Which Store Is Cheaper: Aldi or Walmart?

Inflation is climbing across the United States, meaning people buy much less with their dollar bills. In fact, inflation has hit such high levels that the average American household is spending $445 per month more than at the same time last year. 

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As inflation continues to soar, it’s more important to save money on groceries and other items than it has been in the past.

One common belief is that consumers can save money by shopping at low-cost stores like Aldi and Walmart, but which is cheaper? 

What Is Aldi?

Aldi is a global discount grocery store. The Albrecht family founded Aldi in Germany in 1960. By 1976, the Albrecht family brought the grocery chain to the United States with its first store in Iowa. 

Since then, the store has grown to become a massive brand. The company manages more than 2,000 stores across the United States and employs over 25,000 people.

Consumers enjoy shopping at Aldi because of the deep savings the company offers. Moreover, Aldi tests its store brands in its company kitchen to ensure that when consumers save money in their grocery stores, they’re not giving up quality or flavor.  

What Is Walmart?

Walmart started as a small discount retailer in Rogers, Arkansas. Since then, the company has grown to become one of the largest brands in the United States with stores that provide products across all categories at discounted rates compared to the competition.  

Today, the company operates over 10,500 stores and clubs across more than 40 different brand names. Of course, Walmart is also a major player in eCommerce.

But with both Aldi and Walmart being massive discount retailers, which store offers the lowest prices? 

Is Aldi Cheaper Than Walmart for Meats?

Meat is a staple food for most families around the world. It’s a significant source of protein. Is Aldi cheaper than Walmart for meats? Here’s the comparison:

• Chicken Thighs. The lowest-priced chicken thighs at Walmart are about $1.42 per pound. The lowest-priced chicken thighs at Aldi are about $2.39 per pound.
• Ground Beef. Shoppers can find ground beef at Walmart for about $4.08 per pound. The lowest-priced ground beef at Aldi costs about $2.99 per pound.
• Tilapia. At Walmart, consumers pay about $4.89 per pound for the lowest-priced tilapia. Similar products at Aldi sell for $5.79 per pound. 

Is Aldi Cheaper Than Walmart for Dairy?

Dairy is another important part of consumer diets. The average American drinks about 18 gallons of milk per year. Here’s how dairy prices compare between Aldi and Walmart:

• A Gallon of Milk. Store-brand milk at Walmart costs about $3.38 per gallon while consumers pay about $3.21 per gallon at Aldi.
• Stick of Butter. The cheapest stick of butter at Walmart costs about 27 cents per ounce. Consumers at Aldi pay about 25 cents per ounce. 
• American Cheese. Shoppers pay about 16 cents per ounce for store-brand American cheese at Walmart. At Aldi, the price for a similar item is 18 cents per ounce. 

Is Aldi Cheaper Than Walmart for Eggs?

Eggs are a category all of their own, but they’re important to most people’s diets. At Walmart, shoppers need to buy a 60-pack of eggs to get the lowest price. When they do, they’ll spend about 18 cents per egg. At Aldi, the lowest-priced eggs are about 20 cents per egg. Aldi does not have large packs of eggs and only sells them in cartons of one dozen.

Is Aldi Cheaper Than Walmart for Dried Goods?

Pantry items like bread, canned goods and flour are all important staple foods. Is Aldi cheaper than Walmart for dried goods? Here’s how the prices compare:

• White Bread. Store-brand white bread at Walmart costs about 5 cents per ounce. At Aldi, the price for a similar product is 5 cents per ounce. 
• Canned Corn. The lowest-priced canned corn at Walmart costs about 10 cents per ounce. Similar products sell at Aldi for 4 cents per ounce.
• Flour. The lowest-priced all-purpose flour at Walmart sells for about 2 cents per ounce compared to 3 cents at Aldi. 

Is Aldi Cheaper Than Walmart for Produce?

Finally, a shopping trip isn’t complete without fresh produce, but is Aldi cheaper than Walmart? Here are how the two compare:

• Oranges. The cheapest oranges at Walmart cost $1.33 per pound. The oranges with the lowest price at Aldi cost $1.20 per pound. 
• Tomatoes. The cheapest tomatoes at Walmart cost about $1.48 per pound. At Aldi, the lowest-priced tomatoes cost about $1.19 per pound. 
• Lettuce. At Walmart, lettuce costs $1.74 per head. At Aldi, the price per head is $1.99. 

Final Take

After a detailed price comparison, it became clear that Walmart is typically the lower-priced option for consumers as they grocery shop. However, there are some exceptions. Shoppers should consider shopping at both stores to ensure they get the lowest prices for each item on their shopping lists. 

Information is accurate as of Nov. 2, 2022.

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