Supermarket Price Ranking Reveals Significant Gaps for Israeli Consumers

A recent study comparing supermarket prices in Israel has revealed substantial differences in the cost of a uniform basket of 165 staple products across ten major chains. The research, conducted on November 12, 2026, using data from the Prices website, found a staggering NIS 543.64 difference between the cheapest and most expensive retailers for the exact same basket of goods. This disparity highlights that choosing where to shop can save consumers hundreds of shekels monthly, often more than any individual promotion.

Rami Levy emerged as the cheapest supermarket, with a basket costing NIS 1,971.07. Osher Ad followed closely, just NIS 10.97 more expensive, while Hesed and Yohananof rounded out the top four cheapest, all within a 3% price difference. At the other end of the spectrum, Fresh Market and Tiv Taam were the most expensive. Tiv Taam's basket cost NIS 2,514.71, a 27.6% premium over Rami Levy. Notably, Shufersal Deal, positioned as a budget brand by its parent company, ranked only eighth.

The study also examined price changes from October to November, a period often associated with sales. It found that while some individual items saw sharp price reductions, nearly a quarter of products actually increased in price. The overall basket saw a modest decrease of only 1.6%. A concerning finding was that for 107 out of 502 promotional prices in November, the price was higher than in October, and in another 136 cases, it was the same, meaning nearly half of promotions did not offer a lower price than the previous month.

Significant price variations were also observed in specific departments. The fruit and vegetable section showed the largest discrepancies, with an average price difference of 71% per item between the cheapest and most expensive retailers. For instance, a kilogram of cucumbers ranged from NIS 1.90 at Rami Levy to NIS 7.90 at Fresh Market. In contrast, regulated items like a liter of milk had minimal price differences across chains, underscoring the impact of price controls.

The research concluded that the choice of supermarket chain has a more significant impact on household budgets than individual promotions. While Shufersal Deal was found to be among the cheapest for 25 items, it was also among the three most expensive for 71 items. The study advises consumers to focus on the overall basket cost rather than just advertised discounts, as the true savings come from the difference between what was paid previously and what is paid now.