Are Discounters Really Cheaper in Switzerland? Aldi, Lidl and Denner
Aldi and Lidl win on staples – but Migros and Coop answer product by product with M-Budget, Prix Garantie and weekly deals. Here's when discounters are genuinely cheaper in Switzerland.
Aldi, Lidl, Denner and the big chains side by side, searchable and filterable by product and price.
Partly. In the K-Tipp basket test of September 2025 (100 everyday items, cheapest item picked in each store), shoppers paid least at Aldi Suisse (CHF 230.94), then Lidl Switzerland (CHF 232.83); Migros (CHF 243.54) and Coop (CHF 250.70) came higher – Coop was 8.6% dearer than Aldi. So on staples, the hard discounters clearly win. But item by item, Migros and Coop close the gap through M-Budget, Prix Garantie and weekly promotions.
Checked regularly · As of July 2026. Sources: K-Tipp basket (September 2025), bonus.ch comparison (August 2025), Fédération romande des consommateurs (2023), Migros and Denner figures.
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What counts as a discounter in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, "discounter" mainly means the two hard discounters Aldi Suisse (here since 2005) and Lidl Switzerland (since 2009), with a narrow range and strong own brands. Add Denner, a soft discounter that belongs to the Migros group (Migros took a 70% majority in 2007 and 100% by end of 2009). Otto's is a residual-stock and non-food discounter (branded clearance, wine, household) – not a weekly-grocery shop. Don't confuse them with M-Budget (Migros) and Prix Garantie (Coop): those are budget own-lines, not discounters – yet they are exactly what closes the price gap.
Are discounters really cheaper than Migros and Coop?
As a class, yes – on the base price of staples. The K-Tipp basket (September 2025) ranks 100 everyday items like this:
| Retailer | Type | Basket (K-Tipp, Sept. 2025) | Cheapest on… | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi Suisse | Hard discounter | CHF 230.94 | Staples, entry price | Narrow range, few brands |
| Lidl Switzerland | Hard discounter | CHF 232.83 | Basics and cheap veg | Less brand and fresh choice |
| Migros (M-Budget) | Full range + budget line | CHF 243.54 | Budget items per unit, huge own-brand fresh range | Non-budget prices higher; no alcohol/tobacco |
| Coop (Prix Garantie) | Full range + budget line | CHF 250.70 | Widest brand and premium choice, many promotions | Priciest basket in the test (8.6% over Aldi) |
| Denner | Soft discounter (Migros) | – | Wine, long hours, promotions | Dearer than Lidl on hygiene/cleaning (FRC 2023) |
The catch: prices change weekly across seven chains – Rappn shows them live, product by product, instead of as an average.
Where Aldi and Lidl win – and where the big two catch up
On branded goods the edge has almost vanished: the bonus.ch comparison (prices taken 12 August 2025, 20 branded products) found "no supermarket is really cheaper" – brands often cost the same at Aldi, Coop, Lidl and Migros. On hygiene and cleaning, though, the discounter advantage stays wide: according to the Fédération romande des consommateurs (2023), Aldi, Coop and Migros were on average about 25% dearer than Lidl there, and Denner more than double. Item by item, the M-Budget or Prix Garantie version can still undercut a discounter – about half the K-Tipp basket cost almost the same everywhere.
Is Denner, the Migros discounter, cheaper?
Denner is Switzerland's third-largest retailer and is run as a discounter, yet it belongs to the Migros group. On the plain food base price it usually sits between the hard discounters and the big two; on non-food (hygiene, cleaning) it was the priciest in the FRC 2023 test. Its strengths: wine, promotions and long opening hours.
Bottom line: it depends on the week and the category. Discounters win on staples and entry-level non-food, while Migros and Coop answer product by product with budget lines and promotions – and offer more fresh food, brands and choice. To see which store is cheaper for your basket today, check it live in Rappn: use the price comparison, look up the cheapest supermarket and this week's Aldi deals.
Sources checked: .
This is Rappn's offers view: compare the discounters (Aldi, Lidl, Denner) against Migros and Coop on the same products, live. Tap around to try it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are discounters really cheaper in Switzerland?
On staples, yes: in the K-Tipp basket of September 2025 (100 items), Aldi was cheapest (CHF 230.94), Lidl just behind (CHF 232.83), and Coop 8.6% dearer (CHF 250.70). On branded goods and items with a budget line, the gap often disappears.
Aldi or Lidl – which is cheaper?
In the K-Tipp test (September 2025), Aldi edged Lidl (CHF 230.94 vs CHF 232.83). Product by product the lead flips constantly, so a live comparison beats any average.
Does Denner belong to Migros?
Yes. Migros took a 70% majority in 2007 and 100% by the end of 2009. Denner is run as a discounter but sits inside the Migros group.
Is Otto's a discounter?
Otto's is a residual-stock and non-food discounter for branded clearance, wine and household goods – handy for one-off buys, but not a weekly grocery shop.
Can M-Budget and Prix Garantie match Aldi and Lidl?
Often, per product. In the K-Tipp test about half the items cost almost the same everywhere, because Migros (M-Budget) and Coop (Prix Garantie) aligned their budget prices with the discounters.
Why do price comparisons reach different conclusions?
Because the basket, product choice and timing decide the outcome. The winner shifts between staples, brands and non-food depending on the test – a live comparison for your own basket is the most reliable.