Walmart vs. ALDI – which is cheaper? What about quality? See the list of price comparisons at ALDI and Walmart, and see which store has the better deal all around! Try out my ultimate shopping guide to ALDI and my comparison of Costco vs. ALDI.
As a frugal shopper, I’m always wondering what store will have low prices. It’s one of the primary principles I teach in my course Grocery Budget Bootcamp, and it’s why I wrote a whole post comparing Costco to ALDI.
Well, since not everyone has an ALDI nearby, I thought it would be prudent to compare prices again. This time though, to a more national grocery store chain and not a warehouse store that requires a membership.
What I wanted to know was, which is cheaper: Walmart vs. ALDI?
Psst! Before I jump into this post, I wanted to mention that knowing where to shop is just one of the 13 lessons in the course, so whether you struggle with shopping, meal planning, or how to put it all together – I’ve got you covered. Besides, the average graduate saves $250-300 in the first month alone!! See if Grocery Budget Bootcamp is right for you!
Walmart vs. ALDI – Pros and Cons
I could write a whole blog post on the pros and cons of shopping at Walmart vs. ALDI… but I’m not going to do that here. However, as I was working on this list, I couldn’t help but notice definite pros and cons while in the store that were definitely worth sharing, especially since we’re breaking down prices and such.
Shopping at ALDI: Pros
- You have a limited selection. If you get overwhelmed with choices at the grocery store, ALDI makes it easy because there are no choices. For most of their items, they only offer one variety in one size.
- The selection of organics is expanding. I had organic almond milk and peanuts on my list for comparison, but Walmart didn’t have either.
Here is an Ultimate Guide for Shopping at ALDI!
Shopping at ALDI: Cons
- You have a limited selection. If you’re looking to save money by buying in bulk, that likely won’t happen at ALDI. Their shelves are “one size fits all.”
Shopping at Walmart: Pros
- You have a bigger selection in both sizes, and brands. For most items listed below, you can easily bump up to a larger container and save a few pennies per ounce at the same time.
Shopping at Walmart: Cons
There’s a greater selection. I say this because even though I was ONLY comparing prices this day, it was still sometimes overwhelming in looking at all the different options to find the best deal. Different sizes and different brands didn’t necessarily make for a better shopping experience; they made it harder to crunch numbers.
Walmart vs. ALDI
Which is cheaper? Here are the rules.
1. Compare the Most Purchased Items.
I compared the same items that I purchase every month, over and over again. Yes, you’ll save a few pennies on the onesie twosie items too, but you’ll find the biggest savings when you find rock-bottom prices on the items you repeatedly buy.
2. Staples and Produce.
I didn’t want to compare too much produce since prices will vary greatly from region to region AND season to season, so I kept the produce to a minimum, comparing only things that I personally would typically buy year-round anyway.
3. Prices are Still Regional.
The prices below are taken as of 3/8/2023, are from the South Carolina area, and should be used as a guideline only. You may or may not find the exact prices in your area, so do your homework before you commit to one store or another.
4. Use the Lowest Per Unit Price.
Some items are offered in ounces, some in pounds. I broke it down to the lowest price per unit which is common between both items.
5. Use Store Brand Whenever Possible.
By design, ALDI doesn’t carry name-brand products at all. That meant comparing “apples to apples” tough since Walmart doesn’t carry ALDI’s house brand and visa versa. My workaround was to use the store brand for each store, respectively.
Walmart’s store brand is Great Value. ALDI has a few different brands, depending on what you’re buying (as you’ll see in the pictures). But I assure you, although they’re different names, they’re all technically “ALDI brand” items.
6. Compare Like Items to Like Items.
ALDI is expanding its selection of organic (see pro above!), but that doesn’t mean Walmart is keeping pace. On the other hand, Walmart has some organic items that ALDI does not.
With that said, I made notes of whether something was organic or conventional and I only included the item in my list if BOTH stores had it available. If one store had organic tuna, for example, and the other didn’t, I didn’t even include it on my list at all.
