Kmart vs The Warehouse vs Briscoes vs Costco vs Pak’nSave: NZ Comparison 2026

What does Kmart sell and is it really cheap?

Yes, Kmart is consistently the cheapest place in New Zealand for everyday homewares, clothing and basic furniture. Owned by Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers, Kmart sells almost everything from kitchen gear and bedding to stationery and toys, much of it under its in-house brand Anko.

Quality varies, so it pays to check reviews before buying. A September 2025 Consumer NZ review found the Anko range includes genuine bargains alongside clear duds, singling out a stick vacuum that scored the lowest in their entire test and rated poorly for repairability, since a dead battery means binning the whole unit. Separately, Product Safety NZ has logged recent Anko recalls, including a portable blender in September 2025 and gel packs in January 2026. Treat each Anko product on its own merits rather than assuming the whole range is a bargain.

Kmart runs 27 stores across New Zealand, with its largest ever store, a 6,700 square metre 24-hour location at Westgate in Auckland, opening on 1 July 2026 as the country’s 28th. Many stores trade until midnight, and Manukau and Sylvia Park already operate 24 hours.

Bottom line: if you’re kitting out a flat or refreshing the basics, Kmart is hard to beat on price.

What’s the difference between The Warehouse and Kmart?

The Warehouse offers a wider product range, including gardening, groceries and gaming, while Kmart tends to be cheaper on basic homewares. Founded in 1982 by Sir Stephen Tindall, The Warehouse is New Zealand’s home-grown “Red Sheds” department store, owned by NZX-listed The Warehouse Group (which also owns Noel Leeming and Warehouse Stationery).

Their in-house brand, Living & Co, is price-competitive with Kmart’s Anko line, while brand-name electronics, gardening tools and groceries are where The Warehouse really differentiates itself. You can pick up bread, basil and a PlayStation in one trip.

There are around 85 Warehouse "Red Sheds" stores across the country, making it the most accessible department store in New Zealand. Both in-store and online experiences are solid, with free click and collect on standard-sized items.

Bottom line: choose The Warehouse when you want one-stop shopping or need brand names that Kmart doesn’t stock.

Is Briscoes worth shopping at in 2026?

Briscoes is worth shopping at if you wait for a sale, which happens almost constantly. The home goods retailer is owned by NZX-listed Briscoe Group, alongside Rebel Sport, and is fronted by Tammy Wells, “The Briscoes Lady”, who has appeared in their ads since 1989.

Briscoes specialises in homewares like kitchen appliances, linen, cookware and bedding. You’ll find branded names such as Breville, Nespresso, Tefal and Dyson that are absent from Kmart and rarely matched for quality at The Warehouse.

The catch is the regular price. Discounts of 25 to 50 per cent are common during sales, so timing your shop matters. Briscoes has 47 Briscoes Homeware stores nationwide, with click and collect available at every location.

Bottom line: wait for a sale, then Briscoes is excellent for branded appliances and quality homewares.

Is a Costco membership worth it in New Zealand?

A Costco membership can pay for itself quickly if you live near Westgate in Auckland and shop in bulk. Costco's only New Zealand warehouse opened on 28 September 2022 at Westgate, and a Gold Star membership costs $60 a year, including one free household card.

The American giant operates on a no-frills, bulk-only model. You’ll find everything from groceries and electronics to fuel at its on-site service station, with markups typically capped at around 11 to 15 per cent above cost.

On fuel, Costco Westgate has been Auckland’s cheapest petrol station almost continuously since opening, typically 10 to 30 cents per litre below nearby retailers (including Pak’nSave Westgate) according to Gaspy data tracked by the NZ Herald. For a household burning through 25 litres a week, even a 20 cent difference adds up to around $260 a year, comfortably covering the membership.

The downsides? You need to be willing to buy in bulk, and Costco doesn’t yet operate a true online retail store in New Zealand. If you’re not near Auckland’s northwest, the trip can outweigh the savings.

Bottom line: a strong pick for North-West Auckland families who shop in bulk and value fuel discounts. Less useful for small households or shoppers outside Auckland.

Where is the cheapest place to buy groceries in New Zealand?

Pak’nSave is consistently the cheapest place to buy groceries in New Zealand. Owned by the Foodstuffs co-operative, Pak’nSave runs 60 stores across the country and uses a no-frills warehouse format with bulk buying, exposed shelving and minimal in-store decoration to keep prices down.

In 2025, Foodstuffs released a four-week international price comparison showing Pak’nSave’s average basket beat major supermarkets in Australia and the UK, including Woolworths, Aldi and Tesco. Pak’nSave has also been named New Zealand’s most trusted supermarket brand by Reader’s Digest for 12 consecutive years.

