If you feel like your grocery bill has gone up lately, you aren’t alone. Our research shows 58% of Americans are spending more on groceries this year over last year. It’s so true. Food prices have jumped 2.6% this past year.1 And they were already high before that!
That can take a huge chunk out of your monthly budget. The good news is, you can find budget-friendly grocery store options near you with my list of the top 10 cheapest grocery stores in America.
What Is the Cheapest Grocery Store?
If you’re ready to find a cheaper store, my team and I did research online and in person to find the best places with the best deals. Let’s dive in!
Jump to the Cheapest Grocery Stores:
Aldi
Market Basket
WinCo Foods
Lidl
Trader Joe’s
Costco
Walmart
Food 4 Less
H-E-B
Sam’s Club
1. Aldi
Want the best deal ever? Grab a quarter (you’ll need it to rent a shopping cart) and head to Aldi!
How They Keep Costs Low
Originally from Germany, Aldi is famous for their ruthless cost-cutting strategies. These mean a bit more work for you, but it’s all about keeping their small staff super efficient so you can have super savings.
- Aldi has customers rent and return their own shopping carts.
- Their clerks don’t bag your groceries. (It’s a DIY experience.)
- Also, they don’t offer free bags. (Bring your own, pay for Aldi bags, or carry things out in your hands.)
Best Things to Buy
My favorite things at Aldi?
- Baking supplies
- Fresh produce
- Wine
- Chocolate
- Cheese
- Canned goods (which can be as low as $0.65 per can!)
Market Basket is a New England supermarket with more than a 100-year legacy. Yep, that’s right: You won’t find one here in the Nashville area where I live. But if you’re in the Northeast, you’re in luck.
How They Keep Costs Low
How does Market Basket achieve their “More for Your Dollar” tag line?
- They have a pretty small corporate staff.
- They streamline purchasing for their stores by stocking all of them with similar products.
Best Things to Buy
If you go to Market Basket, you have to try the local New England goods. Check out:
- Rhode Island clams
- Maple syrup
- Their unique regional produce (like apples from Maine and pears from New Hampshire)
3. WinCo Foods
Employee-owned WinCo Foods is a huge grocery store with massive bulk sections. But unlike their warehouse cousins Sam’s Club and Costco, they don’t require memberships. Anyone can shop there! Well, anyone in one of the 10 states you can find a WinCo (including Arizona, California, Idaho and Texas).
How They Keep Costs Low
WinCo Foods saves money (and passes those savings on to you). Here’s how:
- They don’t accept credit cards (to avoid paying those transaction fees!).
- They don’t employ baggers.
- They won’t spend a dime on advertising.
Best Things to Buy
When it comes to this cheap grocery store, it’s all about those bulk items. Stock up on:
- Spices
- Baking supplies
- Cereal
- Pasta
- Rice
- Beans
4. Lidl
Lidl (rhymes with beetle, not idle) wants to be your favorite affordable, high-quality grocery store. They don’t only sell grocery goods—you also can find small kitchen appliances, gardening stuff, toys and even power tools at this East Coast chain.
How They Keep Costs Low
Lidl made the cheapest grocery store list because of their super efficiency.
- They offer fewer brands and get competitive pricing from their vendors.
- Their stores are designed to get more shoppers in and out quickly.
- They eliminate “any unnecessary costs,” like paying employees to unpack produce.2
Best Things to Buy
Good news for families trying to eat healthy on a budget: Lidl has a reputation for top-shelf produce. Here’s what else you should shop for here:
- Spices
- Certified seafood
- Imported cheeses
- Authentic Greek pastries
- Spanish olives
- Fresh meats
5. Trader Joe’s
If you combined a convenience store, a produce stand, and an international market into an island-themed grocery store, you’d get a Trader Joe’s! This petite grocery store is more than just a store to its fans—shopping there is an adventure.
How They Keep Costs Low
How did Trader Joe’s make the cheapest grocery store list?
- They stock mostly store brands (no middleman!).
- They won’t pay for ads.
- They keep operational costs low (you’ll see produce still in boxes on the shelves).
- They buy in volume.
- They don’t deal with the hassle (on their end) of coupons—ever.3
If you’re a huge coupon fan, don’t worry: Everything is always priced as low as possible.
Best Things to Buy
What are the best things to buy at Trader Joe’s? Well, they win in the weird food category, that’s for sure—or what they call unique product offerings. If you shop at Trader Joe’s, you need to try these:
- Honey-roasted pumpkin ravioli
- Sweet cinnamon-filled Korean pancakes
- Vegan chickpea masala salad
- Their brand of cereal bars
- Seasoning blends (Everything But the Bagel is the best!)
- Salad kits
- Hummus
- Dried fruit
- Pumpkin butter
- Fresh and frozen meats
- Dark chocolate peanut butter cups (you can thank me later on this one)
Honestly, you can get creative pretty quickly with some romantic dinner ideas for your next date night when you shop at Trader Joe’s.
Try our free Meal Planner to save money on groceries!
6. Costco
Get ready, you guys, because we’re going to the most magical place on earth—Costco! I use my Costco membership every week thanks to all the wonderful things they offer. Be careful though—it’s easy to run in for water and come out with a charcuterie board, 14-pound bag of cheese puffs, and a patio set. Trust me.
How They Keep Costs Low
Costco is on a never-ending quest for efficiency. Here’s how:
- They do practically no traditional advertising.
