Cooking Oil Prices Soar, Residents Switch to Seeking Cheap Unbranded Options

JAKARTA – The increase in cooking oil prices in the market has led the public to seek more affordable options. Many residents are now turning to unbranded cooking oil or lesser-known brands because they are far cheaper. It is known that as of May 2026, cooking oil prices have risen to Rp 19,000 to Rp 26,000 per litre. One of them is Maryati (47), a housewife living in the Grogol Petamburan area, West Jakarta. For Maryati, the substantial price difference compared to well-known brands commonly available in the market is her main reason. According to her, cooking oil prices in supermarkets are priced around Rp 21,000 to Rp 22,000 per litre, and reach Rp 42,000 to Rp 44,000 for two-litre sizes. “Everything is expensive these days. So, whether we like it or not, we just use that one; we’re all the same anyway, as long as it can be used for cooking, we’ll buy it,” Maryati said when met by Kompas.com at the West Tomang Market on Wednesday (13/5/2026). Although much cheaper, Maryati feels the quality is not significantly different for everyday cooking needs. Erna (58) does something similar, admitting she always hunts for discounts on all staple goods, including cooking oil. “For me, I just buy whatever is cheap and easy, not just oil but everything. It’s like when we go to a minimarket, we look for discounted items,” she said. “Because oil is usually not available in minimarkets; it’s in the Madurese stalls. They sell it in small measures of just a few millilitres, then small bottles and large ones too. Except when the usual branded ones are on promo, the difference is small, then I buy the better one,” she added.