How Far $50 Goes at Aldi Compared To Trader Joe’s

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Aldi and Trader Joe’s are popular grocery stores for budget-conscious shoppers. However, they don’t stretch a dollar in the same way.

They’re both known for private-label products, lower-than-average prices and an almost cult-like following, but the overall value you get can vary depending on what ends up in your cart.

To see how far a fixed grocery budget really goes, this comparison looks at a $50 spend at Aldi versus Trader Joe’s, using comparable items sold at both stores.

Hummus

• Aldi Price: $2.85
• Trader Joe’s Price: $2.49

There’s not much of a price difference, but the Trader Joe’s Creamy Dreamy Hummus is 36 cents cheaper than Aldi’s Park Street Deli Classic Hummus. However, you do get two ounces less with Trader Joe’s.

Pepperoni Pizza

• Aldi Price: $6.99
• Trader Joe’s Price: $5.99

The Trader Joe’s Uncured Pepperoni Pizza is $1 cheaper than the Aldi Mama Cozi’s Pizza Kitchen Pepperoni Deli Pizza. You do get more pizza from Aldi, as it’s 41 ounces, while the Trader Joe’s pizza is under 18 ounces.

Cinnabon Rolls

• Aldi Price: $3.75
• Trader Joe’s Price: $5.99

This time, Aldi’s Cinnamon Sweet Rolls come with more rolls at a lower price. Aldi’s version comes with eight rolls at 22 ounces for $3.75, while Trader Joe’s Cinnamon Buns come in a pack of four at 13.05 ounces for $5.99.

Peanut Butter

• Aldi Price: $2.15
• Trader Joe’s Price: $2.49

It was close, but Trader Joe’s Creamy Salted Peanut Butter was more expensive than Aldi’s Natural Creamy Peanut Butter. Both items come in 16-ounce containers.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Protein Bars

• Aldi Price: $5.05
• Trader Joe’s Price: $3.69

Trader Joe’s wins in this case, but you get one more bar in Aldi’s Elevation Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Meal Bars compared to Trader Joe’s Chewy Chocolate and Peanut Butter Protein Bars. Aldi’s protein bars are also 1.58 ounces compared to Trader Joe’s bars, which are 1.41 ounces.

Kitchen Towels

• Aldi Price: $3.99
• Trader Joe’s Price: $7.99

These are two completely different types of towels, but Aldi was cheaper. The Crofton set from Aldi comes with two towels for $3.99, while the Trader Joe’s Waffle Weave Cotton Kitchen Towels come with three. If you break this down, that’s about $2 per towel from Aldi, and $2.66 per towel from Trader Joe’s.

Pinot Grigio

• Aldi Price: $7.25
• Trader Joe’s Price: $7.99

If you’re only concerned about price, Pinot Grigio is cheaper at Aldi, but not by much. Aldi’s Intermingle Pinot Grigio white wine and Trader Joe’s Villa Borghetti Otto Pinot Grigio are both served in 750 ml bottles, and were in the mid-range in terms of price from both stores.

Brie Cheese

• Aldi Price: $4.19
• Trader Joe’s Price: $4.49

Both Aldi’s Emporium Selection Brie Cheese Round and Trader Joe’s Double Cream Brie come in eight-ounce containers, but Aldi’s is 30 cents cheaper. They’re both popular items at these stores, and because they’re so close in price, it just comes down to what you prefer.

Sparkling Water

• Aldi Price: $4.85
• Trader Joe’s Price: $3.79

Aldi and Trader Joe’s offer very different options when it comes to sparkling water. Trader Joe’s Raspberry Lime Sparkling Water comes in a pack of eight cans for under $4, while Aldi’s PurAqua Lime Belle Vie Sparkling Flavored Water comes in a pack of 12. While a pack of sparkling water is cheaper at Trader Joe’s, Aldi is about seven cents cheaper per can.

Paper Towels

• Aldi Price: $4.65
• Trader Joe’s Price: $3.99

Trader Joe’s sells Slim Size Paper Towels in a pack of three, while Aldi carries a two-count pack of Boulder Ultra Paper Towels. Trader Joe’s comes with one more roll at a lower price.

Winner: Aldi

Aldi may be the winner in this case, but the two stores came in very close. The grand total was $45.72 at Aldi and $48.90 at Trader Joe’s for similar but different items. Because the totals were so close, the roles could have easily been reversed depending on the items.

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