Cheapest Supermarket in South Africa: What the Nedbank Basket Study Found and How to Test It Yourself

Quick answer: In a Nedbank price comparison of nine staples across seven retailers, using 2025 prices, Makro was cheapest at R376.40, followed by Food Lover's Market at R413.38, SPAR at R415.91, Shoprite at about R420, Woolworths at R435.91, Checkers at R439.91 and Pick n Pay the most expensive at R455.91. Nedbank's second-quarter 2026 survey of ten branded products again placed Makro cheapest, with Checkers, SPAR and Woolworths among the dearest. The winner depends on the basket, the region and the week, so test your own list.

Last updated: October 2026. Facts come from Daily Investor's report on the Nedbank basket study (the page could not be opened in full, so we rely on the search summary), Wikipedia (Makro; a 2024 study ranking Makro cheapest), and the PMBEJD household index. An undated article claiming Food Lover's Market is cheapest gave no data and is not used. We could not confirm the 2026 totals for the full nine-item basket.

Update, October 2026: Woolworths' WRewards and MySchool cards stopped working on 30 June 2026 and were replaced by the MyDifference programme (Loyal, Ambassador and VIP tiers, with a virtual card in the Woolies app). References to WRewards in this article describe the programme as it was before that date.

The Nedbank basket (2025 prices)

Rank	Retailer	Basket of nine staples	Difference from cheapest (our calculation)
1	Makro	R376.40	Baseline
2	Food Lover's Market	R413.38	R36.98 more, about 9.8%
3	SPAR	R415.91	R39.51 more, about 10.5%
4	Shoprite	About R420	About R43.60 more, about 11.6%
5	Woolworths	R435.91	R59.51 more, about 15.8%
6	Checkers	R439.91	R63.51 more, about 16.9%
7	Pick n Pay	R455.91	R79.51 more, about 21.1%

The gap between the cheapest and dearest basket is R79.51, about 21% of the cheapest. If you spend R4,000 a month on groceries and could cut 10% by switching your main shop, you would save about R400 a month, or R4,800 a year. That is an illustration, not a promise.

Why a basket study is only part of the story

Limitation	Why it matters
Nine staples only	Your real basket includes fresh produce, meat, toiletries and treats
Branded versus house brands	Cheaper chains win on house brands; the 2026 study used branded items
Warehouse formats need a card or bulk buying	Makro's prices may require a card and bigger packs
Location	City baskets differ by up to R936 per month (PMBEJD, July 2026)
Promotions	Weekly specials and loyalty prices change the ranking
Travel cost	A cheaper store far away can cost more once transport is included

A fair test you can run in an afternoon

1. Write a list of 15 items you buy every month, with brand and size.
2. Check the shelf price at two or three stores on the same day, or check online prices.
3. Compute the unit price (per kg, litre or 100 g).
4. Add up the totals and add transport costs for each store.
5. Repeat after two weeks to account for specials.

The numbers in this example are invented. Store A total R640, store B R610, store C R655. Add a R30 taxi fare to store B and it costs R640, the same as A. Include loyalty savings: if store A gives you R35 back through a rewards card, A becomes the cheapest at R605.

Store (invented numbers)	Basket	Transport	Loyalty saving	Net cost
A	R640	R0	R35	R605
B	R610	R30	R0	R640
C	R655	R0	R20	R635

Tips to cut the bill at any chain

• Use house brands for staples.
• Join free loyalty programmes: Xtra Savings, Smart Shopper, SPAR Rewards, WRewards.
• Plan meals and use a list.
• Buy seasonal produce and freeze extras.
• Split your shop: staples at a discount chain, quality items elsewhere.

Pros and cons of picking one cheapest store

Pros

• Simplicity and consistent savings if the store really is cheaper for your basket.

Cons

• The winner changes by item, region and week.
• Warehouse formats may need bulk buying and a card.

Frequently asked questions

Which supermarket is the cheapest in South Africa?

In Nedbank's 2025 nine-item study Makro was cheapest, and its 2026 branded-item survey again placed Makro first.

Which is the most expensive?

Pick n Pay in the 2025 basket; in 2026 branded items Checkers, SPAR and Woolworths were among the dearest.

Is Food Lover's Market cheap?

It was second cheapest in the 2025 basket at R413.38.

Do I need a card to shop at Makro?

Sources conflict. Ask at your store.

Sources

• Daily Investor: where to buy the cheapest groceries in South Africa (Nedbank basket study)
• Wikipedia: Makro (South Africa)
• The Witness (August 2026): PMBEJD household index, July 2026