In an increasingly fragmented mass retail landscape, choosing the right supermarket has become a real exercise in household strategy. Among hypermarkets, local chains, and discounts, Italian families navigate a maze of offers, loyalty apps, digital promotions, and packages that change size without changing price. In a context where the cost of living remains high, understanding where you really save has become essential. A survey conducted on 1.5 million prices collected in over a thousand stores across the country offers a clear snapshot: in 2026, affordability continues to speak the language of discounts. The top eight positions in the ranking of the cheapest products are indeed occupied by low-cost chains, confirming a trend that strengthens year after year. But the real novelty concerns the geography of savings: alongside the traditionally more competitive Northern territories, Tuscany emerges as one of the regions where shopping weighs less on the family budget.
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Eurospin, In’s and Lidl: the podium of convenience
The question everyone asks is simple: which is the cheapest supermarket of 2026? The answer is just as clear: Eurospin. The Italian discount leads the Altroconsumo ranking, alongside In’s and Lidl, which achieve the same convenience index (100). The survey involved 1,158 stores in 67 cities, analyzing 124 product categories. For a family of four, choosing the cheapest products available on the shelves can mean a savings of up to 3,790 euros per year, compared to the 9,450 euros average estimated expenditure based on Istat data: a 40% cut. Altroconsumo does not produce a single ranking, but four distinct ones: cheapest products, store brand products, branded products, and mixed shopping. The index 100 always indicates the most convenient chain within the considered category.
| Position | Chain (Hyper, Super, Discount) | Savings index (base 100) | Markup compared to the cheapest chain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eurospin | 100 | – |
| 2 | In’s | 100 | – |
| 3 | Lidl | 100 | – |
| 4 | Prix | 102 | 2% |
| 5 | Aldi | 103 | 3% |
| 6 | MD | 105 | 5% |
| 7 | Penny | 108 | 8% |
| 8 | D-Più Discount | 115 | 15% |
| 9 | Ipercoop | 117 | 17% |
| 10 | Todis | 117 | 17% |
| 11 | Interspar | 118 | 18% |
| 12 | Esselunga Superstore | 120 | 20% |
| 13 | Esselunga | 122 | 22% |
| 14 | Spazio Conad | 123 | 23% |
| 15 | Coop | 124 | 24% |
| 16 | Carrefour | 125 | 25% |
| 17 | Pam | 125 | 25% |
| 18 | Dok | 128 | 28% |
| 19 | Famila | 128 | 28% |
| 20 | Conad Superstore | 129 | 29% |
| 21 | Conad | 130 | 30% |
| 22 | Famila Superstore | 131 | 31% |
| 23 | Tigre | 133 | 33% |
| 24 | Eurospar | 134 | 34% |
| 25 | Carrefour Market | 135 | 35% |
Discounts in the lead, supermarkets further away
Looking at the ranking of the cheapest products, the gap is clear: Carrefour Market is on average 35% more expensive than Eurospin. The first “traditional” supermarket to appear is Ipercoop, with an index of 117: meaning prices on average 17% higher than the leading discount. An encouraging sign comes from the general context: between February and March 2026, the prices recorded showed an average increase of 1%, much lower than the +12% of 2023. The price hike slows down, although international tensions on energy and oil remain a risk factor.
Mixed shopping: discounts still ahead, but with differences
When combining cheap products, branded items, and private label lines, the ranking changes. Among discounts, Eurospin and In’s remain the most convenient chains, with savings of up to 16% compared to the most expensive in the group, Todis. Among supermarkets and hypermarkets, the margin narrows: the most convenient chain is Dok, which allows spending about 10% less than Carrefour Market. For those focusing on private label products, the best choice is Spazio Conad, which allows savings of up to 19% compared to the last ranked, Eurospar.
Two significant movements compared to 2025:
- Esselunga significantly improves in the convenience of private label products.
- Carrefour becomes more expensive: from first in the 2025 ranking, it drops to 105 points.
️Branded products: smaller differences
For those who prefer to buy branded products, discounts are excluded from the survey. The ranking remains stable: Ipercoop and Spazio Conad lead the ranking, followed by Famila and Esselunga. The gap with the last in the class, once again Carrefour Market, is about 7%.
How much do you really save?
According to Altroconsumo estimates based on Istat data: a single person spends on average 5,740 euros per year; a family of four reaches 9,450 euros. The most significant savings are obtained by choosing: Eurospin for the cheapest products, Eurospin and In’s for mixed shopping, Spazio Conad for private label products. The advantage can range between 1,695 and 3,790 euros annually, while it decreases for those loyal to branded products. The most effective strategy is to combine multiple solutions: discount for basic groceries, private label for the most frequent categories, branded products only when preferred or on offer. The same branded item can cost double or triple depending on the store.
️The geography of savings: North and Tuscany in the lead
The survey not only captures the chains but also the territories where competition is strongest. In 2026, affordability is concentrated mainly in the North and, surprisingly, in Tuscany. The cheapest store in Italy is the Mega in Treviso (index 100). Following are two Coop stores in Lucca and Iperal in Cinisello Balsamo (index 101). Treviso, Lucca, and Milan are the cities where you spend the least: about 6,500 euros per year, almost 900 euros less than the national average. Tuscany is the big surprise: Coop, Ipercoop, and Esselunga between Pistoia, Arezzo, Florence, Pisa, and Prato enter the top ten.
Central Italy: Tuscany ahead, Lazio behind
Central Italy shows two faces:
- Tuscany dominates the ranking of the cheapest cities, with an average annual expenditure of about 6,900 euros.
- Lazio, on the other hand, remains among the most expensive territories, with a higher incidence of spending on the family income.
Southern Italy: average prices, lower incomes
In the South, the most convenient stores are few:
- Spazio Conad in Cavallino (index 107),
- Spazio Conad in Taranto,
- Ipercoop in Foggia (108).
The main problem is not the price, but income: spending accounts for 19% of the budget in Calabria and Campania, compared to 10% in Trentino-Alto Adige.
Where you save the most (and where almost nothing)
Competition among stores in the same city greatly changes the savings margin:
- in Milan you can save up to 1,390 euros per year;
- in Bologna, Treviso, Reggio Emilia, and Venice over 1,100 euros.
At the opposite extreme, cities like Genoa, Sassari, Aosta, and Teramo are on average more expensive (about 7,700 euros per year).
The most expensive addresses in the survey (index 128) are:
- a Carrefour Market in Bologna,
- one in Genoa,
- a Despar in Cagliari.
At the regional level, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige are the cheapest; Aosta Valley and Lazio the most expensive. In some Southern cities, the savings margin is minimal: in Potenza, Reggio Calabria, Cosenza, Caserta, and Catanzaro the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive store can drop below 50 euros per year.
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