Migros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner: Where to Buy What
There's no supermarket that's cheapest on everything. The trick is knowing where to buy what. Here's the practical guide, category by category.
If you're searching for "the cheapest supermarket in Switzerland", you're asking the wrong question.
No supermarket is cheapest on everything. Lidl wins on the total basket in tests, but doesn't stock the same Emmentaler you'll find at Migros. Migros has M-Budget at near-discount prices, but doesn't sell alcohol. Coop is the most expensive on basics, but has the cheapest chicken in Switzerland and the best promotions. Denner is a discounter that costs more than Migros in tests. Aldi has prices identical to Lidl but is closing stores.
The right question is: where should you buy what?
This guide breaks down the weekly shop category by category and tells you which supermarket wins for each one.
The Cheat Sheet
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy (milk, butter, yoghurt) | Migros (M-Budget) | M-Budget butter CHF 2.95 vs Prix Garantie CHF 3.50. Milk per litre CHF 1.03 vs CHF 1.17 |
| Bread and bakery | All equal | Ruchbrot CHF 1.00 everywhere. Lidl has the best discount bakery |
| Meat (budget) | Coop (Prix Garantie) | Chicken breast CHF 11.50/kg, lowest price in Switzerland. Cut by up to 27% in 2025 |
| Meat (on promotion) | Migros and Coop alternate | 30–50% off, different cuts each week |
| Fruit and vegetables | Migros | Tiefpreis programme: −3.6% average in 2025. Carrots, potatoes, bananas cheapest |
| Pasta, rice, flour, sugar | All equal (Migros slight edge) | M-Budget spaghetti CHF 1.20/kg. Flour, sugar, rice: identical everywhere |
| Branded products (Nutella, Barilla) | Identical everywhere | bonus.ch: max 1 centime difference across all 5 supermarkets |
| Detergent and household | Coop (on promotion) | Ariel 80 washes CHF 25.90 instead of CHF 51.80. Coop's household promos are the strongest |
| Coffee | 🟤 Denner (on promotion) | Chicco d'Oro 3×500g CHF 24.95 instead of CHF 38.70 |
| Wine and alcohol | 🟤 Denner or Coop | Denner = 2nd largest wine seller in Switzerland. Coop = best in-store range. Migros = no alcohol |
| Organic | Coop (Naturaplan) | Broadest range. But: 30% higher margins than Lidl (price watchdog criticism) |
| Specialty products | Lidl or Aldi | On uncommon products, Migros/Coop charge up to 60% more (K-Tipp) |
| Online shopping | Coop (coop.ch) | Migros Online is about 20% pricier than coop.ch (K-Tipp) |
Dairy: Migros Wins with M-Budget
| Product | Migros | Coop | Aldi | Lidl | Denner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole milk /L | CHF 1.03 (M-Budget) | CHF 1.17 (Prix Garantie) | ~CHF 1.10 | ~CHF 1.10 | ~CHF 1.15 |
| Butter 250g | CHF 2.95 (M-Budget) | CHF 3.50 (Prix Garantie) | ~CHF 3.20 | ~CHF 3.20 | ~CHF 3.30 |
| Natural yoghurt 500g | CHF 0.80 (M-Budget) | ~CHF 0.90 | ~CHF 0.85 | ~CHF 0.85 | ~CHF 0.95 |
| Branded butter (Die Butter) | CHF 3.95 | CHF 3.95 | CHF 3.95 | CHF 3.95 | CHF 3.95 |
Last row matters: branded products cost the same everywhere. Only the budget line makes a difference.
Meat: Prix Garantie is Unbeatable
Coop Prix Garantie chicken breast at CHF 11.50/kg is the lowest price in Switzerland, cheaper even than Aldi and Lidl. Prix Garantie cut meat prices by up to 27% in 2025. But for weekly meat deals (30–50% off), Migros and Coop alternate every week.
Fruit and Vegetables: Migros Cut Prices
The Tiefpreis programme in 2025 made fruit and veg 3.6% cheaper on average at Migros. Carrots, potatoes and bananas are at guaranteed lowest prices. Aldi and Lidl have similar or slightly lower prices but a smaller range.
From RTS: the closer to the border (France, Germany, Italy), the more budget products you'll find on the shelves. Supermarkets stock more M-Budget and Prix Garantie where cross-border shopping is a threat.
Household: Only Buy on Promotion
Detergent, toilet paper, soap: these products don't expire and go on promotion regularly. Buying at full price is the most expensive mistake you can make.
Coop has the strongest promotions: 40–50% off detergent several times a year. Migros does the same in different weeks. Rule: never buy detergent at full price. Wait for the promotion, buy 2–3 packs, done.
Coffee and Wine: Denner Territory
Denner is Switzerland's second-largest wine seller. Coffee promotions are regular and aggressive (Chicco d'Oro 3×500g CHF 24.95 instead of CHF 38.70). Coop sells alcohol in-store with a full range. Migros doesn't sell alcohol in-store.
Branded Products: Same Price Everywhere
bonus.ch confirmed it in August 2025 with 20 branded products: Nutella, Barilla, Coca-Cola cost virtually the same everywhere (max 1 centime difference). If your basket is mainly branded products, the store you choose barely matters.
Specialty Products: Watch Out at the Big Chains
K-Tipp tested 30 uncommon products (sweet potatoes, rocket, herb butter, cinnamon): Lidl CHF 53.87, Migros CHF 85.37 (+58%), Coop CHF 87.22 (+62%). Sweet potatoes: CHF 1.29/kg at Lidl vs CHF 8.90/kg at Migros/Coop.
For products you don't buy every day, the discounter is often dramatically cheaper.
The Expert's Weekly Plan
Wednesday evening (10 min): check the week's deals. Coop from 4:30 PM, Migros/Denner from Thursday.
Weekly shop (nearest store): basics with the budget line. Milk, bread, eggs, pasta, veg. Almost no price difference between stores.
Targeted shop (when it's worth it): detergent, coffee or meat on promotion? Stock up.
Once a month (optional): Aldi/Lidl for specialty products, spices, cleaning supplies.
Family savings: CHF 200–400 per month.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which supermarket is cheapest?
Depends on what you buy. Lidl/Aldi: total basket. Migros: dairy (M-Budget). Coop: meat (Prix Garantie), promotions, online. Denner: coffee/wine. Branded products: same everywhere.
Is it worth visiting multiple stores?
Only for big discounts (30%+) on products you buy regularly. For basics, the nearest store is fine.
Do branded products cost the same everywhere?
Yes. bonus.ch confirmed max 1 centime difference across 20 branded products in all major Swiss supermarkets.