I recently wanted to stock up on Parmesan cheese at home and discovered quite significant price differences across various supermarkets and specialty stores. After spending several days visiting shops in Madrid and Barcelona, I’ve compiled a price comparison table to share with everyone.
Main Supermarket Price Comparison
In Spain, there are mainly two types of Parmesan cheese: authentic Italian Parmigiano Reggiano DOP and locally produced imitations. The price gap is quite noticeable, with DOP-certified authentic Parmesan typically 30-50% more expensive. I visited several chain supermarkets including Mercadona, Carrefour, and El Corte Inglés. I found that Mercadona’s store brand is the cheapest, but it’s not genuine Italian produce. Carrefour carries imported DOP-certified products at moderate prices. El Corte Inglés offers the widest selection but is also the most expensive.
Detailed Pricing by Channel
Below is the price table I compiled, with all prices in euros per kilogram. Please note these prices are from October 2025 and may vary with seasonal changes and promotional activities, as discussed in this Parma ham price guide.
| Sales Channel | Brand/Type | Price | DOP Certified |
|---|
| Mercadona | Store Brand | 12.50 | No |
| Carrefour | Zanetti | 18.90 | Yes |
| El Corte Inglés | Parmigiano Reggiano 24 months | 24.50 | Yes |
| Lidl | Italiamo | 15.80 | Yes |
| Specialty Cheese Shop | Hand-cut 36 months | 32.00 | Yes |
Purchasing Recommendations
If you’re just using it for everyday cooking, Lidl’s Italiamo series offers the best value - it’s DOP certified and reasonably priced, similar to what you’d expect from quality products as seen in this Parma music school pricing guide. For higher quality, you can visit specialty cheese shops for 36-month aged varieties - while expensive, the flavor is genuinely different. Additionally, many supermarkets offer discounts on weekends or before holidays, so keep an eye out for promotional deals.
Special Reminder: When buying Parmesan cheese, always check the packaging for the DOP label, which is the certification mark for authentic Italian Parmesan. Products without this mark are essentially imitations - while cheaper, they differ significantly in taste and texture. Some supermarkets label regular hard cheeses as Parmesan, which is fairly common, so be careful to verify.
Finally, if you’re buying large blocks as mentioned in this Parma cost of living analysis, remember to prepare sealed bags or airtight containers - properly stored Parmesan can last several months in the refrigerator. I typically buy 500-gram blocks and use a dedicated cheese grater to grate fresh as needed, which is much fresher than pre-grated powder. Hope this price guide helps everyone, and feel free to contribute pricing information from other regions.
