Going to the supermarket and buying food is one of the first things you are sure to do in your first day when you arrive in Australia. Before going anywhere, check first that the stores are actually open since on days like the weekend for example, it is normal for them to close at 4pm or 5pm. Depending on the city you live in, on Sundays most shops don’t even open until 11am (like in Perth!). Great if you work in the supermarket and want to have the morning off, but something to keep in mind if you are the type who likes to get things done first thing in the morning.
The two main supermarkets in Australia are Coles and Woolworths. Both are very similar in price and can usually be found in one location. Each one has different offers and weekly discounts on their products so you may or may not save money depending on what you’d like to buy that particular week. It is very common to see discounts like “1/2 price” or “2 x $ 5” (sometimes it is much better to buy more units on offer even if you are not going to eat them right away than buying a single item of that kind).
Another supermarket that has grown a lot in popularity in recent years in Australia is Aldi. Of German origin, in a short time it has become a strong rival of Coles and Woolworths when it comes to pricing. Aldi offers many home-brand and own goods without much difference in quality. Many of the products that you can find in large supermarkets, you can basically buy the identical version of at this store under another manufacturer and brand. Sometimes even the names of the products are very similar to the original ones!
Another alternative, a rather more expensive one but that usually has stores open every day and until late, is IGA. It is a good choice if you do not have a Coles or Woolworths nearby (IGA’s are smaller so you are more likely to find them in suburbs without having to go to a mall or busy area).
Another important fact to keep in mind is that you can get cash out in all these supermarkets. You do not need to go to an ATM. Neither do you need to buy anything to get money – you can just go to the Customer Service Desk with your bank card and they will assist you without a problem.