Aldi vs Coles vs Woolworths, best cheap staples, and how to eat well for $80/week.
Food in Australia is significantly more expensive than in many countries students come from, but with the right approach you can eat well and healthily for $70–$100 per week. The single biggest variable is your choice of supermarket: Aldi is consistently 20–30% cheaper than Coles or Woolworths on comparable items. IGA is the most expensive and should only be used for emergencies. Farmers markets on weekends often have cheaper and fresher produce than supermarkets.
Aldi: cheapest overall, excellent fresh produce, home-brand products only, limited range, no loyalty program. Do your main weekly shop here. Coles and Woolworths: larger range, loyalty programs (Flybuys and Everyday Rewards), significant weekly half-price specials — use these for branded items on sale and for fresh meat. IGA: local and convenient but expensive — prices are typically 20–40% above Coles/Woolworths. Use IGA only when Aldi is too far or for late-night emergency purchases.
These staples offer the best nutrition-per-dollar: eggs (12 pack $4–$6), rolled oats 1kg ($2–$3), canned tomatoes ($1 each), dried lentils and chickpeas ($2–$3 per bag), frozen vegetables 1kg ($2–$3), rice 5kg ($8–$12), pasta 500g ($1.50–$2), Greek yogurt 1kg ($4–$6), canned tuna ($1.50 per can), bread ($2–$4 per loaf). These form the base of dozens of cheap meals. Shop at Aldi for these whenever possible.
Both apps show this week's 50%-off specials on items including meat, fish, dairy, and pantry goods. Plan your shopping around whatever is half-price that week — if chicken breast is half price, buy extra and freeze it. Check the 'Clearance' or 'Reduced to Clear' section in-store for items marked down near their use-by date, often 50–70% off.
Rice, pasta, lentils, oats, and canned tomatoes keep for 1–2 years and are significantly cheaper per unit in larger packs. A 5kg bag of jasmine or basmati rice ($8–$12 at Aldi or Asian grocery stores) costs less than half the equivalent in smaller bags and lasts 2–3 months for one person. Asian grocery stores (often cheaper than supermarkets for rice, noodles, soy sauce, and spices) are worth seeking out in most Australian cities.
Most cities have weekend farmers markets where growers sell direct. Prices for seasonal vegetables and fruit are often 30–50% below supermarket prices. Markets typically run Saturday or Sunday mornings — search '[your city] farmers market' to find one near you. Go in the last hour before close for further discounts on remaining produce.
Supermarket sushi, sandwiches, salads, deli meat, and pre-made meals cost $8–$18 per serve. A home-cooked meal using lentils, rice, frozen vegetables and spices costs under $2 per serve. Cook in batches — making four servings at once saves both money and time.
Coles and Woolworths rotate brands on 50% off specials — almost every major brand goes on sale once every 4–6 weeks. Never pay full price for branded breakfast cereal, pasta sauce, meat, or dairy. Check the app before shopping and switch your shopping list to whatever is on sale that week.