Aldi has been recognized as the most budget-friendly grocery store in 2025 by consumer advocates at Which?. Which? monitors grocery prices daily and discloses the most economical stores each month. Throughout 2025, Aldi claimed the title of the UK’s most cost-effective supermarket for the fifth consecutive year by being the cheapest supermarket in ten out of 12 months.

In December, Aldi topped the list for a selection of 68 items, with an average cost of £123.60. Lidl followed closely behind, trailing by just 10p in December with an average cost of £123.70 for both Lidl Plus members and non-members. Lidl managed to secure the title of the cheapest supermarket twice in 2025, in July and October, with just a 77p average monthly price difference compared to Aldi.

For the same 68 items at Asda, shoppers paid an average of £134.89 in December, while Tesco Clubcard members spent £135.84, or £139.12 without a Clubcard.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s Nectar card holders paid £141.45, or £143.74 without a Nectar card. Waitrose stood out as the most expensive supermarket for the list of 68 items, with a total of £170.46 in expenses for December.

Which? research indicated that Waitrose cost 35% more on average than Aldi throughout 2025. The study also compared the expenses of a larger weekly shopping list of 180 items.

Aldi and Lidl were excluded from this comparison due to their narrower product range. Asda emerged as the most economical choice in December for the larger list of 180 items, with an average bill of £450.82.

According to Which?, Tesco Clubcard holders paid an average of £462 in December for the same items, while non-Clubcard holders paid £493.53.

Customers shopping at Morrisons incurred a bill of £466.04 with a loyalty discount or £467.46 without it. Sainsbury’s Nectar card holders paid £468.61, while non-cardholders paid £501.89.

Waitrose retained its position as the priciest option 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 did not include multibuy discounts.

Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, remarked, “Aldi’s consistent performance illustrates why it has been named the UK’s most economical supermarket for five consecutive years. Lidl remains a strong contender among discounters, offering competitive prices; however, Aldi consistently delivered lower prices overall.

“Our analysis also highlights Asda as a solid choice for customers seeking a broader range of branded products at reduced prices. With food expenses remaining a significant concern for many households, shopping around can lead to substantial savings over a year by selecting one supermarket over another.”