Updated 26 October 2026
Carrefour vs Viva: Which Is Cheaper for Everyday Staples Today?
Viva has built its name as a no-frills discount chain, while Carrefour is the big all-rounder most UAE households already know. We checked the cheapest good match for nine everyday staples at both stores on 26 October 2026 to see how they really compare.
The short version: Viva came out slightly cheaper overall today, AED 82.43 for 8 of the 9 items against Carrefour's AED 85.74 for 6 of the 9. However, Carrefour wins on a couple of key items, so the smartest basket may use both.
The basket at a glance
Viva stocked 8 of our 9 staples today, missing only fresh milk. Carrefour had 6 of the 9, with no match for sugar, pasta or toilet paper.
Because the baskets cover different items, the totals are not a straight like-for-like comparison. Looking only at the five items both stores carry (eggs, basmati rice, sunflower oil, tuna and tea bags), Viva comes to AED 68.62 and Carrefour to AED 70.75. Pack sizes differ, though, so the per-item detail below matters more than the headline figure.
Where Viva wins: rice, eggs and tea
Basmati rice is Viva's strongest showing. Ama Basmati Rice at Viva is AED 18.99 (down from AED 22.99), working out at AED 3.80 per kg. Carrefour's Sinnara Basmati Rice, 5kg is AED 29.99 even after a 29% discount, or AED 6.00 per kg.
Eggs also favour Viva once you look at quantity. White Eggs 30's at Viva cost AED 12.30, roughly AED 0.41 per egg. Al Jazira Super Six Eggs at Carrefour are AED 5.89 for 6, close to AED 0.98 per egg. The Carrefour pack is cheaper to buy, but you pay more than double per egg.
For tea, both options are 25-bag boxes. Samaara Premium at Viva is AED 3.88 (was AED 7.07), while Rabea Express Tea Bags at Carrefour are AED 5.59.
Where Carrefour wins: sunflower oil and milk
Cooking oil is a clear Carrefour win today. Nawar Sunflower Oil, 3L is AED 19.99 (was AED 25.79), or AED 6.66 per litre. Viva's Sunflower Oil 1.5 Litres Pack of 2 gives you the same 3 litres for AED 29.95, which is AED 9.98 per litre.
Carrefour is also the only one of the two with fresh milk in our check. Carrefour Full Fat Fresh Milk, 3.8L is AED 14.99, down from AED 19.99, which is AED 3.94 per litre. If milk is on your list, that alone may decide where you shop.
Tuna: cheaper on paper at Viva
AMER.CLASSIC Tuna Light Meat Flakes in oil at Viva is AED 3.50 (was AED 4.25). Kallimanis Tuna in Water, 140g at Carrefour is AED 9.29.
We do not have a tin size for the Viva tuna, and one is in oil while the other is in water, so these are not identical products. Still, if you just need a tin for sandwiches or pasta, Viva's price is hard to argue with today.
Items only Viva had today
Three staples turned up only at Viva in our check. White Sugar 1kg is AED 3.30, a 72% drop from AED 11.63. Arbella Assorted Pasta (500g) is AED 2.99, down from AED 3.99. The 3-Ply HD White Compact Toilet Paper Roll is AED 7.52, down from AED 14.84.
Together these three add AED 13.81 to the Viva basket, and they help explain why Viva covers more of the list for a lower total.
| Item | Carrefour | Viva |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh milk | AED 14.99 (3.8L) | Not available |
| Eggs | AED 5.89 (6 pcs) | AED 12.30 (30 pcs) |
| Basmati rice | AED 29.99 (5kg) | AED 18.99 (AED 3.80/kg) |
| Sunflower oil | AED 19.99 (3L) | AED 29.95 (2 x 1.5L) |
| Sugar | Not available | AED 3.30 (1kg) |
| Pasta | Not available | AED 2.99 (500g) |
| Tuna | AED 9.29 (140g) | AED 3.50 |
| Tea bags | AED 5.59 (25 bags) | AED 3.88 (25 bags) |
| Toilet paper | Not available | AED 7.52 |
| Basket total | AED 85.74 (6/9 items) | AED 82.43 (8/9 items) |
Quick ways to save
- Buy basmati rice at Viva today: AED 3.80 per kg against AED 6.00 per kg at Carrefour.
- Pick up sunflower oil at Carrefour, where the 3L bottle works out at AED 6.66 per litre versus AED 9.98 at Viva.
- Compare eggs per egg, not per pack. Viva's 30-pack is about AED 0.41 an egg; Carrefour's 6-pack is about AED 0.98.
- If you need fresh milk, Carrefour is your stop from these two today, at AED 14.99 for 3.8L.
- Several of today's best prices are discounts (Viva sugar is 72% off), so check DXBSave before you shop as prices change daily.
Questions
Is Viva cheaper than Carrefour?
On our nine-item check for 26 October 2026, Viva came to AED 82.43 for 8 items and Carrefour to AED 85.74 for 6 items. Viva was cheaper on rice, eggs per egg, tea and tuna, while Carrefour was cheaper on sunflower oil.
Where is basmati rice cheaper, Carrefour or Viva?
Viva today. Ama Basmati Rice is AED 18.99, or AED 3.80 per kg, compared with Sinnara Basmati Rice, 5kg at Carrefour for AED 29.99, or AED 6.00 per kg.
Does Viva sell fresh milk?
We did not find a fresh milk match at Viva in today's check. Carrefour Full Fat Fresh Milk, 3.8L was AED 14.99, down from AED 19.99.
Which store has cheaper cooking oil?
Carrefour today. Nawar Sunflower Oil, 3L is AED 19.99 (AED 6.66 per litre), while Viva's two 1.5L bottles cost AED 29.95 (AED 9.98 per litre).
Prices are taken from each store's website and leaflets and change daily; the shelf price is final.