Aldi Vs Walmart: Which Grocery Store Is Actually Cheaper?

In consumers' ongoing battle to save money in the face of skyrocketing inflation, every dollar counts. Naturally, you want to buy food where you stand to get the best bargains, which begs the question of which grocer provides the best bang for your buck. Two common answers are Walmart and Aldi, both of which are generally regarded as great destinations for the dollar-conscious. Unlike Erewhon, the most expensive grocery store in America, Walmart and Aldi appeal to customers who are looking for deals. It may surprise you to know that, in every metric that counts, Aldi wins.

There's a reason we crowned Aldi as the cheapest grocery store in America. Even when stacked up against a bargain-heavy supermarket like Walmart, Aldi continually delivers better prices. Granted, your mileage may vary based on, for example, where you live, seasonal availability of SKUs, willingness to clip coupons or use savings apps, and so on. But when it comes to running to the store for a few items, Aldi has your back.

Aldi's lack of brand-name products is by design. You save more money when it stocks the shelves predominantly with its own private labels. Take, for instance, frozen pizza — a huge favorite with teenagers and bachelors alike. Walmart touts a 28-ounce Great Value Rising Crust Pepperoni Pizza for $4.97, which is a great deal compared to big brands. Aldi, however, sells its Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Pepperoni Rising Crust Pizza for $4.65 — and at 30 ounces, it's a tiny bit heartier.

Aldi's private labels shine in places that Walmart doesn't have a direct off-brand competitor for, too. Looking for a carton of ready-to-drink caramel macchiato-flavored iced coffee? Aldi has you covered with 64 scrumptious ounces of its Barissimo brand coffee for $4.15. Walmart only has the International Delights brand, which is $4.58 for 64 ounces. For one more example of that phenomenon in effect, let's examine four-packs of vanilla protein shakes. Walmart sells the popular Premier Protein brand for $9.58 and doesn't have a generic equivalent for sale. Aldi, however, comes in clutch with its private Elevation brand for $7.39, an eye-popping difference in savings.

Keep in mind that Aldi has a much smaller selection than Walmart, which means you may not be able to find everything on your list at Aldi. When there's a 1:1 comparison to make between the two grocers, however, Aldi is a better bet.