If you’re like most people, you probably assume Walmart has the lowest grocery prices around. I mean, that’s kind of their whole thing, right? But here’s what surprised me after looking at recent price comparisons across major chains: there’s actually one store that beats Walmart pretty consistently. And honestly, it’s not even that close when you look at the total bill.
Aldi takes the top spot for lowest prices
After comparing prices across multiple grocery stores, Aldi came out as the clear winner. We’re talking about a store that basically beats everyone on price. One detailed comparison using a 150-item shopping list found that Aldi’s prices were about 36 percent lower than the average of all stores surveyed. That’s a huge difference when you’re shopping every week.
Walmart came in second place, which is still pretty impressive. But the gap between Aldi and Walmart isn’t small—shoppers saved nearly $50 on their grocery list by choosing Aldi over Walmart. And that adds up fast over a month or a year.
Why Aldi keeps prices so low
So how does Aldi do it? The store operates differently than traditional supermarkets, and that’s where the savings come from. Aldi keeps overhead costs down by running smaller stores with fewer staff members. They also focus heavily on their own store brands instead of stocking tons of national brands in multiple sizes. You won’t find fifteen different types of ketchup at Aldi. You’ll find one or two options, and they’re cheap.
The last time I shopped there, I noticed they still have items sitting in their original shipping boxes on the shelves. It’s not fancy, but it works. Plus, you bag your own groceries and need a quarter to unlock a shopping cart (you get it back when you return the cart). These little things add up to serious savings that get passed on to customers.
What you’ll actually pay at Aldi
Let’s get specific about prices. In one comparison, Aldi’s total bill came to around $119 for a standard grocery list. Walmart’s bill for the same items? About $138. That’s nearly a $20 difference for just one shopping trip. If you shop weekly, that’s over $1,000 a year in savings. Not bad at all.
Some of Aldi’s standout prices included gold potatoes for $4.39 and avocados for just 55 cents each. After trying these products multiple times, I can say the quality is totally solid for the price. The produce section has pretty much everything you need, and the prices beat most competitors hands down.
Walmart still offers solid value
Don’t write off Walmart completely, though. It’s still one of the cheapest options out there, especially if you don’t have an Aldi nearby. Walmart’s Great Value brand competes directly with Aldi’s pricing on many items. And Walmart typically has way more variety than Aldi, which matters if you’re picky about brands or need specific products.
Walmart also tends to have better availability. There are thousands of Walmart locations compared to Aldi’s smaller footprint. So depending on where you live, Walmart might be the more practical choice even if it’s slightly more expensive.
Lidl is another budget option worth considering
If you’re hunting for low prices, Lidl deserves a mention too. This German-based chain operates similarly to Aldi (they’re actually competitors in Europe), and their prices are super competitive. One study found that Lidl earned the highest marks for value, with over 81 percent of customers saying they shop there primarily for the prices.
Lidl’s prices came in about 21 percent lower than average in price comparisons. That’s not quite as cheap as Aldi, but it’s still way better than most traditional grocery stores. Honestly, if you have both options near you, it’s worth checking out both to see which one you prefer.
The most expensive stores might shock you
Here’s something that surprised me: Trader Joe’s actually ranked as the most expensive store in one comparison. I’ve always thought of Trader Joe’s as reasonably priced, maybe because the unique products feel like good value. But when you compare standard grocery items across stores, Trader Joe’s total came to $156—that’s $37 more than Walmart and a whopping $37 more than Aldi.
Whole Foods remains expensive too, coming in about 34 percent higher than Amazon Fresh (which Amazon also owns, weirdly enough). And stores like Safeway, Giant, and Harris Teeter all charged similar prices that were roughly 25 percent more than Walmart. Those differences really add up when you’re feeding a family.
Does cheaper mean lower quality?
This is what everyone wonders, right? But the answer is basically no. Aldi’s store brand products are often made by the same manufacturers that produce national brands. The main difference is the packaging and the price tag. I mean, the quality is pretty much the same in most cases.
Every time I’ve bought produce at Aldi, it’s been fresh and lasted just as long as produce from pricier stores. The meat selection is smaller than traditional supermarkets, sure, but the quality has been consistently good. You’re not sacrificing much by shopping at Aldi—you’re just paying less for similar products. Though I will say the selection can feel limited if you’re used to having tons of options.
Other affordable alternatives to consider
Beyond Aldi and Walmart, a few other chains offer decent prices. Food Lion ranked third in one comparison, with prices about 9 percent below average. That might not sound like much, but it adds up. WinCo Foods also offers warehouse-style pricing without requiring a membership, which is pretty rare. And if you’re near a Grocery Outlet, you can find seriously good deals on overstock and closeout items.
Target’s grocery section has gotten more competitive too, especially with their Good & Gather brand. Prices there aren’t the absolute lowest, but they’re reasonable if you’re already shopping at Target for other stuff anyway.
Making the switch to save money
If you’ve been shopping at the same grocery store for years out of habit, it’s worth doing a price check at Aldi or Walmart. The savings can be significant—we’re talking about potentially $2,000+ per year for a typical family. And that’s without using coupons or shopping sales.
I’ve noticed that once people try Aldi, they tend to stick with it despite the smaller selection. The savings are just too good to ignore. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to do all your shopping at one store. Lots of people shop at Aldi for staples and basics, then hit up another store for specialty items or specific brands they can’t live without. That hybrid approach works really well and still saves you money compared to shopping exclusively at pricier chains.
