Aldi has been recognized as the most budget-friendly supermarket in 2025 by consumer advocates at Which?. Which? conducts daily price monitoring of groceries and reveals the most cost-effective stores monthly. Aldi claimed the top spot as the cheapest supermarket in ten out of 12 months in 2025, solidifying its position as the UK’s most economical supermarket for the fifth consecutive year.
In December, Aldi emerged as the most affordable supermarket for a selection of 68 items, with an average monthly cost of £123.60. Lidl followed closely in second place, with a mere 10p difference in December, averaging £123.70 for both Lidl Plus members and non-members.
Last year, Lidl held the title of the cheapest supermarket twice, in July and October, with just a 77p average monthly price difference compared to Aldi throughout the year.
For the same 68-item list at Asda, the average cost was £134.89 in December, while Tesco Clubcard members paid £135.84, or £139.12 without a Clubcard.
Sainsbury’s Nectar card holders, on the other hand, spent £141.45, or £143.74 without a Nectar card. Waitrose stood out as the most expensive supermarket for the 68-item list, totaling £170.46 in December.
Research by Which? revealed that Waitrose cost 35% more on average compared to Aldi in 2025. Additionally, Which? compared the expenses of a larger weekly shopping list consisting of 180 items.
Aldi and Lidl were excluded from this comparison due to their smaller product range. Asda was the most economical in December for the larger list of 180 items, with an average bill of £450.82.
According to Which?, Tesco Clubcard holders spent an average of £462 in December for the same items, while non-Clubcard holders paid £493.53.
Shopping at Morrisons resulted in a bill of £466.04 with a loyalty discount or £467.46 without. Sainsbury’s Nectar cardholders would have paid £468.61, while non-members faced a bill of £501.89.
Waitrose topped the list as the most expensive supermarket for the larger shopping list, averaging £529.17. The analysis by Which? considered special offers and loyalty prices where relevant but excluded multi-buy deals.
Commenting on the findings, Which? Retail Editor Reena Sewraz stated: “Aldi’s consistent performance demonstrates why it has been crowned the UK’s most economical supermarket for the fifth consecutive year. While Lidl remains a strong contender among discount retailers, Aldi’s consistent affordability throughout the year sets it apart.”
She added, “Our analysis also highlights Asda as a solid choice for shoppers seeking a wide range of branded products at competitive prices. With food expenses remaining a significant concern for many households, it is advantageous to compare prices as choosing one supermarket over another could lead to substantial savings over a year.”