Aldi has once again been named the most affordable supermarket in the United Kingdom, according to the latest monthly analysis conducted by the consumer group Which?. The discount retailer secured the top spot by offering the lowest average price for a basket of everyday items.
Which? tracked the cost of 95 standard products throughout May 2026 to determine how the major chains compare on value. The findings revealed that Aldi beat its closest rival, Lidl, by a narrow margin. Families aiming to reduce their weekly grocery bills could achieve significant savings by switching supermarkets. Choosing the most expensive option over the most affordable can add up to 40% to the total cost.
The typical basket at Aldi cost £168.30 in May, just £2.28 less than Lidl, where the total was £170.58 with Lidl Plus or £170.66 without. Asda secured fourth place at £192.58, followed by Tesco at £196.88 for Clubcard holders. Morrisons averaged £197.50, while Sainsbury's with Nectar came to £198.79. Tesco without a Clubcard stood at £202.27, and Sainsbury's without Nectar was £206.18.
Waitrose was once again the priciest supermarket, reaching £235.49 – 40% more than Aldi, or £67.19 extra. The premium retailer has recently launched a £20 million price-cutting scheme on everyday essentials. Ocado was the second most expensive at £217.86.
Which? monitors the prices of hundreds of grocery products at eight leading supermarkets throughout the year, using an independent price comparison platform. For each retailer, the consumer champion calculates the average price of each product across the month, then totals these to determine each shop's average cost. The 95-item basket includes both branded and own-label products, such as Cathedral City, Birds Eye, and Hovis. The research factors in promotional prices and loyalty scheme pricing where relevant but excludes multibuys. Which? never discloses the complete product list to retailers.
Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, said: "Many people are still struggling to keep up with the cost of living, and while juggling loyalty apps or chasing short-term promotions can sometimes pay off, shoppers just want reliably low prices with no strings attached. Our research shows that Aldi and Lidl completely dominate when it comes to everyday value, so it's no surprise that they are thriving as people permanently change how they shop. When choosing the wrong supermarket can mean paying up to 40% more for comparable essentials, you can make massive savings just by switching where you do your weekly shop."
Supermarket prices for May 2026
- Aldi - £168.30
- Lidl (including Lidl Plus) - £170.58
- Lidl - £170.66
- Asda - £192.58
- Tesco (including Clubcard) - £196.88
- Morrisons - £197.50
- Sainsbury's (including Nectar) - £198.79
- Tesco - £202.27
- Sainsbury's - £206.18
- Ocado - £217.86
- Waitrose - £235.49
