Which supermarket is cheaper? Up to 10 euros difference in the same Christmas products.

We Spaniards will spend 10% more during Christmas 2023 than a year ago if we want to fill the shopping basket with the same products. The OCU warned at the beginning of December of this increase in the price of typical Christmas foods, something that is not surprising taking into account the inflationary trend in supermarkets in recent months. In addition, they point out that it is 44.4% more expensive than eight years ago. This is due, among others, to a 120% price increase in clams, 177% in sea bream and 50% in red cabbage, lamb and hake.

During these family holidays, we ‘devour’ meat, fish, seafood, nougat and other delicacies that represent great economical design. Therefore, this Christmas it is especially important to compare the price of products between different supermarkets in their online stores to spend less.

We compare the prices of Alcampo, Mercadona, Carrefour, Hipercor and Día of various Christmas products to check if there are differences and how much we can save.

Christmas assortment: nougats and chocolates

The first thing we observe is that there is a big difference in prices between private labels and top brands, so it is easy to make a decision here by looking out for our pocket. The cheapest supermarket in this section is Mercadona with its Hacendado products. For example, we find the assortment of nougats in mini size with 15 units for 3.95 euros. It is practically half of what similar containers from top brands cost.

If we go to specific products, there are also differences. The Estepeña Polvorones are cheaper in the Christmas assortment: nougats and chocolates (€6.92) compared to those (€7.40) at Carrefour. The Suchard chocolate bar is cheaper at Mercadona (€3.32) and Carrefour (€3.50), while it is more expensive at Dia (€3.99). The 30-unit box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates is cheaper at Alcampo (€7.60) and more expensive at Hipercor (€8.99). And a Nestlé Red Box (800g), it is also interesting to buy it in Alcampo (28.25 euros), since we save almost two compared to Carrefour and Hipercor. Mercadona’s cheap chocolates are the Delizze, which cost 3.40 euros for a box of 16 units.

The price of ham

The OCU already warns that ham is one of the foods that has increased the most ahead of the Christmas holidays of 2023. An example is Jamón Reserva Navidul 4 Estaciones, 7 kg. At Christmas 2022 we could buy it for just under 60 euros. In 2023 it has risen between 10 and 20 euros depending on the supermarket. In Hipercor it costs 69.90 euros, in Alcampo it costs 79, in Dia we find it for 79.90 and in Carrefour it is even more expensive, 82.50. That is, we can save 12.60 euros on this piece.

Mercadona sells its own hams and the price range is very wide. In order not to distort the purchase account, we take as a reference a similar one, the Gran Reserva Ham (Incarlopsa), which also weighs 7 kilos, is cured for 16 months and costs 76 euros.

Fishmonger and butcher shop

Seafood, fish and meat have also increased prices in the last 12 months and if we buy several kilos, we will notice a big difference. Carrefour and Hipercor offer us the cheapest prices for prawns (9.95 euros per kilo), while cooked prawns are around 9.99 euros per kilo in all supermarkets. There are always different qualities, so we can choose between quality and price.

If we are going to buy smoked salmon, another food that has almost doubled in a year, there is a lot of difference between top brands and private label. At Carrefour it costs €3.49/100g, almost a euro cheaper than in other supermarkets. As for cooked octopus legs, they are around 10 euros per kilo, but at Hipercor they are somewhat more expensive. And the price of sea bream has doubled compared to 2022. In Alcampo it has gone from 30 to 60 euros per kilo. At Hipercor, from 40 to 60 euros per kilo. In Carrefoura, Día and Mercadona it is not available in their online store.

If we choose suckling lamb chops as a meat dish, we can find them cheaper at Hipercor (27.90 euros per kilo). Cheaper than in other supermarkets, where they exceed 30 euros.

Cava, cider and grapes

And for New Year’s Eve dinner you can’t miss the toast. If we look at the prices of Cava Freixenet (€5.50 per 75cl bottle) and El Gaitero Sidra €2.35 per 75cl bottle), they are identical in all supermarkets, so we will not be able to achieve savings.

However, we can spend a little less on bulk white grapes. Because the cheapest are those from Alcampo (€4.49 per kilo) and the most expensive are those from Hipercor (€6.69 per kilo), that is, 2.20 euros per kilo.