Aldi has been recognized as the most economical supermarket in 2025 by consumer advocacy group Which?. Which? monitors grocery prices daily and identifies the most budget-friendly stores monthly. Aldi held the title of the least expensive supermarket in ten out of 12 months in 2025, solidifying its position as the UK’s most affordable supermarket for the fifth consecutive year.
In December, Aldi emerged as the most cost-effective option for a selection of 68 items, totaling an average monthly expenditure of £123.60. Lidl followed closely in second place, with an average expense of £123.70 for both Lidl Plus members and non-members in December, just 10p more than Aldi’s total.
Last year, Lidl claimed the title of the cheapest supermarket twice, in July and October, with only a 77p average monthly price difference compared to Aldi. Asda, on the other hand, recorded an average cost of £134.89 for the same 68 items in December, while Tesco Clubcard members spent £135.84, or £139.12 without a Clubcard.
Sainsbury’s Nectar card holders spent £141.45, or £143.74 without a Nectar card, in December. Waitrose stood out as the priciest supermarket for the list of 68 items, with a total of £170.46 in December. According to Which? research, Waitrose’s prices were on average 35% higher than Aldi’s throughout 2025. The study also compared the costs for a larger weekly shop of 180 items.
Aldi and Lidl were excluded from this comparison due to their smaller product ranges. Asda led as the most cost-effective option in December for the larger 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, while non-Clubcard holders paid £493.53.
For customers at Morrisons, the bill totaled £466.04 with a loyalty discount or £467.46 without. Sainsbury’s Nectar card holders paid £468.61, while non-members paid £501.89. Waitrose maintained its status as the most expensive choice for the larger shopping list, with an average bill of £529.17. The analysis by Which? considered special offers and loyalty prices where applicable but excluded multibuy deals.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, commented on Aldi’s consistent performance, emphasizing its affordability as the UK’s cheapest supermarket for five consecutive years. Sewraz also highlighted Asda as a strong option for shoppers seeking a broader range of branded products at competitive prices. In a time when food costs are a concern for many households, conducting a thorough comparison between supermarkets could result in substantial savings over a year.
