Cheapest Supermarkets: Where to Buy Groceries?

Where can you actually save money on groceries in Singapore? We compare 12 supermarkets and grocery stores, what they sell, where to find them and whether they deliver.

Grocery shopping in Singapore can become a surprisingly large part of a household budget.

The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to shop at the same supermarket for everything.

Singapore has a wide range of grocery retailers—from large chains such as Sheng Siong, FairPrice and Giant to neighbourhood supermarkets, Chinese specialty stores, Japanese grocers and large-format stores such as Mustafa Centre.

And prices can vary considerably depending on what you are buying.

A supermarket that is inexpensive for rice, vegetables and household essentials may not be the cheapest place for imported food. Similarly, a store specialising in Japanese or Chinese groceries may offer excellent prices within its own category while being more expensive for a general weekly shop.

The price comparison below uses current online and promotional prices where comparable information is available. Prices change frequently, so treat them as guidance only.

Singapore’s competition authorities have also introduced unit pricing to make comparisons easier. Unit prices show the cost per kilogram, litre, 100g or another standard measure, which is particularly useful when supermarkets sell different pack sizes.

1. Sheng Siong

If your priority is keeping the weekly grocery bill under control, Sheng Siong should be one of the first supermarkets you check.

The chain has a strong reputation for everyday-value groceries and a particularly broad selection of fresh food.

It carries rice and noodles, cooking oil, flour and staples, vegetables and fruit, meat and poultry, seafood, eggs and dairy, frozen food, snacks and drinks, household cleaning products, personal-care products and baby products.

Sheng Siong has an online shopping service, and its app supports online purchases and doorstep delivery.

What makes Sheng Siong useful? It is particularly convenient if you want to buy fresh food and everyday staples in the same trip.

It is also worth checking Sheng Siong’s weekly promotions before doing your main grocery run.

2. Giant

Giant is another supermarket worth checking if your priority is value, promotions and bulk shopping.

Giant operates different formats, including supermarkets, Express stores and larger hypermarkets. The hypermarkets offer a particularly large selection of fresh food, groceries and general merchandise, including bulk packs.

You can buy rice, flour, cooking oil, canned food, fresh vegetables, meat and poultry, frozen food, drinks, snacks, household products, personal care and bulk packs.

Giant offers online shopping and home delivery. Delivery charges, thresholds and restrictions for fresh, chilled or frozen items can depend on the current service terms.

Best reason to shop at Giant: if you have a large family and are buying bulk packs of rice, drinks, cleaning products or household essentials, Giant is worth comparing with Sheng Siong and FairPrice.

3. FairPrice

FairPrice is probably the most convenient option for people who want one supermarket that can cover almost everything.

Its network is extensive, and there are different store formats including FairPrice, FairPrice Xtra and FairPrice Finest.

That means prices and product ranges can differ between locations and formats. FairPrice confirms that product assortment, promotions and prices may vary between store formats.

You can buy almost everything: rice, atta and flour, dal and pulses, vegetables, fruit, meat, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, frozen food, Indian groceries, Asian ingredients, snacks, household products, baby products and personal care.

FairPrice Online offers grocery delivery, with delivery charges and minimum-spend requirements depending on the service selected.

Best reason to shop at FairPrice: convenience.

If you don’t want to visit three different supermarkets, FairPrice is a practical one-stop option, particularly when you combine its promotions and house-brand products.

4. Prime Supermarket

Prime is one of the neighbourhood supermarket chains that can easily be overlooked when comparing grocery prices.

That can be a mistake.

Prime is particularly interesting for fresh-food promotions. Its promotions can include meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables, with weekly and shorter promotional periods.

You can buy fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, seafood, chicken, rice, cooking ingredients, dairy, snacks and household essentials.

Check the individual outlet or service before relying on delivery. Prime’s strength is primarily its neighbourhood-store network and promotional fresh-food shopping.

Best reason to shop at Prime: check the weekly promotions, particularly if you are buying fresh meat, seafood or vegetables.

5. U Stars Supermarket

U Stars is another heartland supermarket that deserves more attention from budget-conscious shoppers.

Its range includes fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, frozen food, bakery items, rice, oil and grocery essentials.

U Stars has run attractive promotions on fresh food, which is why it is worth checking the weekly deals before automatically going to a larger chain.

Its website provides customer-service information about delivery, but availability can depend on the outlet or service. Check before planning a large online grocery order.

Best reason to shop at U Stars: if there is a U Stars near your home, check its weekly deals before automatically going to a larger chain.

6. Scarlett Supermarket

Scarlett is different from the supermarkets above.

It is particularly useful if you buy Chinese groceries, snacks and imported Asian products.

Its product range includes Chinese instant noodles, sauces, condiments, snacks, biscuits, drinks, frozen food, bread and cakes, household products and Chinese cooking ingredients.

Scarlett describes itself as a China-focused supermarket offering value-for-money products. Many products are sourced directly from China, and the store specialises in products that may be more expensive at mainstream supermarkets.

Scarlett’s online store offers delivery. Check its current FAQ for processing time, delivery timing and any applicable conditions.

Best reason to shop at Scarlett: if you regularly buy Chinese snacks, noodles, sauces, drinks or frozen food, Scarlett is worth checking before buying those products elsewhere.

7. Mustafa Centre

For Indian and South Asian households, Mustafa Centre deserves its own category.

Located in Little India, Mustafa is much more than a supermarket. It is a huge retail complex, but its grocery selection is one of its biggest attractions.

