I was shopping recently and got inspired to do a comparison of the three stores where I grocery shop: Aldi, Wal-Mart & Kroger. I wanted to know where I was spending more and by how much. I did my comparison using store brands first and then if that was not an option, I took the next cheapest option. I learned that just because the store is advertised as the “cheaper” option it isn’t always true.
This research was done based on the grocery list 1 dinner for 4 weekly dinner menu. It was comprised of prices from on-line grocery pickup options provided from Kroger, Wal-Mart, and Aldi. The in store prices may be cheaper due to sale items. It is also important to note this was done on March 12, 2022 and prices may have increased or decreased since this date.
The end result was Walmart generated the most savings for a pick-up customer. See the details below and happy shopping!
Grocery Pickup (on-line prices) as of March 12,2022
Grocery List
- 1 - bulb garlic
Kroger
- 0.48
Aldi
- 1.89
Wal-Mart
- 0.67
Aldi requires the buyer to purchase 3 bulbs. It breaks down to $0.63 a bulb.
- 1 - medium green pepper
- 0.79
- 2.55
- 0.82
Aldi requires the buyer to purchase 3 green peppers. It breaks down to $0.85 a pepper.
- 1 - broccoli 1 pound
- 1 - bunch scallions
- 3 - lemons
- 1.89
- 0.59
- 2.97
- 1.99
- 0.75
- 3.85
- 1.72
- 0.88
- 1.86
Aldi requires the buyer to purchase 2 pounds of lemons causing the higher price.
- 1 - package fresh rosemary
- 2.19
- --
- 1.98
Aldi does not offer fresh rosemary.
- 1 - large bag salad 24 oz.
- 1 - small bag coleslaw mix 16 oz.
- 2.99
- 1.69
- 2.90
- 1.45
- 2.42
- 1.57
Aldi offers 14 oz. bag not the 16 oz. bag. Calculated per oz a 16 oz bag would be $1.60.
- 1 - bag of onions 3 pounds
- 2.79
- 2.19
- 2.37
Aldi offers 2 pound bag. Calculated per pound a 3 pound bag would be $3.29
- 1 - bag of red potatoes 5 pounds
- 2 - whole chickens
- 3.99
- 13.16
- 3.19
- --
- 4.68
- 11.10
Aldi does not offer whole chicken.
- 1 - pound lean ground turkey
- 1 - pound lean ground beef
- 1 - BBQ sauce
- 1 - box saltine crackers
- 1 - box brown or white minute rice 28 oz.
- 2 - cans black beans
- 1 - jar salsa 24 oz.
- 1 - can sliced pickled jalapeno 7oz.
- 3.49
- 7.29
- 1.00
- 3.99
- 2.89
- 2.00
- 1.89
- 0.99
- 4.69
- 6.91
- 1.05
- 0.95
- 2.75
- 1.30
- 1.65
- 2.05
- 3.70
- 5.62
- 0.98
- 0.98
- 2.60
- 1.44
- 1.56
- 0.92
Aldi offers 16 oz. as the smallest size causing the price to be higher.
- 1 - pack 30 count corn tortillas 6 inches
- 1 - can chicken broth 14.5 oz.
- 1.50
- 0.89
- 1.49
- 1.39
- 1.88
- 0.67
Aldi offers 32 oz. as the smallest size causing the higher price.
- 1 - box onion soup mix 2 oz.
- 0.89
- --
- 1.68
Aldi does not offer onion soup
- 1 - can tomato sauce 15 oz.
- 0.89
- 0.70
- 0.72
Aldi offers 8 oz. cans at $0.35. So we need to buy two to meet the 15 oz.
- 1 - can mexican stewed tomatoes 14.5 oz.
- 1.00
- --
- --
Aldi does not offer mexican stewed tomatoes
Wal-Mart does not offer mexican stewed tomatoes
- 2 - cans italian diced tomatoes 14.5 oz.
- 1 - parmesan cheese 8 oz.
- 1 - bag shredded cheddar cheese 16 oz.
- 1 - family size ravioli 20 oz.
- 1 - sour cream 16 oz.
- 1 - milk 1/2 gallon
- 1 - dozen large eggs
- 2 - frozen mixed vegetables 12 oz.
- 1 - frozen corn 32 oz.
- 1 - box garlic bread
- 1.36
- 2.49
- 3.99
- 6.49
- 1.79
- 1.79
- 1.79
- 3.00
- 2.49
- 2.49
- 1.50
- 2.55
- 2.85
- 7.18
- 1.09
- 1.95
- 1.65
- 2.18
- 2.55
- 2.09
- 1.44
- 2.36
- 2.77
- 6.42
- 1.74
- 1.87
- 1.89
- 2.00
- 2.22
- 1.92
Totals:
$89.92
$71.28*
$77.45*
*Missing Aldi items total:
$17.24
–
$14.76
*Missing Wal-Mart item total:
$1.00
–
–
I was not able to do all of my shopping at Aldi because they did not offer 4 of my grocery list items. The missing grocery list items are:
- fresh rosemary
- 2 whole chickens
- 1 box of onion soup mix
- 1 can of mexican stewed tomatoes.
I could not complete my grocery list at Wal-Mart either. The missing grocery list item was mexican stewed tomatoes.
Kroger had all the items on the grocery list.
Because I was not able to do all of my shopping at Aldi or Wal-Mart. I would need to go to Kroger for the missing item(s). After purchasing the missing items the totals of the grocery bill would be:
- Wal-Mart if you did the remainder of the shopping at Kroger $78.45
- $77.45 + $1.00 = $78.45
- Aldi if you did the remainder of the shopping at Wal-Mart and Kroger totals: $87.04
- $74.28 + $14.76 + $1 = $87.04
- Aldi if you did the remainder of the shopping at Kroger totals: $88.52
- $71.28 + $17.24 = $88.52
- Kroger had all the items totaling $89.92.
Wal-Mart gives the consumer the most savings.
Wal-Mart requires the shopper to buy 1 missing item from Kroger to complete the grocery list. After buying this item Wal-Mart is $11.47 savings over Kroger and $8.59 savings over Aldi.
