Aldi vs. Dollar Tree: Where Can You Get the Best Canned Goods for Only $20

Aldi and Dollar Tree both sell grocery items at better prices than what you can find in most supermarkets. If you’re trying to stretch your dollars, canned goods are one budget-friendly option, but which store does it better?

Twenty dollars usually won’t get you very far, but you’ll be able to find a variety of canned foods at low prices at Aldi and Dollar Tree. We put these stores at a head-to-head to find out where you can get the best for only $20.

• Winner: Aldi.

Aldi and Dollar Tree both sell five-ounce cans of tuna, but Aldi is the winner in terms of price and quality. Dollar Tree sells chunk light tuna in water from StarKist and Bumble Bee for $1.25 per can.

Aldi sells light tuna in both water and oil from its Northern Catch brand, which is a direct duplicate of Bumble Bee at a cheaper price, according to Simply Recipes. Aldi prices range from $0.85 to $1.25.

• Winner: Dollar Tree.

You can find canned pasta at Aldi for a lower price, but you won’t find as much variety. On Aldi’s website, the only canned pasta you can find is a 14.75-ounce can of spaghetti rings with meatballs from Bon Italia for $1.09.

At Dollar Tree, you’ll be able to find canned pasta from well-known brands — including Ravioli and Beefaroni from Chef Boyardee and Spaghettios pasta from Campbell’s — for $1.25 each.

• Winner: Aldi.

Aldi and Dollar Tree both sell the most popular types of beans, but Aldi’s cans are a much better deal (and you’ll find greater variety).

At $1.25, Dollar Tree sells 15.5-ounce cans of black beans, small red beans, garbanzo beans and pinto beans from popular brand Goya. On Aldi’s website, you’ll find canned dark red kidney beans, cannellini beans, mild chili beans and great northern beans from the Dakota’s Pride brand for $0.89 per can. Aldi also sells USDA organic pinto, black and kidney beans from Simply Nature for $1.09.

• Winner: Dollar Tree.

Aldi’s Happy Harvest 15-ounce cans are only $0.69 to $0.75 per can, depending on the vegetable.

However, Dollar Tree has more options from known brands, including Del Monte and Green Giant, for $1.25. Dollar Tree’s website has canned sliced beets and whole jalapenos, which aren’t available on Aldi’s site.

• Winner: Aldi.

Dollar Tree offers peaches, mandarin oranges and chunk and sliced pineapple in 15 to 20-ounce cans from Libby’s. The dollar store also sells an Island Choice fruit cocktail. Each can is only $1.25.

Aldi’s cans from Sweet Harvest range in price from $1.39 to $1.65, but they also sell packs of four fruit gel bowls and fruit packed in juice for $2.45. That’s a better bargain.

• Winner: Dollar Tree.

Dollar Tree is the clear winner in this category.

Aldi sells several soups and stews from Chef’s Cupboard, with prices ranging from $0.65 for small cans of basic tomato soup up to $1.85 for 18.6-ounce cans of chicken noodle soup.

Meanwhile, Dollar Tree sells popular soups from Campbell’s and Healthy Choice for $1.25 per can. Most cans are around 15 ounces, but you’ll find tomato soup, chicken noodle soi, chicken with rice, ham and bean soup, beef barley soup and more.

• Winner: Aldi.

You can find a variety of canned luncheon meats at Aldi and Dollar Tree, but Aldi has the better deal.

For $1.25 each, you can purchase a seven-ounce can of Celebrity luncheon loaf and a 10-ounce can of Armour Star Vienna sausage bites at Dollar Tree. The store also sells a smaller 4.6-ounce can of whole Vienna sausages for only $0.89.

At Aldi, you’ll find a larger, 12-ounce can of pork luncheon meat for $2.39, a 4.6 can of Vienna sausages for $0.85 and a 12-ounce can of corned beef for $3.19 all from the Brookdale brand.

• Winner: Aldi.

If you’re looking for pie filling, you may have better luck at Aldi.

Dollar Tree sells a $1.25, 15-ounce can of cherry pie filling from Mother’s Maid, but Aldi carries 21-ounce cans of cherry, strawberry and blueberry pie filling from Baker’s Corner for between $2.59 and $3.29 per can.