In Madrid, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive supermarket reaches €4,381 a year. Across Spain, a household can save an average of €1,310 by choosing the cheapest option in its area. The OCU comparison puts the average annual supermarket bill at €6,602 per household.
The OCU study found Torrent in Valencia had the lowest average prices among the locations examined. Getxo in Bizkaia ranks among the most expensive, as do the Madrid municipalities of Pozuelo de Alarcón and Majadahonda. Among provincial capitals, Barcelona and Bilbao post the highest average prices, with San Sebastián also among the costliest.
Dani remains the cheapest chain overall. Family Cash follows, with Tifer also among the lowest-priced options. Alcampo and Supeco rank among the more affordable chains as well.
Lidl made the sharpest move: it is now the cheapest choice in 60 of the locations studied, up from 18 last year.
The cheapest chain varies by location. A supermarket that leads in one municipality may offer less value in another, so checking local prices is more useful than relying on a national reputation.
The OCU basket became 1.8% more expensive over the past year, while fresh products rose by 4.7%. Fish recorded the steepest increase, at 8.6%. Meat prices climbed 3.7%, while fruit and vegetables rose 3.5%.
The increase has built over time. Since 2021, the basket has risen by 39.5%, even as growth slowed in the latest period.
For households, the annual gap between supermarkets comes on top of a much larger rise in everyday food spending. The comparison used prices collected in April and May from 690 stores in 38 cities, as well as online supermarkets. Its basic basket covers 244 products across 80 categories, from food to household cleaning and personal hygiene items.
The broad sample makes the study both a consumer guide and a measure of price differences between chains and locations. EFE reported that eight of the 28 major chains reduced prices in 2026.
The Madrid figures add to the capital's household pressures beyond its recent weather report. The store each shopper chooses, rather than a national average, determines the difference.
Checking local prices can cut the bill. Fresh food remains the basic source of new inflation in the basket.
The OCU ranking does not guarantee that one chain will always be the cheapest. It gives consumers a basis for changing where they shop. Lidl is now the cheapest option in 60 locations, while Madrid shows a possible annual difference of €4,381.
As El País reported, the 39.5% increase since 2021 means the latest slowdown comes against a much more expensive baseline. Prices remain high, and store choice can still change the final bill.
