Food is one of the larger household expenses, behind housing, fuel and power, transport, and recreation and culture. Unlike rent or mortgage payments, the grocery bill is one area where most households have genuine room to manoeuvre, and the difference between budget and premium shopping can be large. But understanding what is actually typical helps you set realistic expectations and identify whether there is room to cut back.
UK food prices rose sharply from 2022: ONS found they rose around 25% between January 2022 and January 2024. Although the rate of food inflation has slowed from its 2023 peak, prices have not come back down.
For the broader picture on how groceries fit into rent, bills and city-level affordability, see our Cost of Living in the UK by City hub and Average UK Household Bills 2026.
Average Grocery Spending UK
According to the ONS Family Spending in the UK survey (FYE 2023), the average UK household spent £63.50 per week on food and non-alcoholic drinks — though this average spans all household types, from single retirees to large families.
The ONS figure is an average across every kind of household, so a single person or a large family will sit well below or above it. ONS Family Spending publishes spending by household composition if you want a closer comparison.
Costs by Supermarket
Cheapest to Most Expensive
The choice of supermarket makes a large difference to the weekly grocery bill. See our cheapest supermarket guide for a full monthly basket comparison. Aldi and Lidl were the two cheapest in Which?’s September basket of 93 items, roughly 13% to 18% less than Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons. Waitrose was the most expensive of the eight supermarkets Which? compared.
In Which?’s September basket of 93 items, the Waitrose shop cost about 40% more than the same shop at Aldi. For a family spending £100 per week at Waitrose, the same shop at Aldi would cost about £71 in Which?’s September basket, a saving of around £1,500 per year.
| Rank | Supermarket | 93-item basket (Which?, September) | vs Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aldi | £159.48 | Baseline |
| 2 | Lidl | £161.84 | +1% |
| 3 | Asda | £186.71 | +17% |
| 4 | Morrisons | £193.13 | +21% |
| 5 | Tesco | £193.45 | +21% |
| 6 | Sainsbury’s | £195.01 | +22% |
| 7 | Ocado | £208.64 | +31% |
| 8 | Waitrose | £223.38 | +40% |
Source: Which? cheapest supermarket of the month, September 2026 (93 items). Which? also priced Tesco at £187.71 with Clubcard Prices and Sainsbury’s at £188.95 with Nectar Prices. Costs vary by location and basket.
Own Brand vs Branded
Switching from branded to own-brand products is a common way to cut the bill. Comparing the price per kg or litre on the shelf label shows how much a given swap saves.
Food Costs by Category
Where the Money Goes
Understanding where your food budget goes helps you target savings more effectively. Swapping in cheaper protein such as eggs and pulses on some nights can lower the bill. Beans, peas and lentils are low in fat and a good source of fibre and protein, and the NHS describes them as good alternatives to meat.
Regional Price Differences
Food prices vary a little by region. London had the highest food prices of the regions ONS compared, but the gap was small: food and non-alcoholic drink prices were 2.2% above the UK level in London in 2016, and every region was within about 2.5% of the UK level. However, this regional variation is much smaller than the variation between different supermarket chains, so where you shop matters more than where you live.
Cost of Living by Region
| Region | vs UK Average |
|---|---|
| London | +2% |
| UK Average | Baseline |
| Wales | +1% |
| Scotland | 0% |
| Northern Ireland | 0% |
Budget Meal Planning
Planning Meals
Meal planning is a common way to reduce grocery spending. See our food shopping savings guide for a full checklist. When you plan meals in advance, you buy only what you need, reduce waste, and avoid last-minute expensive convenience purchases. Dishes built around pulses, eggs and vegetables can be a lean, high-fibre alternative to meat-centred meals.
Food Inflation Trends
Food prices rose sharply in 2022 and 2023, driven by supply chain disruptions, energy cost spikes, and the knock-on effects of global commodity price increases. The peak hit many staple foods particularly hard: in the 12 months to March 2023, ONS found olive oil up nearly 50%, 250g of butter up 30%, and the milk, cheese and eggs group up 30%. Annual food inflation has since slowed, but prices have not fallen back: ONS’s CPIH food index (2015=100) was 141.9 in 2025, against 104.3 in 2021.
Annual average food inflation peaked at 14.6% in 2023 (CPIH food series, ONS), the highest annual figure in a series that starts in 1989. The rate fell sharply to 2.7% in 2024 before rising again to 4.2% in 2025. Grocery prices have not reversed: ONS’s food price index was about 36% higher in 2025 than in 2021 (141.9 against 104.3).
Recent Price Changes
| Year | Food & non-alcoholic drinks inflation (CPIH) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | +10.9% |
| 2023 | +14.6% |
| 2024 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | +4.2% |
| 2026 | Data not yet available |
Source: ONS CPIH Annual Rate: Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (series L55P). Annual averages.
Ways to Reduce Your Grocery Bill
The most impactful changes are the structural ones: where you shop, whether you plan meals, and whether you buy branded or own-brand. Apps and coupons offer genuine savings too, but they work best on top of these fundamentals rather than as a substitute for them.
