It’s no secret—the grocery budget is where we tend to overspend the most.
One of my favorite ways to save money? Grocery shopping at Aldi. I’m a big fan! (If you don’t know, they’re a German discount grocery store that’s been growing like crazy across the U.S.)
But here’s the thing—Walmart is also known for low prices and budget-friendly store brands. So, is Aldi cheaper than Walmart? I decided to put them both to the test to see who comes out on top as being best for your budget.
Aldi Prices vs. Walmart Prices: Which Is Cheaper?
To find out which grocery store is the cheapest, I went on a real-life grocery run to both Aldi and Walmart, grabbed the same items from each, and crunched the numbers to find out where your grocery dollars go the farthest.
I compared groceries I actually buy. And to keep things simple, I broke everything into five categories: meat, dairy, produce, pantry staples and household items.
Some disclaimers:
Prices were gathered in May 2025 at local stores in Franklin, Tennessee. Grocery prices vary by region, season and even current events, so keep that in mind as you compare.
I compared store brands—Aldi’s private labels vs. Walmart’s Great Value label and other store brands. (When a store brand wasn’t available at Walmart, I went with the cheapest available option.)
Aldi is an advertiser on The Ramsey Show—but this article still reflects my honest experience and real price comparisons.
Aldi vs. Walmart: Meat Prices
For many Americans, meat is a staple at any dining table. In fact, we consume an average of 268 pounds of meat per year!1 But meat isn’t cheap. In fact, you can save a lot of money by simply eating less of it. Still planning to keep meat on the menu? Let’s see how Aldi and Walmart meat prices compare.
Bacon: Walmart Wins
Aldi: $4.35 for 12-ounce package
Walmart: $3.97 for 12-ounce package
Chicken: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $3.49 per pound
Walmart: $4.64 per pound
Ground Beef: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $4.69 per pound
Walmart: $5.75 per pound
Eggs: Tie
Aldi: $3.47 per dozen
Walmart: $3.47 per dozen
Aldi vs. Walmart: Dairy Prices
Dairy is a daily staple for most households—whether it’s milk in your coffee, shredded cheese on your tacos, or butter in your baking. Let’s see how Aldi and Walmart compare when it comes to dairy prices.
2% Milk: Tie
Aldi: $2.78 per gallon
Walmart: $2.78 per gallon
Almond Milk: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $2.29 for 64 fluid ounces
Walmart: $2.63 for 64 fluid ounces
Butter: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $3.75 for a pack of four sticks
Walmart: $3.96 for a pack of four sticks
Sour Cream: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $1.85 for 16 ounces
Walmart: $1.97 for 16 ounces
Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Walmart Wins
Aldi: $2.79 for 12 ounces ($0.23 per ounce)
Walmart: $1.97 for 16 ounces ($0.12 per ounce)
Ice Cream: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $2.95 for 1.5 quarts
Walmart: $2.97 for 1.5 quarts
Aldi vs. Walmart: Produce Prices
Fresh produce is one of the easiest ways to eat healthy without busting your budget. The tricky part? Actually eating it before it goes bad (guilty as charged). If you’re committed to putting those fruits and veggies to good use, then let’s take a look at how Aldi and Walmart stack up on produce prices.
Apples: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $2.99 for 3-pound bag of Gala apples
Walmart: $3.84 for 3-pound bag of Gala apples
Oranges: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $3.59 for 3-pound bag of mandarin oranges
Walmart: $3.97 for 3-pound bag of mandarin oranges
Bananas: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $0.73 per pound
Walmart: $0.74 per pound
Bell Peppers: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $2.49 for multi-colored three-pack
Walmart: $2.96 for multi-colored three-pack
Spinach: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $1.55 for 8-ounce bag ($0.19 per ounce)
Walmart: $1.98 for 10-ounce bag ($0.20 per ounce)
Aldi vs. Walmart: Pantry Staples
This is the category that can nickel-and-dime (or rather, $3-and-$4) you to death. Pantry items are some of the easiest to forget—and the most likely to send you on a second trip to the store. To avoid that hassle, keep a running list on your phone and as soon as you notice something’s running low, write it down. A little planning can save you both time and gas money.
Chicken Broth: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $1.85 for 32 ounces
Walmart: $1.98 for 32 ounces
White Rice: Aldi Wins
This one is a close call, but you end up getting slightly more per package with Aldi’s 3-pound bag of rice.
Aldi: $2.65 for a 3-pound bag ($0.88 per pound)
Walmart: $1.77 for a 2-pound bag ($0.89 per pound)
Black Beans: Aldi Wins
It wouldn’t be a Ramsey shopping trip without some rice and beans! Aldi (just barely) has the better price for a can of black beans.
