Instant Coffee Price Differences: Up to 12 Yuan Per Box

Ever wondered why the same box of instant coffee can cost you wildly different amounts depending on where you shop? We checked the price of a standard 42+6 pack of Nestlé Original instant coffee across multiple supermarkets—and the results show just how much you could be overpaying without realizing it.

The exact same Nestlé Original 42+6 pack of instant coffee costs as little as 33.80 yuan at RT-Mart during a promotion, but shoots up to 45.90 yuan (or 43.60 yuan for members) at Sanjiang Shunjiang. That’s nearly a 12-yuan difference for the same product.

What We Compared

We looked at the price of one specific product: Nestlé Original instant coffee, sold in a 42+6 pack format (42 regular sachets plus 6 extra). This is a common, widely available size found in supermarkets across China. We checked prices at five different retailers to see how much variation there really is.

Where You’ll Find the Best Deal

The cheapest price we found was at RT-Mart, where the 42+6 pack was on promotion for just 33.80 yuan. Walmart’s price was almost identical at 33.90 yuan. At Jiājiāfú supermarket, the regular price was 39.90 yuan, but with a membership discount it dropped to 38.60 yuan—still around 6 yuan more than RT-Mart.

And the Most Expensive?

The highest price was at Sanjiang Shunjiang shopping mall. There, the same 42+6 pack retailed for 45.90 yuan, or 43.60 yuan for members. That’s a full 12 yuan more expensive than RT-Mart’s promotional price—and nearly 12.30 yuan above the cheapest non-member option.

Why Such Big Differences?

Supermarkets set their own pricing based on location, promotions, membership benefits, and target customer base. Some stores consistently offer lower everyday prices or frequent promotions, while others position themselves as premium outlets with higher price points—even for the same commodity products.

How to Avoid Overpaying

If you’re buying instant coffee regularly, it pays to compare prices across stores, check for promotions, and consider shopping at discount retailers or using supermarket memberships. A few minutes of research can save you several yuan per pack—and hundreds over the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size pack of Nestlé Original instant coffee was compared?

The article compares the 42+6 pack size of Nestlé Original instant coffee, which includes 42 regular sachets plus 6 additional ones—a common retail format for this product in China.

Which store had the lowest price for this coffee?

RT-Mart offered the lowest price at 33.80 yuan during a promotion. Without the promotion, Walmart’s price was 33.90 yuan, making these two the cheapest options.

Which store had the highest price for the same coffee?

Sanjiang Shunjiang had the highest price at 45.90 yuan, or 43.60 yuan for members—nearly 12 yuan more expensive than RT-Mart’s promotional price.

How much more expensive can the same coffee be at different stores?

The same 42+6 pack of Nestlé Original can cost up to 12 yuan more depending on the store, with the range in this survey going from 33.80 yuan to 45.90 yuan.

Does membership make a difference in these prices?

Yes. For example, at Jiājiāfú supermarket, the membership price was 38.60 yuan, and at Sanjiang Shunjiang, the member price was 43.60 yuan—both lower than their respective non-member prices.

Is there a best time or strategy to buy instant coffee for the lowest price?

Shopping during supermarket promotions, using membership cards, and comparing prices across different retailers (including discount chains) are the best strategies to get the lowest price on instant coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee Picks for Instant Coffee Lovers

If you enjoy instant coffee but want to explore higher-quality options, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Drip Bag for bright citrus and floral notes, or their Colombia Huila Drip Bag with caramel and almond sweetness. Both offer a cleaner, more complex cup compared to traditional instant. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.