Grocery shock: How much a basic basket of 9 staples has changed since 2022
I was at my local Coles last night, carefully selecting grocery items for the next few days and shaking my head at the cost of my son's favourite lamb cutlets ($47 per kilo!!!!), when a crazy thought entered my mind.
What if I could buy whatever I wanted, regardless of price, with no grocery budget restrictions whatsoever?
This was quickly followed by: Do people like this exist? People with unlimited grocery budgets?
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What if I could buy whatever I wanted, regardless of price? Getty
And also: What groceries would I buy if money were no object?
To be honest, it would be pretty boring – I'd probably just buy more of everything I usually buy. More chicken breast, more biscuits. I'd get the fancy cat food. I'd probably indulge in some fresh salmon, which my kids hate so I don't buy it, but I really love it.
I think my wild supermarket aisle thoughts are just reflective of the financial strain many Aussie shoppers are currently feeling. Everything is just so expensive, and it's not our imaginations or our poor choices.
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Everything is just so expensive, and its not our imaginations or our poor choices. Getty
Prices have gone up, by a lot.
In this week's Supermarket Sleuths, lets take a look at the nine grocery staples that have skyrocketed in price since 2022.
1. Bread
Before 2022, Coles and Woolies kept home brand bread prices well under the $2 mark at a "locked" price of $1.10 to $1.20.
This began to change in 2022 when the cost of a basic loaf began to steadily increase by as much as 22 per cent over the year, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The ABS tracks the price of bread in the Bread and Cereal Products category. The biggest spike came in 2023, with an increase of 11.6 per cent for a standard loaf to $3.50 to $4.50.
Sourdough and specialty artisanal loafs soon followed, with some costing as much as $7.
As of early 2026, a standard loaf of white bread typically retails between $3.80 and $4.00 at major supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths, and budget private-labels often remain lower, at around $3 when marked down.
2023 saw the biggest spike, with a price increase of 11.6 per cent for a standard loaf. Nine
Bread is often discounted as it has a short shelf life, and can be easily frozen for later use, which can help Aussie shoppers save.
2. Milk
Milk prices increased sharply in 2023 by as much as 23 per cent, and prices have continued to steadily rise ever since due to inflationary pressure, the ABS reports.
For years, a standard 2L milk cost Aussie shoppers $2 as part of Coles and Woolworths' "locked" price.
By 2022 customers were paying $2.60 to $3.10 for a 2L milk, and today it has reached $3.20 for home brand milk. Private brands cost more, between $4.50 and $5.
Milk prices increased sharply in 2023 by as much as 23 per cent. Getty
That's an increase of eight per cent since 2024 and as much as 30 per cent since 2022.
Home brands are the cheapest and easiest way for shoppers to save on milk.
3. Cheese
Cheese, along with milk and most dairy, has increased steadily in price since 2022, with a sharp increase seen in 2023.
It was impacted more than most dairy products as it takes longer to produce than items such as milk.
The cost of standard tasty cheese increased in price by approximately 23 per cent between 2021 and 2024, according to ABS data, and has continued to steadily increase in price ever since, by as much as three per cent between 2024 and 2025.
Cheese, along with milk and most dairy, has increased steadily in price since 2022. Getty Images/iStockphoto
A 24-slice packet of home brand sliced cheese in Coles and Woolies now costs $7.90, compared to in 2022 when it was just $7.
Customers can save by choosing block cheese over sliced.
4. Eggs
Retail egg prices have increased by approximately 25 to 35 per cent since early 2022, with the most dramatic increase happening between mid-2024 and early 2025 due to the Avian Flu outbreak in Australia and subsequent shortages.
In 2022 a carton of caged eggs cost $4.20 and free-range eggs were $5.50. In 2026 Aussie shoppers are paying $5.80 for caged and $7.50 for free-range.
Industry reports from ANZ Research and the ABS also confirm Australian egg prices reached a 15-year high in 2025.