Quick Wins
- Shopping at Aldi or Lidl: in Which?’s September 2026 basket, Aldi (£159.48) and Lidl (£161.84) were the two cheapest.
- Buying own-brand instead of branded.
- Meal planning and writing a shopping list.
- Reducing food waste.
- Using coupons and cashback apps.
- Buying frozen vegetables instead of fresh.
- Cooking from scratch rather than buying ready meals.
How much each saves depends on the household, so savings are not given as figures here.
Apps and Tools
Several apps are specifically designed to help reduce food bills, either by signposting heavily discounted items or providing cashback on grocery purchases.
| App | Purpose | Potential Saving |
|---|---|---|
| Too Good To Go | Bags of surplus food from cafes and shops at a fraction of cost | Varies by seller (Aldi’s bags launched at £3.30 for at least £10 of food) |
| Olio | Free surplus food from neighbours and local businesses | Free |
| Shopmium | Cashback on specific supermarket products | Depends on the offers live |
| Checkoutsmart | Cashback on branded grocery items | Depends on the offers live |
| Trolley.co.uk | Price comparison across major supermarkets | Helps plan savings |
Loyalty Schemes
Supermarket loyalty schemes give members lower prices on selected items. See our best supermarket loyalty schemes guide for a full comparison. Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury’s Nectar in particular offer lower member prices on selected items marked “Clubcard Prices” or “Nectar Prices”. If you shop regularly at one of these supermarkets, signing up is free.
| Scheme | Key Benefits |
|---|---|
| Tesco Clubcard | Member-only Clubcard Prices on selected items (Which? found 3% off its 93-item basket in September 2026) |
| Nectar (Sainsbury’s) | Points on purchases, personalised offers |
| Lidl Plus | Weekly offers, personalised coupons, points for rewards |
| Morrisons More | Points redeemable for discounts |
| Co-op Membership | Lower member prices on everyday essentials, personalised weekly offers |
Eating Out vs Cooking
One area that can inflate what most people think of as their “food budget” is eating out and takeaways. Tracking how much goes on restaurants and takeaways separately from supermarket shopping shows what your food budget really covers.
Special Diets
Additional Costs
Having specific dietary requirements can add to the grocery bill, particularly for medically necessary diets like coeliac disease, which requires gluten-free alternatives to everyday products.
| Diet | Cost vs Standard |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian | Can be cheaper if cheaper protein such as eggs and pulses replaces some meat |
| Vegan | Can be cheaper or dearer, depending on reliance on substitutes |
| Gluten-free | Usually dearer, as specialist products cost more |
| Dairy-free | Usually dearer, as plant-based milks and cheeses cost more |
| Organic only | Usually dearer, as organic products carry a price premium |
| Halal/Kosher | Varies by shop and product |
Tips for Special Diets
| Diet | Money-Saving Tips |
|---|---|
| Gluten-free | Buy naturally gluten-free foods (rice, potatoes, oats if tolerated) rather than GF alternatives to wheat products |
| Vegan | Focus on cheap whole foods (lentils, beans, tofu), not expensive meat substitutes |
| Organic | Compare organic and standard prices per kg and buy organic only for the items that matter most to you |
| Halal/Kosher | Compare prices at specialist halal/kosher butchers and ethnic supermarkets against mainstream supermarkets |
Feeding Children
Food is one of the everyday costs of a child; see our full cost of raising a child guide for the complete picture.
School Meals
For families who qualify for Free School Meals (FSM), this can represent a significant saving. The eligibility criteria have been extended in recent years, so it is worth checking even if you are unsure. You can get free school meals through qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit; in England, apply through your local council.
| Option | Cost |
|---|---|
| Free school meals (eligible families) | £0 |
| Paid school meals | Set by each school or council (Bradford’s recommended minimum is £2.66 a day from August 2026) |
Food Banks
Food banks provide emergency food parcels to people who don’t have enough money for essentials. Referrals are needed in most cases. Trussell, the operating name of The Trussell Trust, supports a network of food banks across the UK.
Who Can Use a Food Bank
Food banks are for people who don’t have enough money for essentials, including:
- Not enough money to cover both food and bills such as heating
- Low income
How to Access
- Get a food voucher from a local referral organisation (which ones varies by area)
- Contact local Trussell food bank (external)
- Receive 3-day emergency food parcel
Other Emergency Help
| Support | What It Provides |
|---|---|
| Community fridges | Free surplus food |
| Olio app | Free food from neighbours |
| Some church projects | Hot meals or low-cost food clubs, varying by area |
| Sikh Gurdwaras | Free meals (langar) |
Related Guides
- Cheapest Supermarket UK 2026 — Monthly Price Comparison
- Best Supermarket Loyalty Schemes UK
- Tesco Clubcard Guide UK
- Sainsbury’s Nectar Card Guide UK
- Yellow Sticker Shopping UK
- How to Save Money on Food Shopping UK
- Average UK Household Bills 2026
- Cost of Living in the UK by City
- Budget Planner Guide UK
- 50/30/20 Budget Rule
- Budget on Minimum Wage UK
- Cost of Raising a Child UK 2026
- Universal Credit Calculator 2026