Where to shop

Updated 16 September 2026

Is IGA worth it? How to decide

IGA is usually dearer than Aldi and the majors for a big shop. Here's when it makes sense, and how to check if a Price Match is a genuine deal.

On a like-for-like basket of everyday staples, IGA is usually the dearest option. But that doesn't mean you should skip it. Depending on what you're after and where you live, your local IGA can save you money and frustration. Here's how to work out if it's worth the trip.

How do IGA prices actually compare?

Consumer group CHOICE tested a standard grocery basket across four major Australian chains in March 2026. The results are clear: Aldi was the cheapest, followed by Woolworths and Coles, with IGA coming in the dearest.

That puts IGA around $26 dearer than Aldi and $12 more than Woolworths for the same items. Over a year of weekly shops, that's a real difference.

It's worth noting that Metcash, which supplies independent IGA retailers, has pointed out that IGA stores are independently owned and operated. That means prices and product range can differ significantly between stores, even in the same town. A CHOICE-style basket test captures a snapshot at specific stores, so your local IGA might differ. But the pattern across major population centres was consistent: IGA prices were higher than the other three chains tested.

What's IGA good for, then?

IGA stores are independently owned, ranging from small convenience shops to full-range supermarkets with around 30,000 product lines. That independence is both the constraint (higher operating costs, less buying power) and the strength (longer hours, local stock, community ties, convenience).

The Price Match program is worth understanding if you're a regular IGA shopper. Participating stores match the lower of Coles or Woolworths' regular shelf price on hundreds of everyday branded staples, milk, bread, eggs, tinned goods, and so on. If you know which items to match, you can narrow the gap significantly on a shop. But availability varies by store, so you'd need to check with your local branch.

How to make the smart call

Your best move is to know the current prices at Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and Harris Farm Markets, and then compare them against your local IGA. That way, you're not relying on memory or guessing whether IGA is a deal or a trap on any given item.

This is exactly what Pinch does. It tracks more than 74,000 products across Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and Harris Farm Markets, updated weekly, so you can see current prices any time you're planning a shop or wandering an aisle. (Pinch does not currently track IGA, so you'll need to check IGA prices in-store or on their website.) Armed with Pinch's data, you can:

• Know whether an IGA Price Match on a tin of tomatoes is actually cheaper than Aldi.
• Spot when an IGA top-up makes sense rather than driving further for a cheaper chain.
• Plan a split shop, buying staples at Aldi or Woolworths and specialty items at IGA.