You can find basmati rice, atta, dal, pulses, spices, pickles, papad, Indian snacks, tea and coffee, biscuits, ready-to-eat foods, international groceries, Middle Eastern products and South Asian products.

Mustafa is in the Serangoon Road and Syed Alwi Road area of Little India. It operates 24 hours, making it particularly useful for late-night or bulk shopping.

Mustafa is primarily a physical-shopping destination, so check its current online or service options before depending on delivery.

Best reason to shop at Mustafa: for an Indian family, a single trip can cover many products that would otherwise require several different supermarkets.

It is particularly useful for Indian staples and international products.

8. RedMart

RedMart is different because it is essentially a digital supermarket.

If you don’t care which physical supermarket your groceries come from and prefer to compare products online, RedMart can be extremely useful.

Its range includes fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy, frozen food, rice, cooking ingredients, household products, baby products, imported products, snacks and drinks.

Why shop online? You can search for the exact product you want instead of walking through several aisles.

It is particularly useful for heavy products, household cleaning supplies, drinks, bulk purchases and imported products.

Delivery terms, fees, minimum spends and available slots depend on the current service. Faster delivery options may be available in selected areas.

Best reason to use RedMart: convenience and product variety.

It can also be useful when you know exactly what brand you want.

9. Cold Storage

Cold Storage generally sits at a higher price point than the discount-oriented supermarkets.

But that doesn’t mean it should be ignored.

It is particularly useful for imported food, Western ingredients, cheese, premium fresh produce, international brands, specialty food, and organic and health-oriented products.

It also runs frequent promotions, illustrating that the regular shelf price isn’t necessarily what you will pay if you shop during promotional periods.

Cold Storage has physical outlets in shopping centres and residential areas across Singapore. It also offers online grocery shopping and delivery.

Best reason to shop at Cold Storage: not necessarily the lowest total bill, but variety and imported products.

10. CS Fresh

CS Fresh is part of the same wider group as Cold Storage but is positioned towards a more premium grocery experience.

It is useful if you are looking for imported products, premium meats, cheese, wine and specialty food, international ingredients, fresh produce and gourmet products.

If your priority is the cheapest possible grocery basket, this is generally not where you would start.

But if you are looking for a particular imported ingredient, CS Fresh can save you from visiting multiple specialty stores.

Its physical stores are located in selected malls and shopping locations. Online delivery is available through the group’s grocery service where supported.

11. DON DON DONKI

DON DON DONKI is another supermarket that shouldn’t be judged against Sheng Siong or Giant using a standard basket.

Its strength is Japanese groceries.

Expect Japanese rice, noodles, sauces, curry, snacks, matcha products, Japanese drinks, frozen food, fresh produce, seafood, ready-to-eat meals, bento and Japanese desserts.

Delivery should not be assumed for every outlet. Check current delivery partners or contact the relevant branch before relying on home delivery.

Best reason to shop here: if you’re cooking Japanese food or looking for Japanese snacks and ingredients, DON DON DONKI can be considerably more convenient than trying to find those products at a mainstream supermarket.

12. ValuDollar

ValuDollar is worth knowing if you are looking specifically for discounted packaged groceries and household products.

It is different from a full supermarket because the product selection is more focused.

You may find snacks, biscuits, drinks, canned food, packaged groceries, household products and personal-care items.

The selection can change, which is part of the reason discount stores can sometimes offer unusually good deals.

It is generally best treated as an in-store retailer rather than a dependable grocery-delivery service.

Best reason to shop here: if you are flexible about brand and product selection, discount stores can be worth checking for packaged goods.

So, which supermarket is actually cheapest?

There isn’t one answer.

The problem with supermarket price comparisons is that the products are often not identical.

One supermarket may sell 10 eggs weighing 550g, another may sell 10 larger eggs, and another may sell 15 eggs. Comparing the shelf price alone can therefore be misleading.

There is no supermarket that is cheapest on every single product.

Instead, Sheng Siong frequently comes out strongly on everyday grocery items, while FairPrice can be competitive on its house brands and promotions. Cold Storage may be more expensive on everyday staples but can occasionally match or beat other supermarkets on specific promotional products.

That’s why a savvy shopper doesn’t necessarily ask, “Which is the cheapest supermarket?”

The better question is, “Which supermarket is cheapest for the things I buy?”

Singapore doesn’t have one supermarket that is cheapest for everything.

Instead, the best strategy is to understand what each supermarket does particularly well.

For a typical family grocery shop, Sheng Siong, Giant and FairPrice are the three places I would compare first.

Then use specialist stores when you need something specific:

• Mustafa for Indian and South Asian groceries.
• Scarlett for Chinese products.
• DON DON DONKI for Japanese products.
• Cold Storage and CS Fresh for imported and premium products.
• RedMart for online convenience and a very broad selection.
• Prime and U Stars for neighbourhood fresh-food deals.
• ValuDollar for selected discounted packaged goods.

And remember: the cheapest supermarket is not necessarily the supermarket with the lowest shelf price.

The cheapest shop is the one where you get the right product, at the right unit price, with the right promotion—without paying more for delivery than you saved on the groceries.

Prices and promotions were checked at the time of publishing this article. Always check the retailer’s current price before purchasing, as grocery prices, locations and delivery terms change frequently.

Where to verify: This article is general editorial information, not legal, immigration, medical or financial advice. Requirements can change. Check the relevant Singapore government agency or a qualified professional for advice about your situation.