We all would love to have a Christmas table laden with lots of delicious goodies but grocery shopping in the run-up to the festive season seems to be costing more each year. But it seems one place is the clear winner when it comes to the cheapest supermarket to shop for a merry Christmas.

CHOICE’s annual Christmas Basket Challenge showed that filling your trolley with Christmas basics is becoming more expensive at supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths. However, Aldi was the clear winner in the pricing competition.

Coles festive grocery basket cost the most at $221.50, followed by Woolworths at $215 with Aldi showing a significant saving on an average Christmas shop at $174.50.

The results were achieved by comparing a shopping list of 22 items Australians typically purchase around Christmas. The prices for these items were then compared across Aldi, Coles and Woolworths on the same day to find the cheapest supermarket.

A Cheaper Christmas

“When it comes to price, Aldi is the clear winner for a cheap Christmas,” said CHOICE consumer advocate Jonathan Brown.

“But of course other factors often come into consideration at Christmas too. CHOICE’s Supermarket Satisfaction Survey earlier this year found local supermarket brands were highly rated for their fresh food and customer service, so if freshness and service matters to you, it might be worth considering a local brand.”

Don’t Forget Home Delivery

The massive advantage that Woolies and Coles do have over Aldi is there robust home delivery and click and collect options, which can be such a timesaver during a crazy-busy December.

For me, it’s worth paying the extra dollars to Woolworths so that our groceries can be delivered to our doorstep and I don’t have to face the crazy Christmas crush in the malls. I also tend to avoid ballooning my grocery budget with impulse buying, which is very easy to do if you’re shopping in-store.

Full list of groceries:

– Half leg ham (closest to 5kg)

– Turkey breast roast, frozen (1kg)

– Smoked salmon (500g)

– Australian tiger prawns, cooked (1kg)

– Christmas pudding (700g)

– Fruit mince pies (6 pack)

– Brandy snaps (8 pack)

– Raspberries, frozen (500g)

– Thickened cream (600mL)

– Pavlova (500g)

– Custard (1L)

– Candy canes (30 pack)

– Brie (125g)

– Mixed nuts, salted (375g)

– Chocolate coins (150g)

– Cadbury Roses (450g)

– Chocolate Lindt balls or equivalent (150g or closest)

– Christmas cards (10 pack)

– Christmas gift wrap (single roll, 5m)

– Tinsel (4m or closest)

– Outdoor LED fairy/icicle lights (250 pack or closest)

– Christmas crackers/bon bons (10 pack or closest)

Where are you going to do your Christmas grocery shopping? Tell us in the comments below.

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