Grocery Basket Price Comparison — May 2026
How much does a basic household shop cost at Checkers, Pick n Pay, and Woolworths? We priced up 13 everyday items across the three chains to find out.
Prices reflect standard shelf pricing as of May 2026 (not specials). Where exact pack prices weren’t available, per-kg rates were used to calculate comparable unit costs. Some Woolworths items are free-range or premium tier by default, which inflates their basket.
Proteins & Dairy
| Item | Checkers | Pick n Pay | Woolworths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs — 18-pack (large) | R62.99 | R52.99 | R91.99 |
| Chicken breasts — per kg | R119.99 | R89.99 | R134.99 |
| Beef mince — 500 g (lean) | R72.50 | R74.99 | R82.99 |
| Full cream milk — 2 L | R32.00 | R33.99 | R36.99 |
Note: Woolworths eggs and chicken are free-range. Checkers and Pick n Pay prices are for standard products.
Basics
| Item | Checkers | Pick n Pay | Woolworths |
|---|---|---|---|
| White bread — 700 g loaf | R21.00 | R18.99 | R20.99 |
| Rice (Tastic) — 2 kg | R34.99 | R37.99 | R46.99 |
| Potatoes — 1 kg | ~R23.00 | ~R25.00 | ~R29.99 |
| Cheddar cheese — 400 g | R75.00 | R69.99 | R94.99 |
| Salted butter — 500 g | R69.99 | R64.99 | R99.99 |
Household
| Item | Checkers | Pick n Pay | Woolworths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee (Ricoffy) — 750 g | R168.00 | R169.99 | R153.99 |
| Toilet paper — 9-pack 2-ply | R69.99 | R79.99 | R79.99 |
| Washing powder (OMO Auto) — 2 kg | R92.99 | R89.99 | R99.99 |
Note on coffee: At standard shelf price, Woolworths is the cheapest on Ricoffy (R153.99). However, Pick n Pay Smart Shopper members can find it significantly lower during promotions — worth checking if you’re a loyalty card holder.
Basket Total
| Store | Estimated Total |
|---|---|
 Pick n Pay |
~R809 |
 Checkers |
~R842 |
 Woolworths |
~R974 |
Based on the 13 items above, buying 1 kg chicken breast, 500 g lean beef mince, all other items at the pack sizes listed.
Key Takeaways
- Pick n Pay edges out Checkers on the full basket, mainly due to cheaper bread, chicken, butter, and eggs.
- Checkers is the better choice for milk (R32 vs R34–37) and rice (R34.99 vs R37.99–46.99).
- Woolworths costs roughly R130–165 more for the same basket, though its proteins are free-range. For premium-quality shoppers it’s defensible; for everyday value, the gap is hard to justify.
- The biggest price gap is in eggs: Woolworths free-range eggs are R39 more expensive than a Pick n Pay standard 18-pack.
- Washing powder is one of the few categories where Pick n Pay is cheapest (R89.99 vs R92.99 at Checkers).
Prices sourced from retailer websites, Pricey.co.za, and BusinessTech basket comparisons. Some items marked (~) are estimates. Prices vary by region and change frequently — check your local store for the latest.
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