Data shows supermarket prices vary state to state, as households share how they keep up with high grocery costs

The cost of groceries remains a major expense for Australian families, but prices vary significantly depending on the state or territory.

Transcript

00:00Before the pandemic, Adelaide mum Beck Cocker did her grocery shopping like most Australians

00:08at the major supermarkets.

00:09They're just not affordable anymore.

00:12A few years ago, she was spending about $300 to $350 per week on groceries, but the cost

00:18of that weekly shop has increased.

00:21She now relies on charities like the Adelaide-based Puddle Jumpers to get by.

00:28It's just unimaginable.

00:29Everything is increasing and I'm very lucky to have a home, I feel.

00:35The Consumer Advocacy Group Choice compared the cost of groceries in each state and territory.

00:41It found Western Australia and the Northern Territory have the most expensive groceries

00:46in the country when comparing the major supermarkets, while New South Wales and Victoria had the

00:53cheapest.

00:54The one that really surprises me all the time is Tasmania is quite cheap for supermarket

01:00groceries, and we haven't really figured out why yet.

01:03Coles and Woolworths are critical of the Choice data.

01:07They say it doesn't compare like-for-like products.

01:11In a statement, a Woolworths spokesperson said,

01:14Over the last three financial quarters, we have reported decreases in average prices

01:19across our supermarkets.

01:21While Coles said,

01:23Grocery prices are heavily influenced by ingredients, rent, fuel, wages, energy, shipping, transport

01:30and other costs.

01:32In Melbourne, Carl Higgs and his partner have come up with ways to reduce the cost of their

01:37groceries, including bulk buying some items online and avoiding the big supermarkets.

01:43Going to a local fruit and veg shop, they often are cheaper, it's more seasonal, it's

01:47fresher.

01:48Carl has been economical with grocery shopping, and grows his own herbs in the garden.

01:53About a year ago, he also started baking bread every Sunday.

01:57And so then I've got lunches for the week for pizza, and I've got some focaccia, got

02:02some bread.

02:03Saving money on life's essentials.