Many Pak’nSave stores have on-site fuel stations, and shoppers can also earn discount fuel vouchers redeemed at participating Z Energy and Caltex service stations. The everyday discount is 6 cents per litre when you spend $1 or more in store. For a household filling around 25 litres a week, that's about $1.50 off each fill and $78 over a year. Heavier drivers will save more.

Bottom line: for your weekly grocery shop, Pak’nSave almost always wins on price.

Which store has the best online shopping experience?

The Warehouse and Briscoes offer the strongest online experiences with click and collect at every store. Kmart’s site is functional but has a $20 minimum for free click and collect. Costco does not yet operate a true online retail store in New Zealand, but Auckland members can now order home delivery via DoorDash. Pak’nSave’s online shop focuses on groceries with delivery and click and collect from most stores.

Which store should you shop at?

The right store depends on what you’re buying and how much time you have. Use this quick guide:

• Tight budget on basics: Kmart

• One-stop shopping under one roof: The Warehouse

• Branded appliances and homewares: Briscoes (wait for a sale)

• Bulk groceries and discount fuel: Costco (membership required)

• Cheapest weekly grocery shop: Pak’nSave

If you’re hunting for value in one part of your budget, do the same with the rest. Comparing your insurance with the Quashed Market Scan could save you hundreds of dollars a year, without changing your cover.

Related reading

Smart shopping is one way to free up money. The other is tackling the big-ticket running costs that quietly drain Kiwi budgets every month: fuel, motoring and insurance. These Quashed guides go deeper on each:

• How to Save on Petrol in NZ 2026: with 91 sitting above $3 a litre, this guide covers the apps, driving habits and station-hopping tactics that knock real dollars off your weekly fuel bill.

• EV vs Petrol Car: Total Cost of Ownership NZ 2026: with petrol prices climbing, we break down whether an EV actually works out cheaper than a petrol car over five years, including charging, RUCs, insurance and depreciation.

• EV vs Hybrid Car: Total Cost of Ownership NZ 2026: the RAV4 Hybrid is now NZ's best-selling car for a reason. We compare it head-to-head with a Tesla Model Y on every cost that matters.

• Car Ownership Costs NZ 2026: the full picture on rego, WoF, ACC levies, insurance and running costs, plus easy ways to trim each one.

• Average Car, House, and Contents Insurance Cost NZ 2026: the Q1 2026 Quashed Index data on what Kiwis are actually paying, and where the cheapest savings are hiding.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kmart cheaper than The Warehouse in New Zealand?

Generally yes, especially on basics like kitchenware, bedding and clothing. The Warehouse can match or beat Kmart on its Living & Co range, branded electronics and groceries, but on entry-level homewares Kmart usually wins.

Are Kmart products actually good quality?

It depends on the product. Consumer NZ has rated several Kmart Anko items, including a frypan, saucepan and a $69 microwave, as top performers against far pricier brands. Other Kmart products have been flagged as “don’t buy” in the same testing rounds. The safest bet is to check Consumer NZ’s product reviews before you buy anything expensive.

Can you buy fuel at Costco without a membership?

No. Costco’s fuel station at Westgate is members-only, the same as the warehouse itself. A Gold Star membership ($60 a year) gives you access to both. Many Auckland members say the fuel savings alone, often 10 to 30 cents per litre below the nearest stations, cover the membership fee within months.

Is Costco cheaper than Pak’nSave?

On a per-unit basis Costco often beats Pak’nSave on bulk packs of pantry staples, meat and household supplies, plus fuel. On smaller weekly grocery baskets, Pak’nSave usually wins on price because you’re not paying a $60 membership fee or buying more than you need. The best approach for many Auckland households is using Costco for monthly bulk stock-ups and Pak’nSave for the weekly top-up shop.

Is Pak’nSave really the cheapest supermarket in NZ?

Yes, on most like-for-like baskets. Pak’nSave consistently comes out ahead of Woolworths and New World on price, and in 2025 Foodstuffs reported its average basket also beat Australian and UK supermarkets including Aldi, Woolworths and Tesco when adjusted for tax and exchange rates.

Why is car insurance so expensive in NZ in 2026?

The average comprehensive car insurance premium in New Zealand is $1,267 a year as of Q1 2026, which is 33 per cent higher than three years ago. Rising repair costs, more expensive vehicles on the road, climate-related claims and reinsurance increases are the main drivers. The good news: premiums have eased slightly for two years running, and 81 per cent of people who run a Quashed Market Scan find a cheaper policy than their current renewal.