Finding affordable groceries is becoming a bigger challenge every day with rising food prices, and it usually takes some shopping around to find the best deals. But it’s another level of exhausting to check prices at multiple stores, whether you’re filling up your tank with expensive gas to drive around or using up valuable hours hoofing everywhere on public transit. You might spend more money trying to find the best deals than actually saving money on them.
So, we did the hard work for you in December and went to three popular grocery stores that are known for their in-house generic brands and generally affordable prices: Trader Joe’s, ALDI, and Costco. They all have locations nationwide, but these prices were gathered from stores in or near Los Angeles, California, as well as comparison to local chain Ralphs (which is owned by Kroger).
How We Made Our Shopping List
Everyone’s kitchen staples are different, but we went with 11 popular items that many people stock their pantries with or use on a daily or weekly basis. Below, you’ll see a cost comparison at Trader Joe’s, ALDI, Costco, and Ralphs for: bananas, butter, eggs, a half gallon of milk, a block of cheddar cheese, boneless skinless chicken breasts, frozen broccoli florets, extra virgin olive oil, all-purpose flour, granulated white sugar, and a loaf of white sandwich bread. What did we find? You may be surprised if your favorite store is actually the best bang for your buck.
Bananas
The comparison: Price per pound.
- Trader Joe’s: $0.57 per pound (approximately three medium-sized bananas per pound at $0.19 each)
- ALDI: $0.38 per pound
- Costco: $0.66 per pound ($1.99 for a 3-pound box)
- Ralphs: $0.69 per pound
Cheapest bananas: ALDI
Butter
The comparison: 1-pound box, unsalted or salted, generic or store brand.
- Trader Joe’s: $3.99 per pound
- ALDI: $3.85 per pound
- Costco: $4.14 per pound
- Ralphs: $4.99 per pound
Cheapest butter: ALDI
Eggs
The comparison: 1 dozen large white eggs, generic or store brand.
- Trader Joe’s: $3.79
- ALDI: $4.45
- Costco: $3.41 ($6.83 for 24 large white eggs)
- Ralphs: $4.49
Cheapest eggs: Costco
Milk
The comparison: ½ gallon whole milk, generic or store brand.
- Trader Joe’s: $2.49
- ALDI: $2.55
- Costco: $2.35 ($9.40 for a 2-gallon box with two 1-gallon containers)
- Ralphs: $2.69
Cheapest milk: Costco
Cheddar Cheese
The comparison: 1 block, price per ounce, generic or store brand sharp cheddar.
- Trader Joe’s: $0.26 per ounce ($2.66 for 0.62-pound block)
- ALDI: $0.23 per ounce
- Costco: $0.21 per ounce ($6.89 for a 2-pound/32-ounce block)
- Ralphs: $0.51 per ounce (4.09 for 8-ounce block)
Cheapest cheddar cheese: Costco
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
The comparison: 1 package, price per pound, generic or store brand.
- Trader Joe’s: $2.99 per pound
- ALDI: $2.69 per pound
- Costco: $3.69 per pound
- Ralphs: $3.99 per pound
Cheapest boneless skinless chicken breasts: ALDI
Frozen Broccoli Florets
The comparison: 1 package, price per ounce, generic or store brand.
- Trader Joe’s: $0.10 per ounce ($1.69 for a 16-ounce bag)
- ALDI: $0.09 per ounce ($1.05 for a 12-ounce bag)
- Costco: $0.18 per ounce ($11.81 for four 16-ounce bags of organic broccoli)
- Ralphs: $0.24 per ounce ($2.89 for 12-ounce bag)
Cheapest broccoli florets: ALDI
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The comparison: 1 bottle, price per ounce, generic or store brand.
- Trader Joe’s: $0.17 per ounce ($5.99 for 1 liter/33.8 ounces)
- ALDI: $0.26 per ounce ($4.49 for 16.9 ounces)
- Costco: $0.19 per ounce ($12.99 for 2 liters/67.6 ounces)
- Ralphs: $0.29 per ounce ($7.49 for 25.5 ounces)
Cheapest extra virgin olive oil: Trader Joe’s
All-Purpose Flour
The comparison: 1 bag, price per pound, generic or store brand.
- Trader Joe’s: $0.59 per pound ($2.99 for 5-pound bag)
- ALDI: $0.49 per pound ($2.45 for a 5-pound bag)
- Costco: $0.50 per pound ($12.48 for 25-pound bag)
- Ralphs: $0.79 per pound ($3.99 for 5-pound bag)
Cheapest all-purpose flour: ALDI
Granulated White Sugar
The comparison: 1 bag, price per pound, generic or store brand.
- Trader Joe’s: $1.74 per pound ($3.49 for 2-pound bag, organic)
- ALDI: $0.76 per pound ($3.05 for a 4-pound bag)
- Costco: $0.81 per pound ($2.19 for a 25-pound bag)
- Ralphs: $1.20 per pound ($2.39 for a 2-pound bag)
Cheapest granulated white sugar: ALDI
White Sandwich Bread
The comparison: 1 loaf, generic or store brand.
- Trader Joe’s: $1.99 per loaf (22 ounces)
- ALDI: $1.15 per loaf (20 ounces)
- Costco: $1.54 per loaf ($6.19 for two 48-ounce loaves)
- Ralphs: $1.99 per loaf (20 ounces)