Aldi: $0.85 for 15.5-ounce can
Walmart: $0.86 for 15.5-ounce can
Pasta (Rotini): Tie
Aldi: $0.98 for 1-pound box
Walmart: $0.98 for 1-pound box
Pasta Sauce: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $1.65 for 24 ounces
Walmart: $1.67 for 24 ounces
Flour: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $2.35 for 5-pound bag
Walmart: $2.38 for 5-pound bag
Ground Coffee: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $5.69 for 12-ounce bag
Walmart: $5.97 for 12-ounce bag
Gluten-Free Bread: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $6.99 for 20 ounces ($0.35 per ounce)
Walmart: $6.74 for 18 ounces ($0.37 per ounce)
Peanut Butter: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $1.99 for 18 ounces ($0.11 per ounce)
Walmart: $1.94 for 16 ounces ($0.12 per ounce)
Cheese Crackers: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $3.79 for 21-ounce family-size box
Walmart: $4.22 for 21-ounce family-size box
Aldi vs. Walmart: Household Items
These aren’t the most exciting things to buy—but they’re some of the most essential. Household items like toilet paper and trash bags are the unsung heroes of everyday life. Let’s compare household item prices at Aldi and Walmart.
Paper Towels: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $6.29 for six double rolls
Walmart: $9.46 for six double rolls
Toilet Paper: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $7.49 for 12 mega rolls
Walmart: $9.98 for 12 mega rolls
Trash Bags: Aldi Wins
Aldi: $5.79 for 40-count
Walmart: $7.44 for 40-count
Dish Soap: Tie
Aldi: $2.09 for 24 fluid ounces ($0.09 per ounce)
Walmart: $2.46 for 28 fluid ounces ($0.09 per ounce)
Item
Aldi Price
Walmart Price
Bacon
$4.35
$3.97
Chicken
$3.49
$4.64
Ground Beef
$4.69
$5.75
Eggs
$3.47
$3.47
2% Milk
$2.78
$2.78
Almond Milk
$2.29
$2.63
Butter
$3.75
$3.96
Sour Cream
$1.85
$1.97
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
$2.79
$1.97
Ice Cream
$2.95
$2.97
Apples
$2.99
$3.84
Oranges
$3.59
$3.97
Bananas
$0.73
$0.74
Bell Peppers
$2.49
$2.96
Spinach
$1.55
$1.98
Chicken Broth
$1.85
$1.98
White Rice
$2.65
$1.77
Black Beans
$0.85
$0.86
Pasta
$0.98
$0.98
Pasta Sauce
$1.65
$1.67
Flour
$2.35
$2.38
Coffee
$5.69
$5.97
Gluten-Free Bread
$6.99
$6.74
Peanut Butter
$1.99
$1.94
Cheese Crackers
$3.79
$4.22
Paper Towels
$6.29
$9.46
Toilet Paper
$7.49
$9.98
Trash Bags
$5.79
$7.44
Dish Soap
$2.09
$2.46
Total
$94.21
$105.45
Is Aldi Cheaper Than Walmart?
Out of 29 grocery items compared, Aldi had cheaper prices for 23 of them (and tied for four others).
But what about the price at the register? Here’s what the total cost of all these groceries (before tax) came out to:
Aldi: $94.21
Walmart: $105.45
So, for this grocery trip, yes—Aldi is cheaper than Walmart by $11.
A few other things to note:
Aldi is cheaper for chicken, ground beef, most dairy items and most pantry staples.
The biggest savers at Aldi are household items.
Aldi has cheaper produce than Walmart.
Walmart is cheaper for bacon and shredded cheese.
Aldi and Walmart had the same prices for eggs, 2% milk, pasta and dish soap.
If you live in an area where there aren’t any Aldi stores close by, Walmart is still a cheap option.
You can use my Meal Planner & Grocery Savings Guide to save more time and money when shopping for groceries.
Don’t Shop Without a Budget!
Whether you’re team Aldi or team Walmart, one thing’s for sure: You need a budget. Grocery savings start long before you hit the checkout line. And the best way to stay on track is to plan your spending before you step foot in the store.
A budget helps you stay focused so you don’t derail your money goals with one “harmless” grocery trip (we’ve all been there). It’s my number one grocery savings tip—because smart shopping starts with smart planning.
And EveryDollar makes it easy to get started! You can create your monthly grocery budget in minutes, track what you’ve spent, and adjust as you go—no spreadsheet required.
Your grocery budget should work for you, not against you. Download the EveryDollar budget app for free today!