Walmart vs. ALDI Price Comparision List
Meat
Bacon → ALDI
- ALDI: $4.35/16 oz
- Walmart: $5.98/16 oz
Beef (80/20 ground) → ALDI
- ALDI: $3.79/lb
- Walmart: $4.36/lb
Chicken Breasts → ALDI
- ALDI: $2.49/lb
- Walmart: $3.97/lb
Chicken (leg quarters) → ALDI
- ALDI: $1.19/lb
- Walmart: $1.24/lb
Chicken (whole) → Walmart
- ALDI: $1.76/lb
- Walmart: $1.32/lb
Dairy/Cold Case
Almond Milk → Walmart
- ALDI: $2.49/64 oz
- Walmart: 2.44/64 oz
Butter → Walmart
- ALDI: $4.25/16 oz
- Walmart: $3.98/16 oz
Cheddar Cheese → Walmart
- ALDI: $2.19/8 oz
- Walmart: $2.00/8 oz
Cream Cheese → Walmart
- ALDI: $1.75/8 oz
- Walmart: $1.68/8 oz
Eggs → Walmart
- ALDI: $2.69/dozen
- Walmart: $2.44/dozen
Milk → ALDI
- ALDI: $2.95/gal
- Walmart: $2.96/gal
Orange Juice → ALDI
- ALDI: $5.25/gal
- Walmart: $5.78/gal
Sour Cream → Walmart
- ALDI: $2.15/16 oz
- Walmart: $1.96/16 oz
String Cheese → Walmart
- ALDI: $2.99/12 oz
- Walmart: $2.84/12 oz
Produce
Apples (gala) → Walmart
- ALDI: $3.95/3 lb
- Walmart: $3.88/3 lb
Bananas → ALDI
- ALDI: $0.39/lb
- Walmart: $0.44/lb
Bell Peppers → Walmart
- ALDI: $3.29/3 ct
- Walmart: $2.98/3 ct
Carrots (baby) → ALDI
- ALDI: $1.70/2 lb
- Walmart: $2.44/2 lb
Onions → ALDI
- ALDI: $2.45/3 lb
- Walmart: $2.88/3 lb
Oranges (navel) → ALDI
- ALDI: $4.49/4 lb
- Walmart: $4.98/4 lb
Potatoes (russet) → Walmart
- ALDI: $4.49/5 lb
- Walmart: $4.47/5 lb
Spinach (organic, pre-washed) → Walmart
- ALDI: $3.09/5 oz
- Walmart: $2.98/5 oz
Spring Mix (organic, pre-washed) → Walmart
- ALDI: $5.39/16 oz
- Walmart: $4.98/16 oz
FAQs for ALDI vs. Walmart Prices
What is a weakness of Aldi?
Is Aldi food unhealthy?
More Price Comparisons
Pantry
All-purpose Flour → ALDI
- ALDI: $2.29/5 lb
- Walmart: $2.24/5 lb
Apple Cider Vinegar (organic) → Walmart
- ALDI: $5.49/33 oz
- Walmart: $4.98/32 oz
Applesauce → Walmart
- ALDI: $1.99/24 oz
- Walmart: $1.44/20 oz
Black Beans (canned, organic) → ALDI
- ALDI: $1.09/15 oz
- Walmart: $1.16/15 oz
Black Beans (canned, conventional) → Walmart
- ALDI: $0.85/15 oz
- Walmart: $0.78/15 oz
Bread (gluten-free) → Walmart
- ALDI: $7.15/20 oz
- Walmart: $6.74/18 oz
Bread (whole wheat) → Walmart
- ALDI: $1.99/20 oz
- Walmart: $2.82/20 oz
Canned Tuna (chunk in water) → Walmart
- ALDI: $0.99/5 oz
- Walmart: $0.88/5 oz
Canned Vegetables → Walmart
- ALDI: $0.95/15 oz
- Walmart: $0.88/15 oz
Chicken Stock (organic) → Walmart
- ALDI: $1.95/32 oz
- Walmart: $1.94/32 oz
Chicken Stock (conventional) → Walmart
- ALDI: $1.75/32 oz
- Walmart: $1.33/32 oz
Chocolate Chips → Walmart
- ALDI: $2.15/12 oz
- Walmart: $2.08/12 oz
Coconut Oil (organic, virgin) → Walmart
- ALDI: $6.35/14 oz
- Walmart: $5.98/14 oz
Coffee → ALDI
- ALDI: $8.05/30.5 oz
- Walmart: $8.73/30.5 oz
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (conventional) → ALDI
- ALDI: $4.95/16.9 oz
- Walmart: $5.82/16.9 oz
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (organic) → Walmart
- ALDI: $4.95/16.9 oz
- Walmart: $4.95/16.9 oz
Garbanzo Beans → Walmart
- ALDI: $0.85/15.5 oz
- Walmart: $0.78/15.5 oz
Honey (conventional) → ALDI
- ALDI: $8.05/24 oz
- Walmart: $4.87/12 oz
Honey (organic) → ALDI
- ALDI: $4.78/12 oz
- Walmart: $4.84/12 oz
Ketchup (organic) → Walmart
- ALDI: $2.09/20 oz
- Walmart: $1.98/20 oz
Maple Syrup → ALDI
- ALDI: $2.15/24 oz
- Walmart: $3.47/24 oz
Oats (old fashioned rolled) → ALDI
- ALDI: $3.95/42 oz
- Walmart: $3.98/42 oz
Pasta Sauce (red) → ALDI
- ALDI: $1.55/24 oz
- Walmart: $1.96/24 oz
Peanuts → ALDI
- ALDI: $2.15/16 oz
- Walmart: $2.28/16 oz
Peanut Butter → Walmart
- ALDI: $1.95/18 oz
- Walmart: $1.84/18 oz
Pinto Beans (dry) → Walmart
- ALDI: $3.95/64 oz
- Walmart: $3.76/64 oz
Raisins → ALDI
- ALDI: $3.85/20 oz
- Walmart: $3.98/20 oz
Rice → Walmart
- ALDI: $2.59/3 lb
- Walmart: $2.40/3 lb
Spaghetti (gluten-free) → Walmart
- ALDI: $2.93/16 oz
- Walmart: $2.18/16 oz
Spaghetti (conventional) → Walmart
- ALDI: $2.09/32 oz
- Walmart: $1.88/32 oz
Spaghetti (organic) → ALDI
