The Alcampo at Bonaire Shopping Centre in Aldaia ranks first in Spain among the stores surveyed by the OCU. In Madrid, the gap between the most and least expensive baskets reaches 4,381 euros a year. The national average is lower, but still weighs on household budgets.
The hypermarket is in a shopping centre that suffered severe damage during the DANA storm of October 29, 2024. The store was closed for 45 days before reopening. It has now returned to prominence among the lower-priced options. Spanish households spend an average of 6,602 euros a year on groceries, up 5.18% year on year, information from the OCU study.
Another Alcampo, in Coia, Vigo, takes second place. Both stores are the cheapest hypermarkets among those surveyed.
The Organization of Consumers and Users compared 101,520 prices at 690 stores in 189 cities. The study also covers online shopping, and its basket includes 244 products across 80 categories.
Prices for fresh food have risen across its three basic groups: fish, fruit and meat. The report allows shoppers to compare specific chains and stores, information from RTVE and other outlets that covered the findings.
The result varies by household. The OCU says Lidl has become a low-cost option in more municipalities than last year. The trend differs by chain: some have kept prices in check more effectively, while others have raised them faster than the CPI.
The 1,310 euros represents the average national saving from switching between the most expensive and cheapest supermarket. The figure depends on the city and shopping habits.
In Mieres, Asturias, the difference falls to 381 euros a year. In Puerto Real, Cádiz, it reaches 434 euros. In Santa Pola, Alicante, and Torre Pacheco, Murcia, the gap ranges from 452 to 434 euros, depending on the basket compared.
Madrid is far ahead.
By chain, Supermercados Dani ranks first among the low-cost options. Family Cash, Tifer, Alcampo and Supeco follow. At the expensive end are Hipercor, El Corte Inglés, Supercor and Sánchez Romero. Sánchez Romero stores in Madrid have ranked among the most expensive for years.
Prices have not moved equally across chains. BM Urban and Ahorramás have raised prices faster than the CPI, according to the OCU. Eight chains have lowered their price levels, including Mercadona, Lidl, Aldi and Consum.
Pressure on fresh-food prices continues. At the same time, some large chains have cut prices, and the gap also varies sharply from one municipality to another.
The Valencian Community has the cities with the cheapest baskets. Torrent, Villarreal and Santa Pola top the provincial rankings. Among the most expensive towns are Getxo, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Majadahonda and Cerdanyola del Vallés.
The first three towns in that group are also among Spain’s ten municipalities with the highest per-capita income.
Choosing a chain is only part of the decision: the store and city matter too. For regular shopping, that choice can save hundreds or thousands of euros a year. Comparing stores remains one of the household decisions with the greatest effect on the budget.
