6 Cheapest Supermarkets in Spain

Cheap supermarkets in Spain

If you live in Spain or are just planning to move, one of the first questions that appears is simple: where can you buy groceries cheaper? Prices in supermarkets differ more than it may seem, and choosing the right chain can easily save you tens of euros every month.

In this guide, we’ve collected the 6 cheapest supermarkets in Spain — with real examples of prices, a brief description of each chain, and tips on how to save even more on promotions and store brands. Whether you shop in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia or a small town, you will definitely find a budget-friendly option.

How to choose an inexpensive supermarket in Spain

The cost of your shopping basket is affected by:

  • city and district

  • supermarket chain

  • availability of hypermarkets

  • own brands (blanca brands)

  • discounts and promotions

  • wholesale purchases

💡 It is often more economical to travel to one or two supermarkets that are further away but cheaper than to purchase everything close to home.

🟦Top 6 cheapest supermarkets

Below are popular chains where food prices are usually the lowest.

MercadonaMercadona supermarket in Spain — cheap products and own brands

This is the national and largest supermarket chain, founded by a businessman from Valencia.

Here:

  • a wide selection of fresh fruit and vegetables

  • affordable prices for dairy products

  • strong own brands Hacendado, Deliplus

  • good ready-made takeaway meals

Mercadona is often the best option for everyday shopping at average prices without sales or coupons.

Fresh produce at Mercadona

LidlLidl supermarket in Spain — affordable products and promotions

Lidl is becoming increasingly popular in Spain thanks to its prices and product quality.

The first Lidl store opened in Germany in 1973. At that time, it was a small mini-market with only three employees. But just 20 years later, their chain of stores began to spread throughout Europe.

In Spain, Lidl first opened its doors to visitors in 1994. Since then, many residents and visitors to the country have preferred to buy certain types of goods here.

Advantages:

  • cheap fruit and vegetables

  • great seasonal deals

  • excellent baking

  • weekly discounts

If your goal is to save as much money as possible, Lidl is often one of the cheapest supermarkets in Spain.

Fresh produce at Lidl

AldiAldi supermarket in Spain – low prices and own-brand products

Also a German chain of low-cost grocery stores.

Aldi in Spain, like Lidl, is also quite widespread, with more than 430 outlets across the country. These two supermarkets are often compared to each other, as they have similar designs and marketing strategies based on weekly discounts.

Distinctive features of ALDI:

  • limited selection

  • many own brands

  • low prices due to savings on shop fittings

  • discounted goods

It's a pretty good shop, although from what I've seen, it hasn't reached the same level of popularity as Lidl, perhaps because Aldi arrived in Spain later than Lidl, in 2002. But it's growing rapidly, and you can see that.

Fresh produce at Aldi

DiaDia supermarket in Spain — one of the cheapest grocery stores

Dia is a well-known discount chain in Spain with a long and interesting history of ups and downs.

In 2017, Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman became its co-founder, and since 2019, the stores, their design, product range and quality have begun to change for the better.

Pros:

  • weekly promotions and coupons

  • affordable essential goods

  • shop near home in almost every district

Sometimes the range is more modest, but daily shopping here is cheaper.

Fresh produce at Dia

CarrefourCarrefour in Spain — a chain of supermarkets with frequent sales

Carrefour is a French wholesale and retail chain with branches in 30 countries around the world! It has been operating in Spain since 1973.

Hypermarket. For us, this word means a very large retail space located on the outskirts of the city where you can find everything you need: office supplies, household appliances, clothing, shoes, perfumes and a wide variety of products at affordable prices.

Here:

  • wide selection of brands

  • lots of loyalty card promotions

  • advantageous purchases ‘for a week’ and ‘for a month’

  • Carrefour's own brand of low-cost goods

  • frequent offers - three items for the price of two

The best option if you are buying a lot of goods at once.

Carrefour Express is also very common at petrol stations and in cities. The word ‘express’ speaks for itself — quick shopping, meaning that you can find essential items in these shops, but don't expect anything more. However, these shops have longer opening hours, and many of them are open on Sundays.Buying fresh produce at Carrefour

AlcampoAlcampo hypermarket in Spain — cheap products and large packages

Alcampo can be found in the form of hypermarkets, supermarkets and online stores. It belongs to the French corporation Auchan, which operates in many countries around the world. It has been operating since 1981 and is considered one of the cheapest supermarkets in Spain.

Why you should go there:

  • low prices for large purchases

  • a wide selection of household goods and non-food items

  • many packaging formats

  • frequent ‘everything for €1’ promotions

💡 If you have a car, Alcampo is a great option for bulk grocery shopping.
In fact, many items here are cheaper than in other shops.

Inside the Alcampo hypermarket

🟧 Tips on how to save money on food in Spain

  • buy supermarket own brands

  • buy large packs of groats, pasta, oil

  • plan your menu for the week

  • use discount cards and apps

  • Don't go to the shop hungry

  • compare prices across different chains

🟪 Frequently asked questions

🔹 Where can you find the cheapest food in Spain?

Most often — at Lidl, Aldi, Dia, and Alcampo.
Much depends on the city and current promotions.

🔹 Which supermarket is the most popular?

Mercadona is the leader in terms of number of stores and convenience.

🔹 Is it possible to save money on fruit and vegetables?

Yes:

🔹 Which brands are the cheapest?

The most profitable are private label:

  • Hacendado

  • Carrefour

  • Alcampo

  • Dia

🟫 Conclusion

In Spain, it's easy to save money on groceries if you choose the right supermarkets. Try 2–3 different chains and compare your shopping basket — you'll be surprised at the difference in price.

💡 Useful information on saving money in Spain:

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