Irish supermarkets and grocery costs

For the cheapest weekly shop in Dublin, Lidl and Aldi are consistently the value leaders; Tesco, Dunnes Stores and SuperValu sit in the middle with bigger ranges and loyalty schemes; and Marks & Spencer, Donnybrook Fair and similar sit at the premium end. Most newcomers settle into a mix: a discounter for staples, a mid-tier for the rest.

How do the loyalty schemes work? They are worth joining immediately, because member prices are often substantially lower than shelf prices. Tesco Clubcard shows a member price on hundreds of items; Dunnes' vouchers (typically money-off-your-next-shop) reward regulars; SuperValu's Real Rewards and Lidl's own app carry member offers. All are free.

What is actually different from home? A few things surprise people: alcohol has legal minimum unit pricing in Ireland, cannot be discounted below it, and is sold only during licensed hours; a deposit is charged on drinks bottles and cans and refunded when you return them to a Re-turn machine (most supermarkets have one); and plastic bags carry a levy, so bring your own.

Where do I buy non-groceries cheaply? Penneys (Primark's Irish home) for clothes and homewares, Euro Giant and Dealz for household basics, and IKEA in Ballymun for furniture. For second-hand furniture and household items, check the Market pillar here on Homjo, along with charity shops — Dublin's are excellent.

Any tips for eating cheap beyond supermarkets? The Asian, Polish and Brazilian shops around Parnell Street, Capel Street and Moore Street often beat supermarket prices on rice, spices and produce, and anti-food-waste apps let cafés and shops sell surplus food at closing time for a fraction of the price.

How do I compare prices over time? The CSO publishes grocery price inflation, and consumer programmes track a standard basket across chains — but your own receipts are the honest benchmark: prices differ more between products than between shops.

Last updated: August 2026. Sources: ccpc.ie (grocery price surveys and consumer rights), re-turn.ie (deposit return), cso.ie (price statistics).