The Smart-Shopping Guide: 7 Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill

By מערכת סופרקליר · 2026-07-09 · 2 min read

52% — How far Israel's food and beverage prices sit above the OECD average — which is why every shekel counts

Let's be honest: grocery shopping in Israel is an expensive sport. Per OECD data reported by Mako, our food and beverage prices are about 52% above the average of developed economies. The good news? Here, the law and the data actually work in your favor. Here are seven simple ways to cut the bill — no shopping diet required.

1. Compare price per unit, not price per package

The big bag isn't always cheaper. By law, every store over 100 square meters must display the price per unit of measure — per kilo, per liter, or per 100 grams. That's the little label that lets you compare apples to apples. Train your eye to look for it.

2. Give private label a chance

A chain's private label is usually significantly cheaper — and not only that: the Bank of Israel found that when a major supplier raised prices in February 2024, brand-name products rose by about 5%–15%, while their private-label equivalents barely moved. That shields you from hikes. Just remember: private label isn't always cheaper or identical in quality — it's worth checking on the shelf.

3. Shop from a list, not from hunger

A classic tip from the Paamonim organization: check what you already have at home first, make a list — and stick to it. And the golden rule: don't enter the supermarket hungry. An empty stomach makes expensive decisions.

4. Time it right

Promotions aren't random. Go over the weekly promotions flyer before you head out, and plan around it. Perishables (bread, meat, vegetables) are usually marked down toward the end of the day and the end of the week — per Mako, sometimes at very deep discounts.

5. Buy in season

Fruit and vegetables are far cheaper in season. The Ministry of Agriculture even publishes weekly price reports — but even without them, if a product is suddenly especially cheap, it's probably its season. That's the time to fill the cart.

6. Beware the expensive formats

Not every "supermarket" is created equal. Superclear's data shows that convenience stores and gas-station shops are the most expensive by a wide margin. They're convenient — but you pay dearly for that convenience. Save them for emergencies, not the weekly shop.

7. Let the data work for you

Since 2014, the law has required large chains to publish all their prices daily in an open file. That's exactly the information comparison tools — like Superclear — are built on. Instead of guessing, you can simply see where, right next to you, your basket costs less.

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