Tesco vs Aldi vs Lidl: Which Supermarket Is Actually Cheapest?
Aldi is the cheapest UK supermarket in 2026. Across a basket of 20 everyday items, Aldi costs £25.53 — that's £8.82 less than Tesco (£34.35) and £0.90 less than Lidl (£26.43). Over a year, switching from Tesco to Aldi could save a family over £1,000.
We compared prices item by item across all three stores to find out exactly where the savings are — and where they aren't.
The basket: 20 everyday items
We selected items that most households buy weekly: own-brand where available, standard sizes, and no special offers or loyalty pricing. Here's what we found:
| Item | Tesco | Aldi | Lidl |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-skimmed milk (2L) | £1.40 | £1.25 | £1.29 |
| White bread (800g) | £1.00 | £0.59 | £0.62 |
| Free-range eggs (10) | £2.65 | £1.99 | £2.09 |
| Chicken breast (300g) | £3.25 | £2.79 | £2.69 |
| Cheddar cheese (400g) | £3.10 | £2.49 | £2.55 |
| Pasta (500g) | £0.70 | £0.49 | £0.52 |
| Tinned tomatoes (400g) | £0.45 | £0.35 | £0.36 |
| Bananas (5 pack) | £0.85 | £0.69 | £0.72 |
| Onions (1kg) | £0.85 | £0.59 | £0.65 |
| Potatoes (2.5kg) | £1.65 | £1.29 | £1.35 |
| Butter (250g) | £2.00 | £1.79 | £1.75 |
| Rice (1kg) | £1.45 | £0.99 | £1.05 |
| Baked beans (400g) | £0.65 | £0.29 | £0.32 |
| Frozen peas (900g) | £1.20 | £0.89 | £0.95 |
| Olive oil (500ml) | £3.85 | £3.29 | £3.19 |
| Toilet roll (9 pack) | £4.50 | £2.89 | £3.09 |
| Washing up liquid (500ml) | £0.85 | £0.55 | £0.59 |
| Tea bags (80) | £2.20 | £1.19 | £1.25 |
| Carrots (1kg) | £0.55 | £0.43 | £0.45 |
| Yoghurt (500g) | £1.20 | £0.89 | £0.95 |
| Total basket | £34.35 | £25.53 | £26.43 |
Aldi wins by £8.82
The same 20 items cost 25.7% less at Aldi compared to Tesco. Lidl came in close behind, saving 23.1%.
How much cheaper is Aldi than Tesco?
The gap is larger than most people expect. Nearly £9 on a 20-item basket means a family doing a weekly shop of 40-50 items could save £15-25 per week — or over £1,000 per year — by switching from a traditional supermarket to a discounter.
Aldi and Lidl are very close to each other. The difference between them was less than £1 across the full basket. Both are significantly cheaper than Tesco for own-brand staples.
The biggest savings are on non-food items and dry goods. Toilet roll, tea bags, and baked beans showed the largest percentage differences — often 40-50% cheaper at discounters. Fresh produce differences were smaller but still meaningful.
Should I switch to Aldi or Lidl completely?
Price comparisons like this are useful as a benchmark, but your real-life savings depend on what you actually buy. A few things the table doesn't capture:
Brand preferences matter. If you're loyal to specific brands (Heinz beans, Lurpak butter, PG Tips), you'll either pay more at any store or need to be willing to try alternatives. Discounters carry fewer branded options.
Range and availability. Tesco stocks roughly 40,000 products; Aldi stocks around 1,800. If you need speciality ingredients, dietary-specific products, or a wide range of international foods, discounters may not cover your full list.
Loyalty schemes and offers. Tesco Clubcard prices can close the gap on individual items. If you're strategic with loyalty pricing, the effective difference shrinks — though rarely enough to match discounter prices across a full basket.
Location and convenience. A 20-minute drive to save £8 isn't always worth it, especially for a quick mid-week top-up. Factor in your time and fuel costs.
The real answer? Track your actual receipts across different stores and compare the totals. Generic price comparisons tell you the average — your receipts tell you your truth.
What's the best supermarket strategy for saving money?
Based on what we see from UK shoppers, the most effective approach isn't an all-or-nothing switch. It's a split:
Do your main shop at a discounter for staples, fresh produce, and household basics. This is where the biggest savings are.
Top up at your preferred supermarket for specific brands, speciality items, or anything you can't find at the discounter. Use loyalty pricing for these items.
Scan every receipt so you can actually see the difference in your spending data, not just guess at it.
Compare your own supermarket spending
Scan receipts from different stores and see which one actually costs you less.
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