Aussies are spending more on groceries in 2024, with the average weekly supermarket shopping bill increasing in all states and territories over the past year, according to new Canstar Blue research.
Our 2024 survey of supermarket shoppers found Aussies are spending $168 per week on groceries compared to $160 per week in 2023, that’s 5% more than last year and 10% more than in 2022.
But while the cost at the checkout is growing, Canstar Blue’s research indicates that Aussies are less price-driven than they were a year ago. They’re less likely to shop according to what’s on special or to choose a supermarket-owned brand than a more expensive big brand name.
These changing habits could indicate that shoppers have adjusted their purchasing behaviours to the new price environment.
This doesn’t mean that Aussie shoppers aren’t savvy though. More people do their shopping across multiple supermarkets and slightly more have switched supermarkets completely – and most say they do that to save money.
Average grocery bill in Australia
Aussie households spend on average $168 per week on groceries, according to Canstar Blue’s July 2024 survey of supermarket shoppers. This equates to almost $728 per month or $8,736 per year. The average weekly spend for larger households of five or more people is roughly $232, with the majority of this spent on staple or everyday food items.
Here’s what Aussies buy in their weekly grocery shop, as found in our survey:
- Fresh fruits & vegetables: 63%
- Dairy/eggs: 56%
- Bakery items (i.e. bread): 56%
- Meat/seafood/deli items: 51%
- Pantry items (i.e. rice, pasta, cooking oil, etc.): 51%
- Drinks (i.e. coffee, tea, soft drinks, etc.): 48%
- Frozen foods: 44%
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Average grocery bill by state
This table shows the average weekly grocery bill across Australian states, based on a Canstar Blue survey of more than 2,500 households of all sizes.
| State | Average weekly grocery bill |
| Queensland | $179 |
| Western Australia | $172 |
| New South Wales | $172 |
| Tasmania | $171 |
| South Australia | $168 |
| ACT | $166 |
| Northern Territory | $159 |
| Victoria | $157 |
Source: Canstar Blue research, July 2024.
As outlined above, households in Victoria reported the lowest average weekly grocery bill of $157, while those in Queensland spend the most at the supermarket, paying $179 per shop.
Average grocery bill by household size
This table shows the average weekly grocery bill in Australia by household size.
| Household size | Average weekly grocery bill |
| 1 | $107 |
| 2 | $163 |
| 3 | $192 |
| 4 | $216 |
| 5 or more | $232 |
Source: Canstar Blue research, July 2024.
Interestingly, people who live alone have seen their grocery bill go up by more than two-person or four-person households. And big families – those with five or more people – reported spending 14% more than in 2023.
An average Australian household of three people is spending $192 on groceries per week, which is equivalent to $832 per month, or $9,984 per year. That’s an increase of $676 per year compared to last year.
Average grocery bill by supermarket
This table displays the average weekly grocery bill in Australia by supermarket.
| Supermarket | Average weekly grocery bill |
| Woolworths | $166 |
| ALDI | $165 |
| Coles | $169 |
| IGA | $187 |
Source: Canstar Blue research, July 2024.
Prices between supermarkets will vary depending on distributor pricing (what a supermarket pays to source and stock a particular product), what they source directly from manufacturers, location (i.e. regional or metropolitan) and supply and demand.
Fruit and vegetables were the hardest hit by supply issues over the past 12 months, with difficult growing conditions driving up the price of grapes, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes and capsicums, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
And while inflation rose at a slower rate between June 2023 and June 2024, prices were still up across most food categories. In fact, the only food categories that saw price falls were lamb and beef.
According to Canstar Blue’s 2024 survey, 72% of Aussies have started shopping at a different supermarket in the past year in an effort to save money, while 30% have switched to take advantage of a supermarket rewards program.
Please note: the average supermarket grocery spend is a reported monetary cost − not indicative of basket size or groceries volume. A higher grocery spend could simply be the result of shoppers buying more items with each shop (i.e. Special Buys, appliances, etc.) and a lower spend could be the result of customers buying less.
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