Cost of Living
Spanish supermarkets compared: Mercadona, Lidl, Carrefour and more
A neutral comparison of Spain’s main supermarket chains: strengths, own brands, loyalty apps, which is cheapest and how online delivery works.
Updated: October 2026
Your weekly shop is one of the biggest regular costs after rent, and Spain has a wide choice of supermarket chains, each with its own style. This guide is for newcomers trying to work out where to shop. It compares the main national chains, explains own-brand ranges and loyalty apps, and covers online shopping and home delivery, so you can pick the mix that suits your budget and your neighbourhood.
The main chains at a glance
| Chain | Typical strengths | Own brands and loyalty | Online shopping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercadona | Huge network, consistent stores, strong fresh and ready-meal sections | Hacendado (food), Deliplus (beauty), Bosque Verde (cleaning); no loyalty card or coupons | Own online shop with home delivery in many areas |
| Lidl | Discount prices, in-store bakery, weekly non-food offers | Mostly own brands; Lidl Plus app with coupons and points | Online shop focused on non-food |
| Aldi | Compact discount stores, short shopping trip | Mostly own brands | Limited |
| Carrefour | Hypermarkets with very wide range, including international food and household goods; smaller Market and Express stores | Carrefour brand, including organic lines; Club Carrefour loyalty scheme | Wide delivery coverage and click and collect |
| Dia | Small neighbourhood stores close to home | Dia own brand; Club Dia loyalty scheme | Online orders, often same-day in cities |
| Alcampo | Large hypermarkets, often ranked among the cheapest | Alcampo brand; loyalty scheme | Home delivery and collection |
| El Corte Inglés / Hipercor | Premium and imported products, gourmet section | Own premium ranges | Home delivery in many cities |
Strong regional chains are worth knowing too, and in some areas they are the most convenient option: Consum in the Valencia region and along the east coast, Eroski in the Basque Country and the north, Gadis in Galicia, Ahorramas in Madrid, BonÀrea and Bonpreu in Catalonia, and Covirán and Mas in Andalucía. Many towns also have their own local chains with very competitive prices.
Which supermarket is cheapest?
The best independent source is the annual price survey by consumer organisation OCU. Its 2026 supermarket study, published in September 2026, visited 690 shops in 38 cities plus online supermarkets. Its main findings:
- Prices vary more by shop than by chain. OCU puts the average possible saving from choosing the cheapest supermarket in your town at around 1,310 euros a year, and much more in big cities such as Madrid.
- Regional and discount chains often win. A small regional chain came out cheapest overall, with Alcampo and Carrefour’s discount format Supeco close behind. Lidl was the cheapest option in more towns than the year before.
- Own brands keep getting cheaper. OCU’s basket of the cheapest products in each shop fell in price on average, with the biggest drops at Mercadona and Lidl, while manufacturer brands rose.
Rankings change every year and depend on what you buy, so treat them as a guide. Part of the full OCU ranking is only open to members, but the free summary already shows which chains are cheap in many towns.
Own brands: the marca blanca habit
Spanish shoppers buy a lot of own-brand products, known as marca blanca or marca de distribuidor. Many of them are made by well-known Spanish producers, and quality is usually good. Some own-brand items have a loyal following, from Mercadona’s ready meals and cosmetics to Lidl’s bakery and weekly speciality food weeks.
A practical approach is to try own brands for basics such as milk, pasta, rice, tinned tomatoes and cleaning products, and keep branded products where you notice a real difference. The packaging lists the producer and a health registration number, so you can often see who makes the product.
Loyalty apps, offers and ways to save
- Apps and cards: Lidl, Carrefour, Dia, Alcampo, Eroski and Consum run loyalty schemes with personalised coupons or money back. Mercadona is the big exception: it does not run promotions and aims for stable everyday prices instead. You can find what the Lidl app offers on its website (in Spanish).
- Weekly leaflets: most chains publish offers online every week. “2ª unidad al 50%” means the second unit is half price, and “3×2” means three for the price of two.
- Compare unit prices: shelf labels must show the price per kilo or litre (precio por kilo/litro), which is the fairest way to compare pack sizes.
- Use the market as well: for fruit, vegetables, fish and meat, the local mercado municipal and weekly street market can beat supermarket quality and price, especially for seasonal produce.
- Bring your bags: shops must charge for plastic bags, so keep reusable bags or a trolley handy.
Online shopping and home delivery
Online grocery shopping has grown fast in Spain, but coverage still depends on your postcode. Check before you rely on it, especially if you live in a village or an urbanisation outside town.
- Mercadona: runs its own online shop from dedicated warehouses in several big cities. Orders have a minimum amount and a service charge, delivery starts the next day depending on slots, and you pay by card online. See Mercadona’s online shopping FAQ in English. The old service of delivering in-store purchases to your home is being phased out and is only offered by some stores.
- Carrefour: has one of the widest online grocery services, including the Balearic and Canary Islands, with home delivery or collection in store via carrefour.es.
- Dia, Alcampo, Eroski, Consum and El Corte Inglés: all offer online orders in many areas, with options from same-day delivery in cities to collection points.
- Lidl: its online shop is mainly for non-food items such as household goods, tools and clothing; for groceries you still go to the store.
- Delivery apps: Glovo, Uber Eats and Amazon deliver from some supermarkets and convenience stores in larger cities, usually at higher prices than the shop.
Delivery fees, minimum orders and free-delivery thresholds change often and differ by chain, so compare them on each website before your first order. Some online shops expect a Spanish phone number, and cards issued abroad are occasionally declined; see our guide to opening a bank account in Spain.
Practical tips for your first shop
- Check opening hours: large supermarkets usually open all day from Monday to Saturday, but Sunday opening depends on your region.
- Use gloves or bags for fruit: in many shops you take a plastic glove or bag to pick loose fruit and vegetables, and some still ask you to weigh and label them yourself.
- Fresh counters: at the meat, fish and cheese counters, take a number from the machine and wait your turn. Staff will clean and cut fish for free if you ask.
- Look for home comforts: Carrefour, El Corte Inglés and supermarkets in expat areas usually stock the widest range of international products.
For a full picture of household spending, see our guides to the cost of living in Spain and family living costs.
Useful links
- OCU: the cheapest supermarkets of 2026 (Spanish)
- Mercadona: online shopping FAQ
- Carrefour Spain online shop
- Cost of living in Spain
- Living on a small salary in Spain
FAQ: supermarkets in Spain
Which supermarket is the cheapest in Spain?
It depends on your town and what you buy. OCU’s yearly study shows that discount and regional chains are often cheapest, and that choosing the right shop locally matters more than the chain name.
Does Mercadona have a loyalty card?
No. Mercadona does not run a loyalty card, coupons or promotions. Most other big chains do, usually through an app.
Can I order groceries online if I live outside a city?
Often yes, but coverage depends on your postcode. Enter it on each chain’s website before ordering, and compare delivery fees and minimum order amounts.
Where can I find food from home?
Large Carrefour hypermarkets and El Corte Inglés usually have the biggest international sections. In expat areas, local supermarkets and specialist shops also stock British, Dutch, German and Scandinavian products.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not sponsored by any supermarket. Prices, delivery areas, fees and loyalty schemes change often – always check the chain’s own website before you shop.
