New Zealand Grocery Price Index — October 2026
Every month Basket NZ compares the price of a fixed basket of 2119 grocery products stocked at all three major supermarkets. In October 2026, Pak'nSave is New Zealand's cheapest supermarket — its basket totals $16387.30, about 6% less than New World, and it's the cheapest option on 58% of items. Data collected 1 October 2026.
The 2119-item basket, by supermarket
Cheapest supermarket by department
| Department | PNS | NW | WW | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pantry | $1739.38 | $2013.64 | $1875.05 | PNS |
| Hot & Cold Drinks | $2234.84 | $2503.34 | $2356.73 | PNS |
| Snacks, Treats & Easy Meals | $1454.22 | $1649.90 | $1585.46 | PNS |
| Fridge, Deli & Eggs | $1689.54 | $1895.14 | $1817.26 | PNS |
| Beer, Wine & Cider | $4760.23 | $5016.55 | $4838.55 | PNS |
| Health & Body | $2020.89 | $2398.56 | $2197.25 | PNS |
| Household & Cleaning | $838.42 | $1024.81 | $937.73 | PNS |
| Bakery | $381.85 | $423.91 | $415.05 | PNS |
| Frozen | $607.09 | $691.92 | $657.45 | PNS |
| Baby & Toddler | $183.86 | $214.84 | $204.34 | PNS |
| Fruit & Vegetables | $173.17 | $197.76 | $193.68 | PNS |
| Pets | $149.12 | $174.72 | $148.15 | WW |
| Meat, Poultry & Seafood | $154.69 | $156.29 | $167.01 | PNS |
Department totals sum every shared product in that category — useful for relative comparison, not a weekly shop.
How the basket has moved
Each month's basket is the set of products all three chains stock that month, so it shifts slightly as the catalogue changes. Read the gaps between the chains, which share the same basket, rather than a total's month-to-month move. Earlier snapshots used a much smaller basket and aren't shown.
Methodology
The index compares the 2119 grocery products that Pak'nSave, New World and Woolworths all stock, using prices from each chain's Auckland reference store. For each product we take the lowest available shelf or member price. Prices are scraped weekly and the index is recalculated on the first of each month. Figures are a like-for-like cross-store comparison, not a measure of a household's total weekly spend.
Free to use under CC BY 4.0 — please credit Basket NZ with a link to basketnz.nz. Media enquiries and custom data requests welcome via the site.
Price index FAQs
Which supermarket is cheapest in New Zealand right now?
As of 1 October 2026, Pak'nSave has the lowest total for a basket of 2119 products stocked at all three supermarkets — about 6% cheaper than the next supermarket, and cheapest on 58% of items.
How is the Basket NZ Grocery Price Index calculated?
We take every grocery product carried by Pak'nSave, New World and Woolworths at their Auckland reference stores, sum each store's price for that shared basket, and count how often each store is cheapest. Prices are collected weekly and the index is recalculated monthly.
Can I cite these figures?
Yes. This report is free to use under CC BY 4.0 — please credit "Basket NZ" with a link to basketnz.nz. For data requests or comment, get in touch via the site.