Retail egg prices have increased by approximately 25 to 35 per cent since early 2022. 9Honey
In fact, Australians now pay the highest egg prices in the world, according to Global Product Prices.
The most affordable eggs can be found outside of supermarkets at farmers markets and alternate grocery retailers.
5. Tea and coffee
The cost of a 500g tin of Nescafe Blend 43 was between $16 and $20 in 2022. Today, Aussie shoppers are paying between $22 and $32 depending on specials and promotions.
That's an increase of as much as 60 per cent based on recommended retail shelf prices alone and has been worsened by challenging growing conditions in global coffee growing regions. Our favourite barista beverages have also been impacted.
The cost of a 500g tin of Nescafe Blend 43 was between $16 and $20 in 2022. Nine
Tea bags have increased in price more steadily than coffee, but have risen none the less. Nine
And tea bags haven't escaped price pressures either. Tea bags have increased in price more steadily than coffee, but have risen none the less.
Australia's best selling tea bag, Dilmah Premium 100 pack, cost $5 in 2022 and is now $7.20. Lipton increased from $4.50 in 2022 and is now $7.
Coffee and tea is often reduced in price at Coles and Woolies, so if you aren't fussy about which brand you buy, you can save buy choosing brands that are on special.
6. Chocolate
Chocolate is a hot topic at the moment thanks to Easter chocolate displays.
Insane price of Easter chocolate aside, standard blocks of chocolate have also increased exponentially, for a range of reasons including challenging weather conditions in growing regions.
Yes, the price of chocolate has gone up. Nine
A standard block of Cadbury chocolate cost between $4.50 and $5 in 2022 and today that same block costs $8.
Thankfully they are often placed on special, but today's special prices are standard prices in 2022.
Customers can save by trying Aldi chocolate or Coles and Woolies home brands, but if you love a particular brand such as Cadbury, Whittaker's or Nestle, you will need to pay the higher prices.
7. Meat
Meat prices have been volatile since 2022, including some red meat prices falling between 2023 and 2024 due to oversupply.
Meat prices have been volatile since 2022. Nine/Aldi
As of 2026, meat prices across the board have increased significantly, according to ABS data.
Beef and veal reached record high prices in late 2025 and early 2026 according to Meat and Livestock Australia, jumping up by 15 per cent. Lamb has increased by 12 per cent in that same period.
Chicken rose sharply between 2024 and 2025 and has increased by approximately 22 percent since 2022. Pork has increased by 15 per cent during that time.
Meat has a short shelf life, so customers can save by waiting for prices to be reduced when stock needs to be cleared.
8. Olive oil
Olive oil has seen one of the most dramatic price increases of any grocery staple in Australia, with shelf prices increasing by 60 per cent to over 100 per cent since 2022.
In many cases, the price for a standard bottle has effectively doubled.
What was once a $12 to $14 "everyday" extra virgin olive oil now frequently retails for $24 to $28.
Olive oil has seen one of the most dramatic price increases of any grocery staple in Australia. 9Honey
ABS data shows a typical 750ml to 1L bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil has jumped from $12 to $14 in 2022 to $24 to $28 in 2026.
This price increase has been due to droughts in Europe and production costs.
Home brand olive oils can help shoppers save, as well as stocking up when prices have been reduced.
9. Fruit and vegetables
Fruit and vegetable prices in Australia have also been volatile, roughly between 15 and 25 per cent since 2022, according to ABS and Rabobank data.
The wild fluctuations in price are once again due to extreme weather events that can cause shortages, as well as oversupply.
Fruit and vegetable prices in Australia have also been volatile. Getty
The fruits and vegetables most impacted by price increases have been tomatoes, broccoli.
The vegetable category overall has increased in price by around 21 per cent since 2022, and fruit has risen by 18 per cent in that same time period.
Stocking up on whatever is in season and buying fruits and vegetables that are abundant are easy ways to save.
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