With rising grocery prices continuing over the past five years with no end in sight, we’re all looking for relief. I’ve found through grocery price comparisons between five stores, depending on where you shop, you can save a lot of money every week.
Discount Stores vs High End: Quick Fix
The discount retailers, Walmart, Target, and Aldi typically have lower prices than Whole Foods and maybe even your local grocery store if they’re a small chain.
Therefore, if you’ve been shopping at Whole Foods or your local small grocery store, you could easily save 30-40% on groceries, based on my analysis, by simply switching to Walmart, Target, or Aldi.
This is a quick fix if you shop at one of those stores.
Local Isn’t Always Cheaper
I love shopping local but if your local grocery store is like mine where they have just a few stores, you may be paying higher prices.
Think about it this way, they aren’t able to purchase in bulk as much as the big guys, so they pay more for the groceries from the supplier which then gets passed on to you as the consumer.
Therefore, switching to a larger chain such as Aldi with lower prices and overhead could save a significant amount of money each week.
Comparing Similar Stores
Saving a large amount by switching stores is a bit more difficult to do when looking at comparative stores such as the ones I highlight in my grocery post comparisons, Aldi, Target, and Walmart but may be able to be done at a smaller scale.
Comparing Grocery Store Prices
I’ve been comparing grocery prices for Aldi, Target, and Walmart for over a year now. Target is typically more expensive but they all seem to be within $10 of each other for the 30+ items that I compare.
However, I just added my local grocery store and Whole Foods into my analysis of grocery prices and found some shocking results.
My local store is 30% more on average than shopping at Target/Aldi/Walmart and Whole Foods is 40% more on average!! I knew it’d be more but wow!
Below is the data I collected. Note that these prices were collected online as though I was going to pick up the items from the store. Therefore, prices in store may be slightly lower but this was the quickest and most accurate way I could compare ‘apples to apples’.
| February 1, 2025 | mostly organic items | ||||
| Target | Walmart | Aldi | Local Grocery Store | Whole Foods | |
| Almond Milk – 64oz | $2.59 | $2.44 | $2.65 | $3.99 | $3.49 |
| Yogurt – 6oz | $0.79 | $0.77 | $0.65 | $0.95 | $0.99 |
| Yogurt – 32oz | $3.69 | $2.76 | $2.85 | $3.59 | $4.69 |
| Muffins – 4 pack | $4.19 | $3.98 | $4.35 | $6.29 | $7.49 |
| Lunchmeat – 9oz | $3.99 | $3.97 | $3.65 | $5.99 | $6.29 (6oz) |
| 93% Ground Beef | $7.49 | $6.97 | $5.99 | $6.99 | $6.99 |
| Multicolored Peppers – 3pack | $2.99 | $2.97 | $2.99 | $6.49 | $4.99 |
| Peanut Butter | $1.99 | $1.47 | $2.15 | $3.35 | $4.79 |
| Strawberries | $3.99 | $3.08 | $3.39 | $4.99 | $3.49 |
| Hamburger Buns | $1.59 | $1.46 | $1.65 | $3.99 | $3.14 |
| Vanilla Wafers | $2.89 | $2.73 | $2.99 | $4.39 | $4.49 |
| Diced Tomatoes – 14.5oz | $0.99 | $0.96 | $1.05 | $1.59 | $1.59 |
| Hawaiian Sweet Rolls | $4.69 | $4.68 | $2.29 | $5.79 | $3.49 |
| Fuji Apples – 3lb Bag | $3.99 | $3.67 | $3.95 | $5.99 | $6.99 |
| Unsweetened Applesauce Cups | $2.49 | $2.24 | $2.45 | $3.85 | $3.69 |
| Family Pack Chicken, Per Lb | $2.69 | $2.67 | $2.49 | $3.00 | $7.99 |
| Wheat Bread | $1.49 | $1.97 | $1.49 | $2.39 | $2.89 |
| Gluten Free Bread | $6.99 | $5.97 | $7.49 | $6.39 | $6.99 |
| Cheese Slices | $2.29 | $2.24 | $1.99 | $4.29 | $3.99 |
| 1 Gallon 2% Milk | $3.69 | $2.67 | $3.65 | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| Mixed Frozen Vegetables – 12oz | $0.99 | $0.98 | $1.05 | $2.35 | $3.29 |
| Eggs – 12pk | $5.29 | $4.17 | $5.15 | $7.59 | $3.49 |
| Cheese Cubes | $2.59 | $2.37 | $2.09 | $4.60 | $4.99 |
| Bagels | $2.29 | $1.98 | $2.15 | $2.35 | $3.69 |
| Shredded Cheese – 16oz | $4.29 | $4.22 | $4.19 | $5.99 | $5.99 |
| Baby Carrots | $1.39 | $1.32 | $1.45 | $1.49 | $3.49 |
| Bag of Frozen Chicken Breasts | $8.49 | $9.48 | $9.15 | $11.39 | $20.97 |
| Almonds – Lightly Roasted | $5.29 | $5.98 | $6.55 | $7.99 | $8.29 |
| Peanuts | $2.59 | $2.48 | $2.45 | $2.79 | $3.49 |
| Raisins – 20oz | $4.49 | $4.72 | $4.69 | $4.99 | $11.80 |
| Dried Cranberries | $1.99 | $1.96 | $1.95 | $2.99 | $5.99 |
| Total | $105.19 | $99.33 | $101.03 | $143.81 | $168.93 |
| Compared to Target/Walmart/Aldi | 30% more | 40% more |
More than Switching Stores
As you can see in the table above, if you switch to a discount store, you can easily save money on groceries.
If that isn’t an option for you or if you already shop at Walmart, Target, or Aldi, there is more you can do to save.
The key thing to do right now is to analyze our spending habits and see where we can cut costs. This could be anything from not buying name-brand soda or chips (or any junk food), not going out to eat, not getting a haircut every 6 weeks, etc.
There are so many places people can cut costs which will add up to big savings if they’re willing to examine where their money is going and adjusting their spending.
Our family of 5 has been able to live comfortably for the past 7 years on one income by knowing where our money is going, sticking to a budget, and cutting most discretionary costs. Like anything, it seems difficult to do but once you do it, it’s great to see the rewards.
Want to Save More?
Check out my blog posts below on how to save more money! Or really, any posts on this blog, saving money is what I’m all about.
Throughout my parenting journey with 3 kids on a single income, I have become an expert in living comfortably within our means without feeling restricted and I will help you do the same.
I'm a former school psychologist who left my career to stay home with my children, hence the one-income family and needing to adapt to that mentality while still living comfortably.