We Compared Prices for a Dozen Items at Aldi Versus Walmart — And One Is Clearly Cheaper (2024)

  • Groceries
  • Aldi

Mackenzie Filson

Mackenzie Filson

Mackenzie Filson is a food & beverage writer and native Floridian. Her work has appeared in PUNCH, Delish, Kitchn, and EatingWell, amongst others. You can read more of her writing in her newsletter, Book Sommelier, where she pairs books with wine (her one party trick.)

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published Jan 27, 2024

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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

We Compared Prices for a Dozen Items at Aldi Versus Walmart — And One Is Clearly Cheaper (1)

There have been some iconic duels throughout the ages: King Kong vs. Godzilla. Alexander Hamilton vs. Aaron Burr. And … Aldi vs. Walmart? Okay, Walmart and Aldi aren’t literally dueling, but Aldi is certainly inching (or, rather, leaping) ever closer to being the crowned #1 Cheap Grocer of All Time.

I’m not sure when it happened, but Aldi is likely what many of us automatically picture when we think of affordable grocery stores. Perhaps the store has even become key to keeping your grocery budget under control these days. But are the savings that much different than what’s offered at Walmart? I figured I’d scour the aisles firsthand to see how select items at both grocers add up.

Before we get to number crunching, though, I’ve said it once, and I’ve said it a half-dozen times: The concept of “cheapness” really shakes down to your particular priorities. The pricing of something as personal as groceries will mean a lot of things to as many different people, depending on the value you ascribe to a product as well as your financial situation. For example: Your favorite brand of $6 kettle chips that make you very happy are a staple in your household (whereas, you might think $2 Other Retailer’s chips are overpriced because they don’t taste as good as your favorite bag; or you don’t really care about chips that much, in which case $2 is a “steal”).

With that bit of housekeeping aside, let us tackle the ultimate question! To figure it out, I compared some household staples side-by-side and ounce-by-ounce. To keep things on as equal footing as possible, I visited the stores on the same January night in Burbank, California. I aimed to compare both store-brand and name-brand items across the sections (produce, frozen, pantry items, snacks). In some cases, Walmart provided (larger) options that were not available at Aldi.

These are 12 of the household staples that matched as closely as possible.

So, Is Aldi Cheaper than Walmart?

The short answer is overwhelmingly yes! And don’t we love a short answer? I also have a long answer (i.e., the receipts), though — don’t you worry.

Freezer Finds

1. Frozen Waffles

Both retailers carry store-brand frozen waffles. While Aldi only offers one flavor, the difference in price is HUGE —nearly $5 cheaper than the ones at Walmart for the exact same quantity.

  • WINNER! Aldi Breakfast Best Homestyle Waffles: $1.99 for 10 waffles
  • Walmart Great Value Buttermilk Waffles: $6.68 for 10 waffles

2. Frozen Chicken Nuggets

Even after we account for the difference in sizes (Walmart’s bag of nuggets is three ounces bigger), Aldi’s nuggets are cheaper. Still, this is a great example of why it’s important to compare unit prices.

  • WINNER! Aldi Kirkwood Chicken Breast Nuggets, $5.29 for 29 ounces ($0.18 per ounce)
  • Walmart Great Value Chicken Nuggets, $5.97 for 32 ounces ($0.19 per ounce)

Produce

3. Avocados

Both retailers sell avocados by unit, not by weight, which makes this head-to-head comparison a no-brainer. Once again, it’s Aldi FTW. (Plus, a few tips on the best ways to pick avocados.)

  • WINNER! Aldi Hass Avocados, $0.59 per avocado
  • Walmart Hass Avocados, $0.68 per avocado

4. Raspberries

At the time I visited, Aldi only had conventionally grown raspberries available, while Walmart only had an organic option. In general, organic produce tends to be more expensive (as it is here) and exposed to fewer pesticides.

  • WINNER! Aldi Driscoll’s Raspberries, $1.69 for 6 ounces
  • Walmart Fresh Kampo Organic Raspberries, $4.96 for 6 ounces

Dairy

5. Whole Milk

If your household regularly goes through a gallon of milk, picking it up at Aldi will save you nearly $1 per container.

