A recent study conducted by consumer watchdog group Which? has crowned Aldi as the most budget-friendly supermarket in 2025. Which? regularly monitors grocery prices and publishes monthly reports on the cheapest stores. Throughout 2025, Aldi held the title of the UK’s most economical supermarket for the fifth consecutive year, emerging as the cheapest option in ten out of 12 months.
In December, for a selection of 68 items, Aldi stood out as the most cost-effective choice with an average monthly bill of £123.60. Lidl followed closely, trailing by just 10p with an average cost of £123.70 for both Lidl Plus members and non-members during the same period.
While Lidl claimed the top spot twice in 2025, in July and October, the average price difference between Aldi and Lidl for the entire year was a mere 77p. Comparatively, Asda customers paid an average of £134.89 in December for the same 68 items, whereas Tesco Clubcard holders spent £135.84, or £139.12 without a Clubcard.
On the other end of the spectrum, Sainsbury’s Nectar cardholders faced expenses of £141.45, or £143.74 without a Nectar card, while Waitrose emerged as the priciest option, with a total of £170.46 for the 68-item list in December. Which? research disclosed that Waitrose cost 35% more on average compared to Aldi throughout 2025, even when considering a larger weekly shopping list of 180 items.
Aldi and Lidl were excluded from the latter comparison due to their smaller product range. Asda took the lead in December for the extended list of 180 items, with an average bill amounting to £450.82. Tesco Clubcard holders spent an average of £462 in December for the same items, whereas non-Clubcard shoppers paid £493.53.
For Morrisons shoppers, the bill tallied up to £466.04 with a loyalty discount or £467.46 without, while Sainsbury’s Nectar cardholders spent £468.61, and non-members faced a bill of £501.89. Waitrose retained its position as the most expensive store for the larger shopping list, with an average bill of £529.17. The analysis by Which? factored in special offers and loyalty discounts where applicable but did not include multi-buy deals.
Reena Sewraz, the Retail Editor at Which?, emphasized Aldi’s consistent affordability, underscoring its dominance as the UK’s most wallet-friendly supermarket. Sewraz highlighted the ongoing competition between Aldi and Lidl, noting Aldi’s consistent price advantage. She also pointed out Asda’s appeal for customers seeking a broader range of branded products at competitive prices.
In a climate where food expenses remain a significant concern for many households, Sewraz advised consumers to explore various supermarket options to potentially save hundreds of pounds annually on their grocery bills.