Diet guide

Updated 16 March 2026

How much more does dairy-free cost in Australia?

How much more does dairy-free cost? We compared milk, cheese, yoghurt, and butter alternatives at Coles, Woolworths, and ALDI.

Plant milk comparison: the real prices

The most important dairy swap is milk. Here's what you'll pay for 1 litre across the major retailers:

• Regular cow's milk: $1.50 to $1.80
• Soy milk: $2.50 to $3.50 (cheapest plant option)
• Oat milk: $3.50 to $5.00
• Almond milk: $3.00 to $4.50
• Coconut milk: $3.00 to $4.00

If you're drinking 2 litres a week, switching from regular milk to oat milk costs an extra $5 to $7 weekly. Over a year, that's $260 to $364 extra.

The best deal: ALDI's own-brand oat milk at $2.50 per litre, and their own-brand almond milk at the same price. Woolworths' budget soy milk sits at $1.80 per litre, which barely beats regular milk.

Own-brand beats premium by 30-40%

Coles and Woolworths own-brand plant milks are genuinely decent and consistently 30 to 40% cheaper than Oatly and Minor Figures. Unless you have a strong taste preference, the own-brand versions are worth trying first.

Expect to pay:

• ALDI own-brand oat or almond milk: $2.50
• Woolworths own-brand soy milk: $1.80
• Coles own-brand almond milk: $2.20 to $2.80
• Oatly at Coles/Woolworths: $3.80 to $5.50
• So Good at Coles/Woolworths: $3.50 to $4.50

Yoghurt: some alternatives make sense, others don't

Soy yoghurt is worth considering: it's cheaper than dairy at $3.00 to $4.00 per 500g, versus Greek yoghurt at $4.00 to $6.00. Taste and texture are comparable.

Coconut yoghurt, though, costs $5.00 to $7.00 per 500g and tastes like you're paying for the packaging. Skip it unless you specifically love coconut.

Cheese: the expensive problem with vegan alternatives

This is where dairy-free gets painful. Vegan cheese costs $5.00 to $8.00 for a small block, versus $4.00 to $6.00 for regular cheddar or similar. Quality varies wildly, and many dairy-free versions have a waxy texture or plastic-like taste.

Honest recommendation: don't replace it. If you're using cheese in small amounts for cooking or the occasional cheese toastie, the premium isn't worth paying. Use olive oil or butter substitutes instead, or just skip cheese on that meal.

Butter: actually comparable in price

One good news story. Plant-based butter and margarine cost $3.00 to $5.00 per 250g, which is similar to regular butter at $4.00 to $6.00. Nuttelex is the most common dairy-free brand and tastes acceptable for cooking and spreading.

Better yet: if you're cooking, use olive oil instead. It's often cheaper and healthier.

Where to actually save money on dairy-free

• Buy ALDI own-brand plant milk ($2.50 for oat or almond). Non-negotiable.
• Use soy milk ($1.80 to $3.50) instead of oat milk. It tastes fine in coffee and cereal and is 20 to 40% cheaper.
• Cook with coconut cream ($1.00 to $2.00 per can) instead of dairy cream for curries and stews. It's cheap and genuinely delicious.
• Skip vegan cheese entirely and cook around it or use olive oil.
• Use plant-based butter ($3.00 to $5.00) instead of dairy butter. Prices are comparable, and Nuttelex is fine.
• Watch Coles and Woolworths weekly specials on So Good, Vitasoy, and Oatly. They run promotions every 4 to 6 weeks that can knock 20 to 30% off premium brands.

Budget scenarios for a week

How much does a week of dairy-free grocery shopping cost for one person? It depends on your approach.

Strategic dairy-free ($70 to $100 per week): Use ALDI own-brand soy or oat milk, cook with olive oil instead of butter, skip vegan cheese, buy coconut cream for cooking, eat regular soy yoghurt instead of coconut. This is basically indistinguishable from dairy in terms of groceries cost.

Premium dairy-free ($100 to $140 per week): Buy Oatly or Minor Figures milk, vegan cheese, coconut yoghurt, plant-based butter for spreading, and premium plant-based products across the board. You're paying a 20 to 30% premium for every swap.

The math for lower-income families

If you're on a tight budget and someone in your household needs dairy-free, the extra $10 to $15 per week adds up fast. The strategy above (ALDI own-brand milk, skip vegan cheese, cook with coconut cream and olive oil) keeps you roughly in line with regular grocery budgets. If cost is the main driver, soy milk at $1.80 per litre is your best friend.