Food shopping and eating out

Food shopping in Australia will feel familiar, with a few surprises: fewer big chains, alcohol often sold in separate shops, and higher prices for some everyday items.

Last checked 2 Oct 2026·Information, not advice

In 30 seconds

Woolworths and Coles dominate, with Aldi, IGA and Costco as the main alternatives
A 2025 survey put the typical weekly grocery shop at about A$111 for one person and A$240 for four
Alcohol is often sold in separate “bottle shops”, and tipping isn’t generally expected

The main shops

Shop	What it’s like	Closest UK feel
Woolworths (“Woolies”)	Big full-range supermarket chain with online delivery and click and collect	Tesco or Sainsbury’s
Coles	The other big full-range chain, also with delivery	Tesco or Sainsbury’s
Aldi	Smaller range, mostly own brands, usually cheaper	Aldi or Lidl in the UK
IGA	Independently owned local supermarkets, often in smaller towns and suburbs	A local Co-op or independent
Costco	Bulk-buy warehouse. You need a membership: A$65 a year (about £34)	Costco UK
Markets and greengrocers	Fruit, vegetables, meat and fish markets in every capital, often cheaper for fresh produce	Local markets

Weekly specials (“half price” and “specials” catalogues) drive a lot of shopping. Many people do a main shop at one chain and top up elsewhere.

What a weekly shop costs

A Canstar Blue survey (July 2025) found people spend about A$178 a week on groceries on average, up 6% in a year. By household:

Household	Weekly spend	About
1 person	A$111	£58
2 people	A$161	£85
3 people	A$194	£102
4 people	A$240	£126
5 or more	A$259	£136

Spending was lowest in the Northern Territory (A$160 a week) and highest in Tasmania (A$227). These figures come from a market survey, not official statistics. For a full budget, use the cost of living calculator and Cost of living in Australia.

Buying alcohol

You must be 18 to buy or drink alcohol anywhere in Australia, and you’ll often be asked for ID. Unlike the UK, beer, wine and spirits are usually sold in a “bottle shop” (or “bottle-o”), often next door to the supermarket, rather than on the supermarket shelves. Licensing is set by each state.

State	Alcohol in supermarkets?
VIC	Supermarkets can hold a packaged liquor licence, so some sell alcohol in-store
NSW	A supermarket that sells alcohol must do so in a separate area with its own checkout
QLD	No. A hotel-type liquor licence can’t be granted for premises used mainly as a supermarket, so takeaway alcohol comes from bottle shops linked to a hotel licence
SA	Generally no. Packaged liquor shops must sell only liquor and related items and be separate from other businesses. Some rural general stores have an exemption
TAS	No. A liquor licence can’t be granted in connection with the activities of a supermarket
WA, ACT, NT	Check with the local liquor regulator. Most alcohol is bought from bottle shops

Bring photo ID: a passport or Australian driver licence
Drinking in some public places, such as parks and beaches, can be banned locally: see Laws that catch people out

Delivery and takeaway

Woolworths and Coles both offer home delivery and click and collect, usually with a delivery fee that drops for bigger orders. Food delivery apps such as Uber Eats and DoorDash work in all the big cities. Delivery and service fees add up quickly, so compare the total with collecting yourself.

Eating out

BYO (“bring your own”): some restaurants let you bring your own wine. In Victoria, a venue needs the right liquor licence or a BYO permit to allow it. They may charge “corkage” per bottle or per person
Tipping isn’t expected. About 10% for good service is a kind extra, not an obligation
Cafes and restaurants can add a surcharge on weekends or public holidays, but the menu must say so (for example “A surcharge of 15% applies on public holidays”), at least as prominently as the biggest price on it

Tipping is custom, not law. The surcharge display rule is set by the ACCC (the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the consumer watchdog).

Card fees and comparing prices

From 1 October 2026, businesses can no longer add a surcharge for paying with Visa, Mastercard, American Express or eftpos cards (credit, debit or prepaid)
Most supermarkets, large grocery stores and online grocers must show a unit price (for example per kilo or per litre) next to the selling price, which makes comparing packs and own brands easier

What to do next

Compare a week’s shop at two chains using their apps
Sign up for your local supermarket’s specials catalogue
Find your nearest fruit and vegetable market

Sources

Last checked 2 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the official source before you act. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@theglobalocal.com.