Supermarkets in Portugal Compared: Chains, Loyalty Cards and Prices
Eight chains cover most of Lisbon's grocery shopping. What sets each apart, how the loyalty programs work, and what the only published price ranking actually measured.
In Portugal, the biggest supermarket chains are Continente and Pingo Doce, followed by the discounters Lidl and Aldi, the Spanish chain Mercadona, and Auchan, Intermarché and Minipreço. In DECO PROteste’s ranking of online supermarket prices for 2025, Continente was cheapest, with Pingo Doce and Froiz 1% higher and Minipreço 4% higher.
No published study ranks every chain, in store, for Lisbon in 2026. The figures below come from DECO PROteste’s published ranking and from the chains’ own announcements, as of November 2026.
Which supermarket is cheapest in Portugal?
The most recent published ranking is DECO PROteste’s study of online supermarket prices, released on 13 January 2026. The consumer association collected prices every day from 1 January to 31 December 2025 for a basket of more than 200 products at nine online supermarkets in mainland Portugal.
| Online supermarket (2025) | Price index (cheapest = 100) |
|---|---|
| Continente | 100 |
| Pingo Doce | 101 |
| Froiz | 101 |
| Auchan | 102 |
| 360Hyper | 102 |
| Intermarché | 103 |
| Minipreço | 104 |
| El Corte Inglés | 110 |
Each point above 100 means about 1% more for the same basket. The index uses base prices, not loyalty-card discounts, and it covers online shops only. Lidl, Aldi and Mercadona were not in it, because they did not sell groceries online in the study.
The gaps between the big chains are small. For most households the bigger saving comes from own-label products, weekly promotions and buying in the store closest to home, rather than from switching chains.
How do the main chains differ?
Each chain has its own format and pricing style. A short guide for newcomers:
| Chain | What to expect | Loyalty program |
|---|---|---|
| Continente | Large hypermarkets in shopping centers plus smaller Continente Modelo and Bom Dia stores; wide range; online delivery | Cartão Continente, which builds up a balance in euros to spend later |
| Pingo Doce | Neighborhood supermarkets across Lisbon, many with a hot-food counter; strong own label | Poupa Mais card and the chain’s app |
| Lidl | Discounter with a smaller range, weekly non-food specials and an in-store bakery | Lidl Plus app with digital coupons |
| Aldi | Discounter, compact stores, mostly own label; more than 160 stores in Portugal at the end of 2025 | Check the chain’s site |
| Mercadona | Spanish chain with a stable-price policy; first Lisbon city stores opened in 2025 and February 2026 | None: no loyalty card, leaflets or promotions |
| Auchan | Hypermarkets and smaller stores; bought Minipreço’s Portuguese operation | Check the chain’s app or site |
| Minipreço | Small convenience supermarkets in residential streets, now owned by Auchan | Check in store; rules may change after the Auchan takeover |
| Intermarché | Independent owner-run stores, often on the edge of town with a fuel station | Check the chain’s app or site |
Mercadona says it does not run promotions, leaflets or loyalty cards, so any social media post offering Mercadona prizes or vouchers is fake. Auchan completed its purchase of Dia Portugal, the owner of Minipreço, for €155 million and has said the stores will be integrated over time, so branding and card rules may change.
Are loyalty cards worth it?
Yes, if you shop at the same chain often. Most of the discounts at Continente, Pingo Doce and Lidl are only available to card or app holders, and the shelf label often shows two prices: one for everyone and one with the card.
- Sign up in the chain’s app or at the customer desk. You usually need a phone number and an email; some programs ask for your NIF.
- Activate the week’s coupons in the app before you pay, where the program requires it.
- Scan the card or app at the till before the cashier totals the bill.
- Check the balance or vouchers in the app and their expiry date; Cartão Continente balances, for example, are spent at a later visit.
The cards collect data on what you buy, so read the privacy terms. You can use several programs at once, and many residents keep two or three.
Should I give my NIF at the supermarket?
Giving your tax number (NIF) on the receipt is optional, but it lets Finanças count the spending in e-Fatura. Supermarket food purchases usually fall under general family expenses, which count toward a fixed IRS deduction. Our guide to e-Fatura deductions explains the categories, and many loyalty apps can add the NIF automatically.
When are supermarkets open in Lisbon?
Most supermarkets in Lisbon open seven days a week, and hypermarkets in shopping centers usually stay open into the evening. Hours differ by store, so check the store finder on each chain’s website. Many stores close or shorten hours on 25 December and 1 January; our guide to public holidays in Portugal lists the dates.
Payment by card is accepted everywhere, and most chains also take MB WAY. Bring your own bags; reusable bags are sold at the tills.
How can I compare prices myself?
Three practical tools exist, all as of November 2026:
- DECO PROteste’s Saber Poupar simulator shows the cheapest online supermarket delivering to your municipality, and how much you could save in a year. It needs a free account.
- DECO also publishes a weekly price for a basket of 63 essential foods, which tracks food inflation rather than comparing chains. In July 2026 the basket cost €251.29.
- Price per kilo or per liter (preço por kg/l) must appear on shelf labels, which makes own-label and brand products easy to compare in the aisle.
Bottom line
On published data, the large chains sit within a few percent of each other, and Lidl, Aldi and Mercadona are not covered by the main study, so no source can name a single cheapest store for Lisbon. A loyalty app at the chain nearest to you, used with the weekly coupons, is the most dependable way to cut the bill.
FAQ
Is Lidl cheaper than Continente in Portugal?
There is no recent published study comparing them directly in store. DECO PROteste’s 2025 ranking only covered online supermarkets, and Lidl was not one of them.
Do I need a Portuguese bank card to shop?
No. Supermarkets accept cash and the major international card networks, such as Visa and Mastercard. MB WAY, the Portuguese phone payment app, works only with cards from banks that take part in the service.
Which supermarkets deliver in Lisbon?
Continente, Pingo Doce, Auchan, Intermarché, El Corte Inglés and others sell online with home delivery. Delivery fees and minimum orders differ by chain and change often, so compare them at checkout.
Is there a cheap place for a hot lunch near the supermarket?
Some supermarkets sell ready meals, but a prato do dia at a local restaurant is the classic budget lunch in Lisbon.
