Before traveling to Spain, it is a good idea to learn about local stores and other distinctions so that your trip is not entirely dependent on restaurants.
Many people inquire about groceries in Spain on Facebook, Reddit, and other social media platforms, so I created this complete guide to assist you budget when shopping for things from local markets when visiting Spain.
Although there are over 30 grocery chains in Spain, I will only discuss the most popular ones that can be found practically anywhere in the country.
Below is a list of the greatest supermarkets in Spain (according to The Spanish Consumers and Users Organization, OCU).
The evaluation is based on characteristics such as closeness, cleanliness, range of products and brands, staff attentiveness, pricing, fresh produce quality, and cash register wait time, among others.
This is a brief overview of the different grocery stores.
1. Mercadona
Several traditional Spanish items are available, and there is a part where you may choose fish and other seafood from the counter, much as at the market. Your item will be washed, cleaned, and fully prepared for cooking, and you will receive cooking advice. The same is true for the meat department.
Lactose-free, gluten-free, and vegan items are also available at Mercadona.
They also offer ready-made food, such as salads, sushi, poke bowls, paella, etc.
2. El Corte Ingles
El Corte Ingles groceries, as well as Hipercor and Supercor (its branches), offer a wide range of high-quality products, although they are by far the most expensive. And it’s quite comparable to Wholefoods/Trader Joe’s.
You’ll find items you can’t obtain anyplace else, such as ostrich eggs and chestnut spaghetti, among other delicacies.
3. Consum
Consum is a large grocery chain across Spain, and it “a cheaper version of Mercadona.” It offers almost everything you may want from Spanish groceries, including pre-made food.
4. Lidl
Lidl is a German grocery business that is popular in Spain. They don’t usually have many things, but their bread is fairly nice, and they have a lot of European products as well as vegan options!
5. Carrefour
Carrefour is a French-owned international supermarket chain that offers comparable prices to Mercadona. Carrefour provides departments for appliances and household items in larger cities.
6. Alcampo
This is a cheaper version of Carrefour and is usually located on the outskirts.
7. Eclat
Eclat is a grocery store business that operates in Catalonia, Spain.
The company was started in 1984 and has since evolved to become one of the region’s largest food stores.
Eclat presently operates over 65 stores, providing clients with a diverse selection of fresh fruit, meats, fish, and prepared delicacies.
Eclat operates various specialty stores that specialize in organic items or gourmet cuisine from across the world, in addition to its supermarket locations.
The cheapest groceries in Spain
| Grocery store | Average yearly bill |
| Tifer | €4,890 |
| Dani | €4,912 |
| Family Cash | €4,990 |
| Alcampo | €5,006 |
| Supeco | €5,014 |
| Familia | €5,102 |
| Cash Fresh | €5,104 |
| Deza | €5,120 |
| Sangüi | €5,120 |
| El jamón | €5,208 |