- ALDI: $1.95/16 oz
- Walmart: $5.28/16 oz
Sugar (white granulated) → ALDI
- ALDI: $2.65/4 lb
- Walmart: $2.94/ 4 lb
Vanilla Extract → ALDI
- ALDI: $5.49/2 oz
- Walmart: $5.98/2 oz
Vinegar (white distilled) → Walmart
- ALDI: $3.55/128 oz
- Walmart: $3.34/128 oz
What surprised me the most when comparing Walmart vs. ALDI?
I think what surprised me the most when comparing Walmart vs. ALDI was that the difference in price between the two stores wasn’t that much.
In fact, for several items, the difference was minor! I guess I was expecting a more dramatic difference between the two stores…
What this means though, is that if you don’t have an ALDI in your area, you can still get a great deal on food by shopping at Walmart. In fact, I bet this One Week $50 ALDI Meal Plan would come in pretty close to that at Walmart too!
What it also means, is that if you’re torn between shopping at ALDI and shopping at Walmart, your savings at ALDI might not be worth the hassle of a second trip… something to consider!
More Money-Saving Tips
- How Much Should I Spend on Food?
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- How to Stretch Ground Beef
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It’s always been my belief that Walmarts intention always was to put local stores out of business, then they could raise their prices to whatever they wanted. I’m thankful that Aldi provides an alternative and will shop there to support them even it it costs a little more.
A healthy dose of cynicism served up here… the bottom line for every business is to be profitable. You all should be grateful you even have these stores. I have three stores all of which are small chains and I have Trader Joe’s which has a small footprint and it apparently is a nice place to work because the same people who work there now all went through the draconian Covid lockdowns with us. My other stores are Sprouts and Raleys. Raleys is a small non unionized store – always a plus. None of the three are what you would call full service grocery stores. Not a lot of household items. For those I’m stuck with Amazon. I’ve been buying more online from Thrive and I’m enjoying it as well. Their fresh food is locally sourced. It’s a matter of principle that if I can’t grow it in my climate I don’t eat it. Thrive sources their produce locally. And we have farmers markets as well. If you really need to save $$$ on groceries I believe your best bet is canned, frozen and processed food. Those go on sale often. Other things are regulated by law like milk. We pay about $5 a liter. Cheaper than gasoline but not by much!
Walmart used to have better prices but I don’t find that anymore. Even the Stater Brothers near us has had better prices. Plus I find that Walmart has discontinued many of the items that I bought on a regular basis. Hands down I would rather go to Aldi’s or Stater’s than Walmart for most things I buy weekly.
This information is great. I have found that Aldi’s beats Walmart on prices AND quality in the Dallas, Texas area. Plus the shopping experience is very pleasant. I love the smaller footprint of the store, the cleanliness, and the fact that the store clerks know me. Can you tell I’m an Aldi’s fan?
Awesome Marianna! So glad this was helpful. 🙂
With free hands-free pickup possible for online orders over $35 (during the pandemic) Walmart wins hands down.
Aldi’s easily beats Walmart prices in Western Wisconsin.
I buy very little at Aldi because their produce goes bad too fast. This happened on a regular basis that even my husband noticed it.
We have an Amex blue credit card that gives 6% cash back on groceries. All this time I assumed I was getting 6% cash back for my groceries at WalMart…BUT I WASN’T!! Amex doesn’t consider Walmart a ‘grocery’ store. Amex does however consider ALDI a grocery store. I think I’ll try ALDI now b/c an extra 6% adds up quickly over time.
