Choosing where to do the weekly shop could make a significant difference to household spending, with consumers able to save an average of €1,310 a year by choosing the cheapest supermarket rather than the most expensive one in their area, according to the 2026 supermarket study by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU).

The study, published on September 25, compares more than 100,000 prices across hundreds of supermarkets and online stores and highlights the substantial differences that can exist between retailers.

The €1,310 figure is a national average based on OCU's comparison basket. It is not a guaranteed saving for every household or every town.

A €1,310 difference between supermarkets

OCU calculates that the average annual cost of its shopping basket is €6,602.

Choosing the cheapest establishment instead of the most expensive one produces an average potential saving of €1,310, equivalent to around 20% of the annual cost of the basket.

The difference varies considerably depending on where shoppers live.

In Madrid, the gap between the cheapest and most expensive establishments reaches €4,381 a year. In Mieres, by comparison, the difference is €381.

This means the potential saving depends heavily on the range of supermarkets available in a particular area.

What OCU actually compared

The study analysed 101,520 prices from 690 establishments, including supermarkets and online retailers.

OCU's main comparison basket contains 244 products across 80 categories. It includes fresh food, packaged food, household cleaning products, toiletries and both leading brands and own-brand products.

The organisation also calculated price indexes for 189 cities.

The prices used in the 2026 study were collected during April and May.

Food prices are still rising

Although the rate of increase has slowed, the cost of the OCU basket increased by 1.8% compared with the previous study.

Fresh products have risen considerably more, with an average increase of 4.7%.

Fish recorded the largest increase among the main fresh-food categories, at 8.6%, followed by meat at 3.7% and fruit and vegetables at 3.5%.

OCU says that 61.8% of the products in its basket increased in price, while 38.2% became cheaper.

Some products have increased sharply

The study shows particularly large increases in several individual products.

Tomatoes recorded the biggest increase, at 33.2%, followed by lemons at 25.2%, cauliflower at 22.8%, aubergines at 20.4% and portion-sized John Dory at 19.4%.

There were also significant price reductions.

Paper napkins fell by 30.4%, Canarian bananas by 22.6%, artichokes by 15.1% and mashed potato by 14.8%.

Food is almost 40% more expensive than in 2021

The bigger picture shows why supermarket prices remain a concern for households.

According to OCU, the products included in its basket have increased in price by 39.5% since 2021.

Fresh food has increased by 44% over the same period, while meat has risen by 46.8%.

Some individual products have seen much larger increases. OCU reports that economical ground coffee has risen by 142% over five years, while medium eggs have increased by 135%, large eggs by 123% and milk chocolate by 101%.

Dani is the cheapest chain in the OCU study

At national level, OCU again identifies Supermercados Dani as the chain with the lowest price level among those analysed.

Family Cash, Tifer, Alcampo and Supeco follow in the group of chains with the lowest prices.

Among individual establishments, the Alcampo hypermarkets at the Bonaire shopping centre in Aldaia, Valencia, and Coia in Vigo recorded the lowest price levels in the study.

At the other end of the scale, the Sánchez Romero supermarkets in Madrid recorded the highest prices among the establishments analysed.

Eight major chains lowered their price levels

OCU says price strategies have varied considerably between supermarket chains.

Eight major chains reduced their overall price level compared with the previous study: Consum, Familia, Supeco, E.Leclerc, Aldi, Mercadona, Lidl and Carrefour Market.

BM Urban and Ahorramás were the two major chains that increased their prices above general inflation, according to OCU.

The cheapest cities

The study also compares price levels between cities.

Torrent in Valencia recorded the lowest average price level, followed by Villarreal and Santa Pola, also in the Valencian Community.

Among the cities with the highest price levels were Getxo, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Majadahonda and Cerdanyola del Vallès.

The size of the potential saving also varies significantly between locations because of the range of retailers available.

What this means for shoppers

The OCU study does not mean every household can automatically save €1,310 by changing supermarkets.

Instead, the figure represents the average difference between buying the OCU comparison basket at the cheapest and most expensive establishments included in the study.

For individual households, the actual saving will depend on where they live, which supermarkets are available, what they buy and how closely their shopping habits match the OCU basket.

OCU has also developed a supermarket locator designed to help consumers compare price levels at nearby establishments.

OCU calls for measures on food prices

OCU is calling for a reduction in VAT on basic food products, including meat and fish, and for greater assistance for households experiencing financial difficulties.

The organisation is also calling for measures to prevent increases in energy costs, including fuel, gas and electricity, from being passed through to food prices.

Comparing prices remains one of the simplest ways to save

The 2026 study shows that supermarket prices can differ substantially even when consumers are buying broadly similar products.

With the average OCU basket costing €6,602 a year and the potential national difference between the cheapest and most expensive establishments reaching €1,310, comparing prices can make a measurable difference to household spending.

For Ibiza households, however, the national €1,310 figure should be treated as a benchmark rather than a specific estimate of how much shoppers on the island can save.