Around the 24th of every month, we collect the prices of a set of basic goods from some of South Africa’s major retailers. The list of products we collect is limited and not intended to be an absolute measure of affordability. We aim for products to be broadly comparable.
- Details about collection, our methodology and a full set of prices: The Outlier grocery basket: our methodology
- If you have questions or suggestions, let us know: groceries@theoutlier.co.za
When we were unable to find a particular product, these are the alternatives that were selected.
May and June 2023 alternatives
The 2.5kg Snowflake cake flour was not available at three of the Spars we visited. We resorted to emailing and phoning the stores for the price.
March 2023 alternatives
Pick n Pay – 2.5kg Tafelberg maize meal
Woolworths – 2.5kg Iwisa maize meal (online price)
Shoprite – Average price of available 2-litre full cream milk
Food Lover’s Market – Average price of available 2-litre full cream milk
February 2023 alternatives
Pick n Pay – 2.5kg Ace maize meal (online price)
Woolworths – 2.5kg Iwisa maize meal (online price)
Shoprite – 2-litre full cream Crystal Valley milk
January 2023 alternatives
Woolworths – 9-pack of store brand two-ply toilet paper (online price)
Food Lover’s – 2l Douglasdale milk, 9-pack and 18-pack of store brand two-ply toilet paper
Pick n Pay – 2.5kg White Star maize meal (online price)
Shoprite – 9-pack of Dinu Rose two-ply toilet paper
Spar – 2kg Tastic rice (online price), 2.5kg Selati white sugar (online price)
December 2022 alternatives
Spar – 2-litre sunflower oil (online price), 2.5kg Iwisa maize meal (online price), 2-litre full cream milk (online price), 2kg Tastic rice (online price), 18-pack of two-ply toilet paper (online price)
Checkers – 2-litre sunflower oil (online price)
Pick n Pay – 2.5kg White Star maize meal (online price), 18-pack of store brand two-ply toilet paper (online price), 2.5kg Snowflake cake flour (online price)
Shoprite – 18-pack of two-ply toilet paper (online price)
Woolworths – 2kg Tastic rice (online price), 9-pack of store brand two-ply toilet paper (online price)
Food Lover’s Market – 9-pack of store brand two-ply toilet paper, 18-pack of Dinu Rose two-ply toilet paper
November 2022 alternatives
Woolworths – 2-litre sunflower oil (online price), Iwisa 2.5kg maize meal (online price), 9-pack of store brand two-ply toilet paper (online price), 18-pack of store brand two-ply toilet paper (online price)
Spar – 18-pack of two-ply toilet paper (online price)
Shoprite – 2-litre Crystal Valley full cream milk (Shoprite does not have a store brand 2-litre milk)
Checkers – 9-pack of two-ply toilet paper (online price)
Pick n Pay – 2.5kg White Star maize meal (online price), 18-pack of store brand two-ply toilet paper (online price)
October 2022 alternatives
Woolworths – 9-pack of store brand two-ply toilet paper (online price), white bread 700g (online price)
Spar – 9-pack of Baby Soft two-ply toilet paper (online price)
Shoprite – 2-litre Crystal Valley full cream milk (Shoprite does not have a store brand 2-litre milk)
Pick n Pay – 2.5kg White Star maize meal, Sunflower oil 2-litre (online price)
September 2022 alternatives
Woolworths – 9-pack of store brand two-ply toilet paper
Spar – 9-pack of of Baby Soft two-ply toilet paper (online price)
Checkers – Dettol herbal soap (online price)
Shoprite – 2-litre Crystal Valley full cream milk (Shoprite does not have a store brand 2-litre milk)
Pick n Pay – 2.5kg White Star maize meal
August 2022 alternatives
Woolworths – 9-pack of store brand two-ply toilet paper
Checkers – 2-litre store brand milk (online price)
Shoprite – 2-litre Moorddrift full cream milk (Shoprite does not have a store brand 2-litre milk)
Pick n Pay – 2.5kg White Star maize meal
Last updated: 29 June 2023