Oh, wow!! What a great find Allison!
Aldi’s food actually tastes better than Great Value.
We all have different taste buds, but I appreciate your point of view!
I don’t despise Wal-Mart in general, just the one near my house (I am just north of Houston). I truly believe they give their employment applicants a personality test and if they seem too helpful or polite, they are disqualified. So I generally shop at Kroger and Aldi. One day a few months ago, hubs and I were near a WalMart in the next town over, so we decided we would shop there. Holy moly! I was shocked at the difference in prices. Boneless skinless chicken breast was almost $4 a pound (Aldi is about $1.99). Celery was like $1.50 a bunch vs. the $.89 I pay at Aldi. $1.70 vs. $.69 for eggs. I could keep going. I don’t think there was a single item there that was cheaper – or even comparably priced – than Aldi. Their prices were more like Kroger’s than Aldi’s on the store-brand stuff.
Then, you get to the other budget-buster. The eye-candy displays. For stuff you just don’t need, like novelty sunglasses or holiday-themed jewelry made in China. Cheaply priced, but still you don’t need. Walmart COUNTS on those impulse buys to make up for few items they carry that are cheaper than Aldi.
Hi Tiffany!
Wow! Folks are PASSIONATE about where to shop! Me? Since I live really close to ALDI and WM, here is what I do…I use WM’s Grocery App to place my entire grocery list in my “cart” (as if I were going to get everything at WM). Then, I stop by ALDI and cherry pick those items that are currently (AND regionally) cheaper than what I see in my cart on the WM Grocery App. As I go through, I delete the items from my virtual cart as I place them in my physical one. I check out at ALDI, and whatever is left in my WM cart is what I get there.
Prices vary constantly, so this insures that I catch the best deals at both stores. Plus, in my area (Tulsa, OK) WM offers free grocery pickup, so I usually go by ALDI on Saturday AM, and pick up my WM groceries that PM or after church on Sundays!
I know this has saved me A LOT, but it has also set my mind at ease, knowing I haven’t wasted my money, energy, or time!
This is a fantastic shopping method Jennifer – thank you for sharing it with us!! And I might have to give this a shot myself, LOL.
Thank you for the tip, Jennifer! Genius.
I love this idea! Thank you!
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are only $1.99 per pound at Walmart and Sam’s Club.
In my area Aldi and Wal-mart had a price war on milk for a while. Milk was $0.75 a gallon at both stores! It’s gone up a bit since then at $1.29 but Aldi is still ahead.
I love that the price war works in your favor!!
I live in rural Missouri and I did price comparisons last week. For the items that I buy normally, a trip to Aldi (and I would still have to shop elsewhere) would only save me at the most $5 for the trip. I use a lot of Great Value brand products because I like them. Everything was within pennies to 20 cents away from Great Value prices. I prefer a one stop shop so Walmart makes more sense for my family. As far as cereal is concerned, you can hardly beat the taste and price of Malt o Meal bagged cereal.
I also live in the Midwest, and I’m not impressed with Aldi’s prices either and feel that I get a greater value for the money at Walmart and Sam’s. Maybe Aldi is better in some areas of the country.
I decided that one week I will do my grocery shopping at Walmart and the next Aldi. I bought identically the same items (possibly MORE at Aldi) and I ended up spending $70 LESS at Aldi! I have a big family (5 children, my husband, and I) and $70 savings is huge for me, that could be $280 saved in one month!
Way to go Leslie!
Tiffany just sent out an email talking about saving 5$ on whole organic chickens at Wal-Mart. And though in the article above she says “your savings… might not be worth the hassle of a second trip”, she routinely forgets to calculate the cost of a second trip or additional stop on our shopping route. So, if adding a stop at Wal-Mart means adding 5 or 6 miles to your route (either from a different store to Wal-Mart or from your home to Wal-Mart and back) your 5$ savings is gone. That’s assuming a great gas price of 3.50 a gallon and a car that gets 20 miles to the gallon. If your mileage is worse and/or gas is higher price, then your savings might be gone in a difference of 3 miles or so. And NONE of that takes into account your time. In some places with heavy traffic or near rush hour, those extra 3 to 5 miles might take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. Even spending 5-10 minutes online to research the price differences between stores may not be worth it. And, if you earn 20$ an hour at your job, this means your free time is worth at least that much. So spending 15 minutes of time costs you 5$ also. Only you can decide if that is a more valuable use of your free time than some other activity. Just please, remember to balance what you may save on just the cost of an item versus the total costs in time & gasoline … & mental energy, too!