New Zealand Grocery Price Index — September 2026
Every month Basket NZ compares the price of a fixed basket of 2225 grocery products stocked at all three major supermarkets. In September 2026, Pak'nSave is New Zealand's cheapest supermarket — its basket totals $16511.33, about 6% less than New World, and it's the cheapest option on 60% of items. Data collected 1 September 2026.
The 2225-item basket, by supermarket
Cheapest supermarket by department
| Department | PNS | NW | WW | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pantry | $1833.38 | $2100.94 | $2021.28 | PNS |
| Hot & Cold Drinks | $2312.08 | $2683.80 | $2522.88 | PNS |
| Snacks, Treats & Easy Meals | $1417.07 | $1675.87 | $1574.41 | PNS |
| Fridge, Deli & Eggs | $1824.47 | $2086.28 | $1970.77 | PNS |
| Health & Body | $2332.55 | $2504.05 | $2465.81 | PNS |
| Beer, Wine & Cider | $4026.82 | $4149.15 | $4060.63 | PNS |
| Household & Cleaning | $945.05 | $1055.54 | $995.33 | PNS |
| Bakery | $427.16 | $485.50 | $474.38 | PNS |
| Frozen | $497.76 | $533.72 | $528.36 | PNS |
| Baby & Toddler | $359.51 | $418.81 | $391.06 | PNS |
| Fruit & Vegetables | $174.24 | $206.84 | $202.26 | PNS |
| Pets | $195.50 | $247.10 | $223.42 | PNS |
| Meat, Poultry & Seafood | $165.74 | $198.54 | $203.04 | PNS |
Department totals sum every shared product in that category — useful for relative comparison, not a weekly shop.
How the basket has moved
Methodology
The index compares the 2225 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 September 2026, Pak'nSave has the lowest total for a basket of 2225 products stocked at all three supermarkets — about 6% cheaper than the next supermarket, and cheapest on 60% 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.