expenses after housing costs, so it makes ‘cents’ Aussies look to reduce their grocery bills whenever possible. For that, it’s important to know exactly what we’re spending at the supermarket each shop, in order to then adjust our budgets and buying habits accordingly.
That’s why we have compiled this guide on average grocery bills in Australia. We’ve included average grocery costs by state, household size, income, age group, and supermarket, plus listed some budgeting tips to reduce your grocery bill.
Average grocery bill in Australia
Aussie households spend on average $152 per week on groceries, according to Canstar Blue’s latest survey of supermarket shoppers. This equates to about $608 a month or $7,296 a year. The average weekly spend for larger households of five or more people is roughly $235, with the majority of this spent on staple or everyday food items.
Here’s what most Aussies buy in their weekly food, as found in our survey:
- Fresh fruits & vegetables: 64%
- Dairy/eggs: 58%
- Bakery items (i.e. bread): 55%
- Meat/seafood/deli items: 54%
- Pantry items (i.e. rice, pasta, cooking oil, etc.): 52%
- Drinks (i.e. coffee, tea, soft drinks, etc.): 50%
- Frozen foods: 46%
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Average grocery bill by state
This table shows the average weekly grocery bill across Australian states, based on a Canstar Blue survey of more than 1,900 households (of all sizes).
| State | Average weekly grocery bill |
| Western Australia | $143 |
| Victoria | $147 |
| New South Wales | $151 |
| Australian Capital Territory | $151 |
| South Australia | $153 |
| Queensland | $159 |
| Tasmania | $160 |
Source: Canstar Blue research, July 2022.
As outlined above, households in Western Australia reported the lowest average weekly grocery bill of $143, while those in Tasmania spend the most at the supermarket, to the tune of $160 per week ($17 more).
Average grocery bill in WA
Households in Western Australia pay on average $143 per week for groceries – the least of all states. This equates to $572 a month or $6,864 per year. Our survey found a quarter of shoppers in WA (31%) have switched to supermarket-owned brands to reduce their grocery bills due to the rising cost of living.
Average grocery bill in VIC
People in Victoria recorded the second-lowest average weekly grocery bill of $147, equalling to $588 a month or $7,056 per year. Our latest survey found most Victorians (67%) pay attention to supermarket special offers and promotions, and consumers in Victoria are less likely to buy expensive fruits and vegetablesthan people in other states.
Average grocery bill in NSW
In New South Wales, people spend on average $151 per week for groceries, equating to $604 a month or $7,248 per year. According to our latest survey, 29% of people living in NSW do all of their shopping with the same supermarket chain.NSW is also the state with the most ALDI stores, with more than 180 locations to date.
Average grocery bill in the ACT
Households in the Australian Capital Territory spend on average $151 a week on groceries. This equates to $604 a month or $7,248 a year. Our latest survey found a whopping 92% of consumers in the ACT shop at the supermarket that’s closest to their home.
Average grocery bill in SA
South Australians spend on average $153 a week on groceries, equalling to $612 a month or $7,344 per year. Our survey found over half of shoppers in SA (51%) buy deli meats (i.e. ham, sausages, etc.) from the supermarket, rather than visiting a butcher.
Average grocery bill in QLD
Households in Queensland fork out on average $159 per week for groceries, equating to $636 a month or $7,632 per year.More half of shoppers in the Sunshine State (52%) think private labels are good quality, according to our latest survey.
Average grocery bill in TAS
Households in Tasmania pay on average $160 per week for groceries – the most of all states. This equates to $640 a month or $7,680 per year. Our survey found the majority of shoppers in Tassie (67%) like to collect rewards points with their supermarket shop, suggesting they may be willing to pay more if they can redeem discounts on future shops.
Average grocery bill by household size
This table shows the average weekly grocery bill in Australia by household size.
| Household size | Average weekly grocery bill |
| 1 | $104 |
| 2 | $144 |
| 3 | $178 |
| 4 | $203 |
| 5 or more | $235 |
Source: Canstar Blue research, July 2022.
Naturally, larger households of five or more (including dependents) spend more on groceries, forking out roughly $235 a week or $131 more per month than single-person households or couples. Generally speaking, food expenditure goes up by $40-50 with every person in your household.
What is the average grocery bill per person?
The average grocery bill for single-person households in Australia is $104 a week, which is equivalent to $416 a month or $4,992 a year. According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) census data, there are 2.3 million single-person households in Australia, making up about a quarter of all (9.4 million) households.
What is the average grocery bill for a family of 4?