- They don’t hire workers to unpack boxes.
- They offset prices with a membership fee, which ranges from $60–120.
- They have tons of products under their Kirkland Signature brand.
Best Things to Buy
Because you’re buying in bulk, you really can save a lot each month. Plus, their Kirkland Signature brand is a great way to save money—and still enjoy the quality of your favorite name brands. So load up your cart with these:
- Kirkland’s cranberry juice (made by Ocean Spray)
- Kirkland’s coffee (made by Starbucks)
- Kirkland’s diapers (made by Huggies)
- Name-brand pasta sauces
- Olive oil
- Bulk canned goods
- Giant bags of chocolate chips (perfect for holiday baking season!)
I’m going to close my Costco love letter with a mention of their food court. They may be famous for their $1.50 hot dogs, but the unsung hero is their hot and delicious 18-inch pizza for just $9.95. Your budget will thank you.
7. Walmart
Walmart is the world’s largest retailer, known for massive stores, large selections and, most of all, low prices.4 It’s nice that Walmart Supercenter is a one-stop shop, so you get your lawn stuff, clothes, jewelry, gift items and groceries all in the same place.
How They Keep Costs Low
Walmart (once Walton’s 5&10) started earning its cheapest grocery store title back in 1950. Today they keep their costs low in so many ways. Here are two big ones:
- Since they’re such a large retailer, they’ve got huge bargaining power with their suppliers.
- Because they’re so busy and sell so much, they can offer lower prices.
Best Things to Buy
Walmart is known for the basics, but they’ve honestly got you covered on pretty much everything:
- Pantry staples
- Toiletries
- Laundry detergents
- Cleaning supplies
- Organic foods (a big plus for healthy eaters)
- Keto products
- Gluten-free items
- Sauces
- Condiments
- Spices
8. Food 4 Less
Food 4 Less is an affordable grocery chain (you knew that already—it made the cheapest grocery store list!) with stores scattered throughout the West Coast. When you visit a bright yellow Food 4 Less, you could be going into an independent store or one operated by Kroger.
How They Keep Costs Low
Food 4 Less is a warehouse-style supermarket where efficiency is king.
- They have customers bag their own groceries.
- Since they’re related to (and sometimes owned by) Kroger, they carry quality store brands (Private Selection, Kroger and Simple Truth).
Best Things to Buy
Shop at Food 4 Less for these great deals:
- Produce (even organic)
- Gluten-free items
- Meats
- Dry goods (like quick oats, peanut butter and pasta)
- Canned goods
- Baking supplies
And I know these aren’t coming from your grocery budget, but Food 4 Less has low prices on health and beauty items too.
9. H-E-B
Texas lovers, this one’s for you! With more than 420 stores in Texas and Mexico, grocery giant H-E-B will hand you a tortilla to snack on while you shop. (Winston, pack the kids, we’re moving to Texas.) The store that’s been serving Texans since 1905 has captured the hearts, minds and wallets of residents of the Lone Star State with its proud Don’t Mess With Texas products.
How They Keep Costs Low
H-E-B says they’re “relentlessly dissatisfied with the present” and always looking for ways to offer customers products at better prices.5
- They carry mostly local foods, cutting down on transportation costs.
- They offer mobile checkout on the H-E-B Go app so you can scan and bag your own groceries as you shop.
Best Things to Buy
H-E-B sells the Texas way of life through their Totally Texas regional products. Put on your boots and head to an H-E-B for these items:
- Whataburger sauces
- San Antonio’s Cafe Olé coffee
- Clint’s Texas Salsa
- Fresh guacamole
- Cranberry pistachio bread
- H-E-B’s brand of ultra-strong toilet paper (okay, not a grocery item, but still)
- Texas pecan K-Cups
- Just about anything you can imagine in the shape of the state of Texas (not even kidding!)
All this adds up to big savings for Texans (who already believe they’re in the best place to live).
10. Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club is Walmart’s version of Costco. They offer their members incredible deals on a huge variety of items—and what’s not to love about their endless free samples?
How They Keep Costs Low
If you’re a Sam’s Club fan, you’re familiar with their cost-cutting strategies:
- They buy in bulk.
- They charge membership fees.
- They take advantage of their vendor relationships with their sister company, Walmart.
- They offer a scan-and-go technology in their app so you can ring up your own goods right from your cart.
Best Things to Buy
I may be a Costco girl, but I’ve got friends who are super loyal to Sam’s Club. Here’s what they love to buy:
- Vitamins
- Protein bars
- Toilet paper
- Extreme value gift cards (You can purchase a $100 value gift card for just $75 at Sam’s Club! Seriously!)
Also, Sam’s Club will load you up with more than just grocery items—try booking flights, cruises and hotels through Sam’s Club Travel & Entertainment.
How the Cheapest Grocery Stores Plus Meal Planning Equal Extreme Food Savings
Where do people overspend the most?
Food.
It’s no wonder everyone wants to know which grocery store is the cheapest. But it’s not just where you shop that’ll help you save. It’s how you shop. You’ve got to go in with a plan!
That’s why I made my Meal Planner & Grocery Savings Guide—to help you save time and money. You’ll get a digital and printable grocery list and meal calendar, plus tons of tips and tricks on how to take back control of your grocery budget.
So, what are you waiting for? Find the cheapest grocery store near you, get your free Meal Planner & Grocery Savings Guide, and start saving money!
Read the full article here