  • WINNER! Aldi Friendly Farms, $3.64 for 1 gallon
  • Walmart Great Value Whole Milk, $4.56 for 1 gallon

6. Irish Butter

At more than $1 less per block, it’s worth grabbing an extra one of these Irish butters and stashing it in the freezer so you have it on hand for your next batch of buttercream.

  • WINNER! Aldi Countryside Creamery Pure Irish Butter, $3.09 for 8 ounces
  • Walmart Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter, $4.18 for 8 ounces

Pantry and Snacks

7. Almond Butter

Another dollar savings deal! While Aldi and Walmart’s almond butters each come in 12-ounce jars, the one from Aldi is a full $1.09 cheaper.

  • WINNER! Aldi Simply Nature Creamy Almond Butter, $3.89 for 12 ounces
  • Walmart Sam’s Choice Creamy Almond Butter, $4.98 for 12 ounces

8. Granulated Sugar

Both retailers carry store-brand granulated sugar in four-pound bags, but the bags at Aldi are a little over 25 cents cheaper.

  • WINNER! Aldi Baker’s Corner Premium Granulated Sugar $2.95 for 4 pounds
  • Walmart Great Value Granulated Sugar, $3.24 for 4 pounds

9. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Once again, both retailers sell store-brand options and at identical sizes. And, once again, Aldi comes in a bit lower than Walmart. Picking up the bottle of Priano will save you 33 cents.

  • WINNER! Aldi Priano Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $5.79 for 16.9 ounces
  • Walmart Great Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $6.12 for 16.9 ounces

10. Black Beans

Unlike the raspberries, both stores offer organic versions of canned beans. Walmart’s are less than a dollar and a good 30 cents cheaper. Do grab a few extra cans on your next trip there.

  • Aldi Simply Nature Organic Black Beans, $1.19 for 15 ounces
  • WINNER! Walmart Great Value Organic Black Beans, $0.88 for 15 ounces

11. Everything Bagels

Not only are there more bagels per bag, but Aldi’s everything bagels are also a tad bigger (at 3.3 ounces per bagel vs. 3 ounces per bagel). It’s truly a case of getting more for less.

  • WINNER! Aldi L’Oven Fresh Pre-Sliced Everything Bagels $2.19 for 6 bagels (20 ounces)
  • Walmart Sam’s Choice Pre-Sliced Everything Bagel, $3.38 for 5 bagels (15 ounces)

12. Oreo Cookies

Turns out, you won’t save any money buying these iconic cookies at one retailer vs. the other. Both stores offer the Original and Double Stuf versions at the same price.

  • TIE! Aldi Oreo Original or Double Stuf Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, $5.98 for 25.5 ounces
  • TIE! Walmart Oreo Original or Double Stuf Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, $5.98 for 25.5 ounces

Before Your Next Grocery Run, a Few Tips

Each retailer has its own strengths, so comparing the two side by side alone misses out on a couple of nuances.

  • Consider your household size and loyalty to name brands. Walmart has great deals on larger quantities of items, including snacks, cereals, and even fresh produce, plus a larger inventory of name brands and items in general.
  • Try the store brand. Aldi has a wide variety of tried-and-true store-brand items, which are often significantly cheaper, plus a few more deluxe items at great prices, including cured meats, fun cheeses, and even household items like hand blenders.
  • Take note of the product’s size — wherever you shop. Walmart had noticeably “shrinkflated” (aka reducing the amount you get for the same price) some items, like bagels; in these instances, Aldi items were still less expensive without the shrinkage.

Regardless, the prices don’t lie. Aldi is considerably cheaper than Walmart in almost every instance (or they were about the same). Now you know! Especially when it saves you considerable cash, doing a bit of grocery math is the best kind of math, right?

Which store do you prefer? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Filed in:

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Grocery Shopping

We Compared Prices for a Dozen Items at Aldi Versus Walmart — And One Is Clearly Cheaper (2024)

FAQs

What's cheaper, Aldi or Walmart? ›

The Winner: Aldi 

Aldi, which has 2,381 locations in 39 states and territories, including California, Florida, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania,Texas, and Washington, D.C., was the clear winner.

Is Aldi cheaper or more expensive? ›

Aldi has a wide variety of tried-and-true store-brand items, which are often significantly cheaper, plus a few more deluxe items at great prices, including cured meats, fun cheeses, and even household items like hand blenders.

