Easter will financially stress nearly half of Australians, with most switching to cheaper generic brands, and the average shopper spending $254.48 this year.
That’s according to findings by Compare the Market which surveyed 1,015 Australians in March 2026.
It found 42 percent of Australians surveyed believed Easter would financially stress them in 2026, with around a quarter (24 percent) expecting to feel “somewhat more stressed” and 17 percent “significantly more stressed.”
With rising grocery prices, 71 percent said they would consider switching to cheaper, generic brands for at least one easter item – including chocolate eggs (45 percent), chocolate bunnies (31 percent), hot cross buns (29 percent), party goods (20 percent), and seafood (16 percent).
They also analysed the cost of Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, and hot cross buns, and found that nine out of 12 Easter treats had seen price increases of between 7.14 percent and 28.57 percent.
On average, shoppers will spend $16.40 more for the same 12 items compared to 2025.
Those with the sharpest increases include:
- Kinder Surprise Milk Chocolate Blue Easter Bunny 75g – up 28.57% year-on-year
- Darrell Lea Easter Bilby Milk Chocolate 100g – up 23.52% year-on-year
- Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Easter Bunny 80g – up 23.07% year-on-year.
Compare the Market Media and Communications General Manager Chris Ford said Easter had become one of those “sneaky-expensive” calendar events.
“It’s going to hurt a whole lot more this year thanks to soaring fuel prices, rising interest rates, increased health insurance premiums, and now higher prices for many Easter treats,” Mr Ford said.
“Coca shortages and volatile global prices are pushing up chocolate production costs, and that’s spilling into the Easter aisle.
“When you factor in ongoing shipping disruptions, and local operating costs it’s little wonder that many bunnies and eggs are more expensive this year and that’s going to hurt families who are already struggling.”
