How much should you budget for groceries per fortnight?
Updated 2026-10-15 · Australia
Short answer
Use your own numbers: add up the last eight weeks of supermarket spending (Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, IGA, markets), divide by four for your fortnightly average, then set a target about 10% below it. That beats any national average because it reflects your household, diet and suburb.
The 10-minute method
- Download 8 weeks of transactions from your bank.
- Add up every supermarket, butcher, greengrocer and market transaction.
- Divide by 4 — that's your fortnightly average.
- Set your budget 10% lower and track it each pay.
A worked example
8 weeks of groceries = $1,520. $1,520 ÷ 4 = $380 a fortnight. Target: $340 a fortnight.
Make the target stick
- Plan meals for the fortnight before you shop.
- Compare unit prices on shelf labels.
- Keep takeaway and delivery in a separate category so they don't hide in groceries.
Let a spreadsheet do the adding up
Import your bank CSV into Sorted Budget and every Woolies, Coles, Aldi and IGA transaction is grouped automatically, with a fortnightly progress bar.
Frequently asked questions
Do online grocery orders count?
Yes — Woolworths and Coles online orders are categorised as groceries.
Should I include household items?
Many people do because they're bought in the same shop. Just be consistent.
Sources
Last checked 2026-10-15.