And it inevitably eats into our budgets.
I’ve griped more than once about how rich I’d be if food weren’t a thing. Think of everything I could splurge on!
Probably mostly travel. But then again, tasting new dishes is one of my favorite parts of vacationing…
But I’ll stop there.
How to Buy Groceries on a Budget
Since we’re likely (hopefully) not heading toward Soylent Green any time soon, you’ll need to set aside money for food.
So why not spend as little as possible on this necessity?
It turns out you could be getting a noticeably better price on those recurring grocery purchases… simply by driving a block or two farther.
That’s because different retailers charge different amounts for grocery items, even within the same area.
To determine the smartest place to buy those everyday items, we went out and compared prices on 10 common groceries.
We compared big-box Walmart, the affordable-but-quirky Trader Joe’s, and Publix — standing in for whatever “standard” regional supermarket you normally use.
Here’s what we discovered.
Eggs
For this comparison, I looked at the cost of a dozen large white eggs.
You might save more by buying the larger 30-count packs some stores sell. But if you don’t use them up before they go bad, it’s wasted money.
At Publix, a dozen large white eggs ran $2.39. Trader Joe’s was just $1.49 — and Walmart had a surprisingly steep $2.57 carton.
Note: Walmart offers price-matching with local rivals, but the policy requires an “identical” item — so a different brand of eggs may not qualify.
Winner: Trader Joe’s
Milk
I compared prices for a quart of milk.
If you want super-fresh milk, you should drink it within a few days of opening. And a gallon is a lot of milk.
A quart cost $2.50 at Publix, but only $1.87 at Walmart. Trader Joe’s was highest at $3.99 — though that was for organic.
Winner: Walmart
Bread
Bread paired with milk is a classic combo — especially ahead of major storms.
A standard white loaf was $1.89 at Publix, and $1.58 at Walmart.
To upgrade from plain white, the multigrain loaf at Publix was $2.69 while Walmart’s whole wheat ran $1.68.
Trader Joe’s cheapest loaf was $3.99 — but theirs tend to be fancier, with nuts, seeds and the like.
Winner: Walmart
Peanut Butter
Point me to a pantry without peanut butter and I’ll show you a sad pantry.
Unless you’re allergic — in which case, please avoid peanut butter (more for the rest of us)!
Publix sold one-pound jars of JIF for $2.99.
Trader Joe’s had jars as low as $1.99, though those looked like sale items. The next-cheapest was $2.99 and wasn’t a recognizable national brand. So if you’re picky about labels, that might not be ideal.
Walmart carried a one-pound JIF for $2.58.
Although Trader Joe’s showed the lowest single price, I’m not sure it’s a stable everyday price… so this one’s a bit uncertain.
Winner: Possibly Trader Joe’s; Walmart a close second
Bananas
Bananas are great for many reasons, not least because they come in their own biodegradable wrapper.
Plus they’re tasty, nutritious and inexpensive.
Publix and Walmart both had bananas at $0.59 per pound. Trader Joe’s sells them by the piece — $0.19 each.
If there are three to four bananas in a pound, Trader Joe’s price works out to about $0.66 per pound. That looks tempting, but only if you want to buy one or two bananas rather than a whole bunch.
Full disclosure: I didn’t weigh bananas and estimated the $0.66 using a likely bunch of 3.5 bananas. What can you do?
Winner: Walmart/Publix
Cereal
I grew up with Cheerios for breakfast, so that’s the cereal I used for the comparison.
P.S. Slice a banana into your next bowl. You’re welcome.
Publix had an 8.9-ounce box for $3.59 or an 18-ounce box for $4.49.
Trader Joe’s 15-ounce “Joe’s Os” was $1.99.
Walmart’s store-brand 2-pound, 7-ounce box was $5.98. The national brand was $3.53 for 18 ounces or $3.98 for a 21-ounce box.
After crunching the numbers, the best bargain is Trader Joe’s cereal at 13 cents per ounce.
Walmart’s generic follows at 15 cents per ounce.
If you insist on real Cheerios, Walmart’s larger box is the best value at 18 cents per ounce. Publix’s small box is forty cents per ounce. Are those Cheerios sprinkled with gold?
Winner: Trader Joe’s if you’re flexible; Walmart if you want name-brand
Pasta
What food beats cheap, quick and tasty for an on-the-fly dinner?
Publix’s Barilla spaghetti was $1.69 per pound.
Trader Joe’s spaghetti was just $0.99 per pound.
Walmart’s spaghetti was $1 per pound on rollback… or $2.92 for a family three-pound box, which is $0.97 per pound.
Winner: Walmart if you buy in bulk; Trader Joe’s for a regular box
Chicken Breast
If there’s one meat found in American kitchens everywhere, it’s boneless, skinless chicken breast.
Here are the cheapest versions I found — not the organic or free-range options you might prefer.
Publix’s chicken breast was $3.49 per pound, Trader Joe’s $2.69 per pound, and Walmart $3.09 per pound.
Winner: Trader Joe’s
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has many uses — from sautéing vegetables to popping popcorn — and is a versatile cooking fat.
Publix’s 29-ounce jar was $5.99.
Trader Joe’s offered 16 ounces for $5.99, but generally only organic.
Walmart had 30 ounces for $6.64, or 14 ounces for $3.98.
Winner: Publix came out ahead at about 20 cents per ounce
Coffee
If there’s no coffee in my kitchen, mornings don’t happen. Here’s the cheapest place to buy it.
Publix had a large 1-pound, 14-ounce can of Maxwell House for $9.97.
Trader Joe’s stocks only its own roasts, which I think are nicer than Maxwell. The cheapest I saw was $5.99 for 12 ounces (or $14.99 for 28 ounces).
Walmart’s big Maxwell House canister was $6.93.
Winner: Walmart, unless you’re a coffee snob like I am
The Verdict
Here’s how the stores stacked up by number of category wins:
- Publix/Regional Grocer Option: 1.5
- Trader Joe’s: 3.5
- Walmart: 5
But ultimately, the right grocery store depends on how you shop and what you buy.
If you live alone, shop for one and mostly eat fresh produce and lean protein — or if buying organic matters to you — Trader Joe’s could be the best fit.
Pro tip: Trader Joe’s has surprisingly good, affordable wine choices.
However, if you’re feeding a family and need larger quantities, Walmart is likely the more practical, economical choice.
For best results, do your own price comparison.
Make a list of items you regularly purchase, then visit your nearby stores — a regional grocer, a value market like Trader Joe’s or Aldi, and a big-box store such as Walmart or Target. If you’re open to paying an annual fee, consider a warehouse club like Costco or Sam’s Club.
Note down the price and quantity of each product, then divide the cost by the amount to get the price per ounce or per unit.
Depending on how far out of your way it is and how much extra time it takes, making a few trips to different stores might be worth it to stock up on staples at the best prices. You can also use a cheapest place to buy groceries guide or a supermarket comparison worksheet save money on groceries to organize your findings.
Your Turn: Which grocery store do you shop at most often? Have you thought about making multiple trips to different stores? Tell us in the comments!