How much does the average Australian family spend on groceries per week? This will vary widely depending on location, whether you live in a regional or metropolitan area, the age of children and various other lifestyle factors. Our survey indicates that four-person households (this may include families or four people living under the same roof), spend on average $203 per week on groceries, equalling $812 a month or $9,744 a year. The majority (71%) of households in Australia (or 6.7 million) are family households, according to ABS census data.
Average grocery bill by supermarket
This table displays the average weekly grocery bill in Australia by supermarket.
| Supermarket | Average weekly grocery bill |
| IGA | $140 |
| Woolworths | $151 |
| Coles | $154 |
| ALDI | $157 |
Source: Canstar Blue research, July 2022.
Prices between supermarkets will vary depending on distributor pricing (what a supermarket pays to source and stock a particular product), what they source directly from manufacturers, location (i.e. regional or metropolitan) and simple supply and demand. Our survey found that Aussies who shop at IGA − an independently-owned and operated supermarket – tend to spend less on groceries per week than those who shop at Coles, Woolies, and even ALDI!
Please note: the average supermarket grocery spend is a reported monetary cost − not indicative of basket size or groceries volume. A higher grocery spend could simply be the result of shoppers buying more items with each shop (i.e. Special Buys, appliances, etc.) and a lower spend could be the result of customers buying less.
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Average grocery bill by age group
People aged under 30, who theoretically will have fewer dependants at charge, tend to spend a little less on groceries per week than middle-aged Aussies, followed by senior Australians (over 70 years of age) who spend the least. Here’s a breakdown of the average weekly grocery bill by age group, based on our latest survey results.
| Age group | Average weekly grocery bill |
| 18 to 29 years | $154 |
| 30 to 39 years | $173 |
| 40 to 49 years | $165 |
| 50 to 59 years | $158 |
| 60 to 69 years | $139 |
| 70 years and over | $129 |
Source: Canstar Blue research, July 2022.
Average grocery bill by household income
Naturally, high-income households spend more on their weekly supermarket shop – about $56 extra than low-income earners. Here’s an overview of the weekly grocery bill by household income.
| Household income | Average weekly grocery bill |
| Less than $30,000 | $123 |
| $30,000 to $49,999 | $146 |
| $50,000 to $79,999 | $147 |
| $80,000 to $119,999 | $163 |
| More than $120,000 | $179 |
Source: Canstar Blue research, July 2022.
Top 10 tips to save money on groceries
- Make a grocery budget: Set yourself a food budget for the week. The easiest way to do that is to allocate about $50 per person in your household. Once you have a concrete figure, work your grocery shop around that, and try to stay on budget.
- Write a shopping list: Similarly to having a budget and sticking to it, you should write down a shopping list of everything you need before you head to the shops. Check your pantry and fridge first to make sure you’re not doubling up on anything. Once you have a list written down, buy only what’s on that list and nothing else. Sorry, that Kinder Bueno will need to go back on the shelf!
- Get ‘appy’: There’s an app out there for practically anything, including for saving money on groceries. Apps like Trolley Saver and Half Price compare and track down specials across the major supermarkets like Coles, Woolworths and ALDI. Both are free to download on iOS and Android.
- Know the system: Did you know most produce and perishable products like meat and milk are typically marked down the day before their ‘best before’ date? Or that manufacturers/brands pay a premium price to have their products on shelves at eye level, while home brands are typically ‘pushed’ down on the lower shelves? Hack the system to your convenience friend!
- Use supermarket rewards programs: Woolworths has the Everyday Rewards card and Coles has Flybuys, which allow you to collect loyalty points for dollars spent, redeemable for discounts on future shops.
- Check the unit price: ‘Cheaper’ doesn’t always mean good value. The best way to make sure you’re getting bang for your buck on any product is to check the unit pricing. It’s a mandatory labelling system that basically tells you the cost per litre, per kilogram (or whatever unit of measurement) of what you want to buy.
- Buy supermarket brands: You can save a few bucks at the checkout by ditching big brand names for private supermarket labels, especially when it comes to non-perishable products like pasta, rice, canned beans, etc. Our survey found nearly half of Aussies (45%) believe supermarket private labels are good quality.
- Don’t pay full price if you don’t have to: Check out the supermarkets’ weekly catalogues for promotions and discounts, to see which items on your shopping list you can buy for less. As good practise, always keep your eyes peeled for sale signs whether you’re shopping in-store or online.
- Buy in bulk. Necessities such as toilet paper and pantry items are often cheaper to buy in bulk than in single packets. Do the maths and see if you can shave a few dollars off your shop that way.
- Reduce food waste. You can save big bucks by re-purposing or freezing leftovers, instead of throwing uneaten food (and money) in the bin.
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