Will Aldi and Walmart price match? ›

Walmart does not match the prices of any of its competitors. For those wondering if the Walmart price match policy includes its own products, it depends. The customer must let a Walmart associate know at the time of purchase, and the item must be available for purchase at that price on Walmart's website.

What is Aldi's competitive advantage over Walmart? ›

Aldi is cheaper than Walmart.

It's clear that Aldi's focus on offering affordable prices is reflected in its overall pricing compared to Walmart, making the pricing its main competitive advantage. Given this information, it is worthwhile to consider shopping at Aldi for everyday needs to save on costs.

Do you actually save money shopping at Aldi? ›

Aldi is a grocery retailer known for its low prices. If you're trying to keep your grocery spending in check, shopping at Aldi may help. Buying weekly sale items, sticking to Aldi's private-label brands, and limiting seasonal impulse buys could help you maximize your savings when shopping at Aldi.

Which chain has the cheapest groceries? ›

Top 10 Cheapest Grocery Store Chain in the United States
  1. Aldi. Aldi, originally from Germany, employs several cost-cutting strategies to keep prices low. ...
  2. Costco. ...
  3. Food 4 Less. ...
  4. Grocery Outlet. ...
  5. Lidl. ...
  6. Market Basket. ...
  7. Sam's Club. ...
  8. Trader Joe's.
Jun 16, 2024

Are eggs cheaper at Aldi? ›

Whether you're looking for standard eggs, cage-free or organic cage-free, odds are good that Aldi will have prices other grocery stores can't beat, Ramhold said.

Why is Aldi meat so cheap? ›

Most of Aldi's meat is sourced from regional farms, which because its transported a shorter distance, comes at a lower cost.

Where does Aldi's food come from? ›

When it comes to meat and produce, it's likely that Aldi is sourcing from local farmers in your area. According to Aldi's website, it "teams up with top growers throughout the U.S., including local growers." When it comes to local produce, it's one of the ways the grocery chain saves money.

What's cheaper, Kroger or Aldis? ›

Price tracking has consistently shown that Aldi's prices on a range of items tend to be lower than those at Kroger. Additionally, Aldi's focus on store-brand items has been found to provide as much as a 14% price advantage over Walmart, and an even greater edge over Kroger.

What is different about Aldi? ›

From healthier choices, gluten-free items, along with other dietary needs and preferences, more than 90% of the products in our stores are under our exclusive brand. Our Quality Assurance team has also developed strict guidelines in order to meet our high standards, so you can feel good about the food you buy at ALDI.

Can Walmart refuse price match? ›

The item must be identical in every way,sold and shipped by Walmart and in stock,it can not be a bundle deal you may only price match for one item so if you want or need two of those bikes you can only price match 1 and would have to wait til the next day to price match a 2nd one and the store managers have the power ...

Is Aldi owned by Walmart? ›

Owned by a German company called Albrecht Discounts, ALDI is a discount grocery chain that started in Germany in 1948. Decidedly no frills, the company stocks virtually all house-brand products, all offered at very low prices thanks to exclusive deals with their suppliers, many of which are big-name producers.

Why do people love Aldi? ›

You'll find a wide selection of goods, including organic, vegan, and gluten-free options. And the prices are often significantly cheaper than premium stores, which could add up to hundreds of dollars of savings. Aldi's money-back guarantee puts it head and shoulders above the competition.

Why choose Aldi? ›

I've started shopping at Aldi recently, and with millions of new shoppers in recent years, I'm not alone. Aldi offers lower prices on many items and superior product quality at the same time. Aldi's guarantee gives shoppers peace of mind to try new products without worrying about wasting money.

Is Aldi value for money? ›

"Aldi is the best value when it comes to groceries across the nation," Choice CEO Ashley de Silva told The Business. "One of the things that we saw is that Aldi's prices across the stores that we visited were reasonably consistent, you get a bit more variation in Coles and Woolworths."

Is Aldi or Dollar General cheaper? ›

Dollar General is known for its low prices. The discount chain claims that it's 20% cheaper than major grocery stores and 40% cheaper than convenience stores. But there's at least one retailer that crushes Dollar General when it comes to the price war: Aldi.

How does Aldi differ from other stores? ›

Aldi offers lower prices on many items and superior product quality at the same time. Aldi's guarantee gives shoppers peace of mind to try new products without worrying about wasting money.

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