Aldi has been recognized as the most budget-friendly grocery store in 2025 by consumer advocates at Which?. Which? routinely monitors grocery prices and discloses the most economical stores on a monthly basis. Throughout 2025, Aldi claimed the top spot as the cheapest supermarket in the UK for ten out of 12 months, maintaining its position for the fifth consecutive year.
In December, Aldi emerged as the most affordable supermarket for a selected list of 68 items, with an average monthly cost of £123.60. Lidl followed closely in second place, just 10p more expensive than Aldi at £123.70 for both Lidl Plus members and non-members.
Lidl held the title of the cheapest supermarket twice in 2025, specifically in July and October, with a minimal monthly price difference of only 77p compared to Aldi throughout the year.
For the same 68-item list at Asda, the average cost in December stood at £134.89, while Tesco Clubcard holders paid £135.84, or £139.12 without a Clubcard.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s Nectar card users spent £141.45, or £143.74 without the card, while Waitrose ranked as the priciest supermarket for the 68-item list at £170.46 in December. Which? research indicated that Waitrose cost 35% more on average than Aldi over the year.
Aldi and Lidl were excluded from the comparison for a more extensive list of 180 items due to their smaller product range. Asda emerged as the most cost-effective option in December for the larger list, 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 spent £493.53. Morrison’s bill with a loyalty discount was £466.04, or £467.46 without, and Sainsbury’s Nectar card users paid £468.61, with non-members facing a bill of £501.89.
Waitrose maintained its status as the most expensive choice for the larger 180-item shop, with an average bill of £529.17. The analysis considered special offers and loyalty prices but excluded multi-buy discounts.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, emphasized Aldi’s consistent affordability, making it the UK’s cheapest supermarket for the fifth consecutive year. Sewraz pointed out that shopping around can lead to significant savings, highlighting Asda as a strong option for those seeking a broader range of branded goods at lower prices.