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Is Coles or Woolworths Cheaper in 2026?
We compared 3,948 identical products. Here's what the data actually says.
Updated July 2026 · Data from CheapAsMate price tracker
"Coles vs Woolworths" is Australia's most Googled supermarket question. Everyone has an opinion. But instead of guessing, we matched 3,948 identical products sold at both stores and compared their current prices. Here's what we found.
The headline numbers
Neither store is consistently cheaper. Of the 3,948 products we matched, 74.7% are priced identically at both stores right now. Coles is cheaper on 13.2% and Woolworths on 12.1% — almost exactly even.
Where Coles wins, the average saving is $5.09 per product. Where Woolworths wins, it's $4.80 per product. Neither edge is large enough to make a blanket recommendation.
What actually matters: specials
The more important variable isn't everyday price — it's specials timing. Both stores run rotating half-price catalogues that last 1–2 weeks. Cadbury blocks, for example, are on special at one store or the other around 40% of the time. Colgate products are on special 62% of the time across both stores.
The strategy that actually saves money: check who has your regular items on special this week before you shop. A $4.00 Cadbury block half-price at $2.00 beats any everyday price difference.
See live prices right now
CheapAsMate tracks both stores in real time. Search any product to see the current price at Coles, Woolworths, and 8 other stores — plus our AI verdict on whether the "special" is a real discount.
The 74.7% that's the same price
Nearly three-quarters of matched products cost identical amounts at both stores. This is deliberate — branded manufacturers often enforce price parity across major retailers, and the duopoly has evolved a form of tacit price alignment on household staples. You'll see this most clearly with Vegemite, Weet-Bix, and most cleaning products.
This means the "I always shop at X because it's cheaper" instinct is mostly mythfor the products most Australians buy most often. The real saving comes from timing your purchases around specials — and that's true at both stores.
Frequently asked questions
Is Coles or Woolworths cheaper overall?
Based on our analysis of 3,948 products sold at both stores, Coles is cheaper on 522 products and Woolworths on 478 — a near-even split. However, 2,948 products are priced identically. The difference largely depends on category and whether either store has an active special.
How much can I save by switching supermarkets?
On products where Coles is cheaper, the average saving is $5.09 per product. When Woolworths is cheaper, the average saving is $4.80. Across a full weekly shop of 50 items, smart store selection could save $15–$40 per week.
Do Coles and Woolworths price match each other?
Neither store officially price matches the other. However, prices on identical branded products converge over time — 74.7% of matched products are currently priced identically at both stores.
Which store is better for specials?
Both stores run half-price and deep-discount specials constantly. CheapAsMate tracks both in real time — visit our specials page to see what's on sale right now and whether it's a genuine discount or a fake markdown.
Data source: CheapAsMate price database. 3,948 products matched across Coles and Woolworths using barcode and brand+name+size matching. Prices as of July 2026. Updated weekly.