This report analyzes the prices of a standard basket of 22 grocery items across seven major retailers in Windhoek.
In August, grocery shoppers faced a mixed picture: while some retailers lowered their overall basket costs, offering households some relief—others recorded moderate increases.
For the month of August, Checkers emerged as the most affordable retailer with a total basket cost of N$955.78.
This was closely followed by Shoprite at N$980.58. The most expensive retailer was OK Foods, with a total basket cost of N$1117.18, representing a difference of N$161.40 compared to the cheapest option.
It is important to note that temporary promotions do play a role in shaping pricing landscapes. As these offers change, so too will the rankings.
Basket Comparison: July vs August
Retailer Insights
- Checkers’ grocery basket dropped by nearly N$100 compared to July, closing August at N$955.78. This was mainly driven by lower prices on key staples like mince, sugar, 2-ply toilet paper and tomatoes.
- Shoprite also became more competitive, reducing its basket by over N$60 to N$980.58. By keeping essentials like cooking oil, maize meal, and mince fairly stable, it secured its spot as the second most affordable retailer.
- Metro and Model moved in the opposite direction, with small increases in their baskets. Metro went up by N$10 to N$1,042.78, and Model by N$15 to N$1,046.78. Though minor, these changes push both stores into the mid-range of affordability, ranking below Checkers and Shoprite.
- Choppies made some progress too, with their basket dropping by N$16.00 to N$1,084.78. While still priced more expensive than Metro and Model, the decrease shows an effort to stay competitive in a market where shoppers are highly price sensitive.
- Spar recorded the biggest drop in basket costs, but with most prices left unchanged it still ranks among the most expensive retailers in Windhoek. The data shows little sign of meaningful competitive price adjustments during August.
- OK Foods remained one of the pricier options in August, with its basket rising by N$20 to N$1,117.18. While the increase is relatively small, it has pushed the store further into the higher-cost category.
Product Highlights
- Cooking Oil (2L): Prices held steady across most outlets, averaging N$71.56.
- Mince (1kg): Most supermarkets reduced prices in August, bringing them below N$100/kg, except at Choppies (N$114.99) and OK Foods (N$104.99), where prices remained unchanged. Spar was the only retailer to register a slight increase.
- Fresh Produce: Tomatoes and potatoes showed mixed price movements across outlets.
- Long-Life Milk (1L): Remained consistently cheaper across most supermarkets.
- 2-Ply Toilet Paper (9-roll, cheapest): Spar’s store brand stood out at just
N$39.99, well below the average of over N$80 at other retailers.
Consumer Takeaway
Price sensitivity remains critical. The data shows that shoppers who compare prices, especially for big-ticket staples like meat, oil, and fresh produce can save a few coins by choosing Checkers over OK Foods during the month of August. Sticking loyally to one retailer, without comparing, could therefore come at a significant cost.
What is in the basket?
The Brief’s monthly grocery price survey helps you shop smart and save more. Stay tuned for next month’s update.
