What $50 in Groceries at Trader Joe’s Will Cost You at Aldi
Written by
Rebecca Neubauer
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Though Trader Joe’s and Aldi are often seen as competitors in the U.S., they’re actually distant cousins. Trader Joe’s is owned by Aldi Nord, while Aldi stores in America are run by Aldi Süd, two separate companies founded by the same German family.
Trader Joe’s has built a loyal following with its quirky branding and cult-favorite products, while Aldi has earned a reputation for money-saving pricing on everyday essentials. But how do they compare when you buy the same basket of groceries? Let’s see how much a $50 shopping basket from Trader Joe’s would cost you at Aldi.
Bananas
- Aldi: 77 cents for three bananas
- Trader Joe’s: 87 cents for three bananas
At Trader Joe’s, you can “take life one banana at a time” and buy Organic Bananas individually for 29 cents each. Aldi sells Organic Bananas for 77 cents per pound. For a pound of bananas, which is approximately three medium-sized fruits, you’d pay 77 cents at Aldi and 87 cent at Trader Joe’s.
Eggs
- Aldi: $5.35 for a dozen
- Trader Joe’s: $6.99 for a dozen
Trader Joe’s offers a dozen Organic Pasture Raised Large Brown Eggs for $6.99. At Aldi, the comparable Simply Nature Organic Cage-Free Brown Eggs are priced at $5.35. The products are nearly identical in quality, but Aldi saves you 70 cents, which adds up if eggs are a weekly purchase in your household.
Milk
- Aldi: $4.25 for a half gallon
- Trader Joe’s: $5.99 for a half gallon
For dairy, Trader Joe’s sells a half gallon of Organic Whole Milk for $5.99. It’s called A2/A2, which can be easier to digest for some people. Aldi’s Simply Nature Organic Whole Milk comes in at $4.25 for a half gallon. Both are USDA organic, but Aldi’s gallon is $1.74 cheaper, which is a significant savings.
Bread
- Aldi: $4.65 for a 27-ounce loaf
- Trader Joe’s: $3.99 for a 20-ounce loaf
A 20-ounce loaf of Trader Joe’s Organic Ancient Grain & Seed Bread costs $3.99. Aldi’s Simply Nature Seedtastic Organic Bread is slightly larger, at 27 ounces and sells for $4.65. While the Aldi loaf is slightly pricier, you’re actually getting more bread for your buck.
Peanut Butter
- Aldi: $4.85 for 16 ounces
- Trader Joe’s: $4.49 for 16 ounces
Trader Joe’s Organic Creamy Peanut Butter is $4.49 for a 16-ounce jar. Aldi’s Simply Nature Organic Creamy Peanut Butter costs $4.85 for the same size. Aldi’s private-label version is often praised for its simple ingredient list, but Trader Joe’s option has the same two ingredients (just peanuts and salt) and will save you 36 cents.
Spinach
- Aldi: $3.19 for 5 ounces
- Trader Joe’s: $2.29 for 6 ounces
Trader Joe’s sells a 6-ounce bag of Organic Baby Spinach for $2.29. Aldi’s Simply Nature Organic Baby Spinach is $3.19 for one ounce less. Both are organic and Aldi’s slightly smaller package costs a dollar more. This is one buy where Trader Joe’s clearly wins when it comes to price.
Chicken Breast
- Aldi: $9.11 per pound
- Trader Joe’s: $7.99 per pound
Meat has been getting more expensive, especially organic and free range varieties. Trader Joe’s sells Organic Free Range Boneless Skinless Thin Sliced Chicken Breast Fillets for $7.99 per pound. Aldi’s Simply Nature Organic Chicken Breast Strips is $9.11 per pound. For two pounds of chicken, expect to pay $15.98 at Trader Joe’s and $18.22 at Aldi.
Rice
- Aldi: $4.15 for 2 pounds
- Trader Joe’s: $3.99 for 2 pounds
A 2-pound bag of Trader Joe’s Organic Basmati Rice costs $3.99. Aldi’s Earthly Grains White Basmati Rice is $4.15 for the same size. Aldi is actually more pricey for this pantry staple, plus the Trader Joe’s version is organic.
Cheese
- Aldi: $1.75 per 8 ounces
- Trader Joe’s: $4.79 per 12 ounces
Trader Joe’s sells 12 ounces of Sliced Sharp Cheddar Cheese for $4.79. Aldi’s Happy Farms Sharp Cheddar Cheese is $1.75 per 8 ounces, so two packages equaling 16 ounces would cost $3.50. That’s $1.29 less for four extra ounces of cheese.
Final Totals
- Aldi: $38.07
- Trader Joe’s: $41.39
Adding it all up, the Trader Joe’s basket comes to $41.39. The same items at Aldi cost $38.07. That’s a savings of $3.32 for nearly identical groceries. If you weren’t focused on getting exactly comparable organic items at Aldi, you would save significantly more.
The biggest savings when shopping at Aldi come from milk and meat. Bananas and peanut butter are nearly the same, but even small differences add up over time. Trader Joe’s beats out Aldi for price when it comes to spinach and rice. Overall, a shopping basket containing bananas, eggs, milk, bread, peanut butter, spinach, chicken, rice and cheese comes out about $3.50 cheaper at Aldi than at Trader Joe’s.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.
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