The Grocery Store Rank
Written by: Liza Schlachtovsky, Dec 2024
I have always wondered if Hofer is really as cheap as it is portrayed as. I tend to be more intuitive with my grocery shopping, therefore I have never been able to just compare two bills that I had from different stores.
In this little project I have taken a deep dive into the prices of common grocery items at four major Austrian retailers: Billa, Hofer, Spar, and Gurkerl.
The items I put together are trying to simulate a grocery list (although I would be very surprised if I saw someone buy everything from this list), although it is more so just a collection of items that I felt would typically end up in a student’s basket.
An important disclaimer: prices change. The goal of this is to give us a rough idea of the differences between these stores, not to predict what your bill is going to be to a tee. The price of items changes with seasons, discounts and the unpredictable ways of the market.
Nonetheless, here is how they stack up, from fruits and vegetables to pantry staples and even alcohol:
First up, fruits and vegetables. The price of the overall sum of them ranges from 24 to 36 euros, which proves how choosing the right store can be an easy way to save money, or at least spend it more consciously (those 12 euros could immediately be invested in 3 bottles of wine...)
Hofer has solidified its position as a value leader for fresh produce. Its overall sum for fruits and vegetables comes to €24, significantly less than Spar‘s €34 and Gurkerl’s €36. Billa is still a good option with a total of €26.
If you are after traditional animal products, your choice of grocery store should be clear after this. At Hofer, a basic yogurt cup is just €0.99, while Spar charges nearly double at €1.70. In the meat department, Hofer‘s chicken breast costs €6.5 per kg, substantially lower than Spar‘s €11 and Gurkerl’s €12. Similarly, ground beef is cheapest at Hofer for €7 per kg, with Billa trailing at €9. Hofer dominates with a total of €21.05, while Billa and Spar hover around €29. Gurkerl, unsurprisingly at this point, has the highest prices in this category at €30.4.
When it comes to pantry staples like olive oil and flour, the variations are small but still noticeable. Olive oil is €7.99 at Hofer, whereas Gurkerl tops the chart at €11.16. Flour is reasonably priced across all stores, hovering around €1.19, but Spar and Gurkerl tend to be slightly more expensive. Hofer leads in the pantry staples category as well, with a sum of €23.15, ahead of Spar (€35.27) and Gurkerl (€25.04).
For those seeking a budget-friendly drink, Hofer again leads, offering white wine for just €2.99, compared to €5 at Gurkerl. Red wine (Zweigelt) is priced similarly across all stores, ranging from €3.99 to €4.49. And the same goes for Ottakringer, where the biggest price difference is €0.2.
If it is still not clear, Hofer reigns supreme. It comes out as the clear winner for the budget-conscious shopper, with a total basket cost of €98, followed by Billa at €111.
Not to turn this into an unpaid ad, but for those looking to save the most on everyday essentials, Hofer really does provide unbeatable prices across almost every category, whether you’re after fresh produce, pantry staples, or even alcohol.
So the next time you go grocery shopping, you will know roughly how much you would be saving by investing an extra ten minutes of your time to walk to reach the nearest Hofer.
As it is now reflection time, I will be honest, I was really hoping that Gurkerl would be in the top two, but apparently comfort comes with a great price ($120,03 to be exact).
If you are still confused and feel anxious about grocery shopping, because you are afraid of choosing the wrong store, I have just the solution for you. If the right offer comes along, I might (after a slight career shift) start doing personal analyses for those that want to save money, but not enough to do the research themselves.
