Here at Savinly, we’re always up for a good grocery-store face-off.
You might have read about when I swapped from Winn-Dixie to Trader Joe’s after comparing my usual shopping list at both spots. Over time, that change saved me a lot of money.
I’ve been shopping at Trader Joe’s ever since. But with Aldi rapidly expanding across the U.S., it’s time for another comparison: Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s.
Which one costs less for routine grocery runs? Let’s break it down.
Here’s What I Spent at Trader Joe’s
If you’re into quirky snack finds like pumpkin butter or mochi rice bites, you might be a Trader Joe’s devotee. While many Trader Joe’s snacks wear the store’s own brand, some reports suggest bigger manufacturers, including PepsiCo and Frito-Lay, produce certain items.
Beyond its fun and unusual offerings, the chain is also praised for friendly service, higher pay for employees (with possible7-10%yearly raises — impressive!) and reasonable prices.
But for a basic grocery list, is Trader Joe’s really economical?
Below is a sample grocery list of common staples I typically buy every two weeks. (Prices shown for both Aldi and Trader Joe’s are from our local Florida stores and will differ by region.)
- Half gallon whole milk: $2.49
- Loaf of whole-wheat bread: $2.79
- 1 dozen eggs: $1.19
- One tomato: 69 cents
- 3-ounce container ground coffee: $4.99
- 2.35 pounds organic chicken breasts: $17.60
- Head of cauliflower: $2.49
- White mushrooms: $1.99
- One jumbo red onion: 99 cents
- Four potatoes: $1.96
- Four bananas: 76 cents
- Light sliced provolone cheese: $4.49
- Coffee creamer: $3.49
- TJ’s nonfat Greek yogurt: $4.99
- Light cheese stick: $2.99
- Frozen mixed fruit: $2.99
- Organic frozen broccoli: $2.49
- Butter croissants: $2.69
- Six thinkThin protein bars: $10.74
Pretax total at Trader Joe’s: $72.81
… and Here’s What I Paid at Aldi
Aldi is essentially a low-frills grocery chain. You bring your own bags or buy them at the store, pack your own groceries and put down a refundable $0.25 deposit to use a cart. Because Aldi keeps labor and overhead low, it can offer very competitive pricing.
With the no-frills model, Aldi typically doesn’t carry many national-brand items (or mochi rice bites) as far as I know. It does, though, maintain that its goods “are of the same, or even higher, quality than national brands.”
Here’s the cost to purchase (nearly) the same list at Aldi:
- Half gallon whole milk: $1.09
- Loaf of whole-wheat bread: $1.29
- 1 dozen eggs: 67 cents
- 1 pound tomatoes: $1.59
- Ground coffee: $3.99
- Two packages of organic chicken breasts with rib meat: $11.25
- Head of cauliflower: $1.99
- White mushrooms: $1.29
- 2 pounds jumbo red onions: $1.69
- 5 pounds potatoes: $2.69
- 1 pound organic bananas: $1.38
- Sliced provolone cheese: $1.79
- Coffee creamer: $1.89
- Tub of nonfat Greek yogurt: $3.49
- Light cheese sticks: $2.29
- Frozen mixed fruit: $2.09
- Non-organic frozen broccoli: $1.19
- Butter croissants: $2.69
- Six Fit & Active protein bars: $4.29
Pretax total: $48.64
Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s Verdict: Aldi Wins on Price, but…
On the surface, Aldi was clearly much less expensive than Trader Joe’s. But that cheaper receipt had trade-offs.
For instance, I couldn’t find a single large package of chicken breasts comparable to the Trader Joe’s option, meaning I’d need to buy two packages to last my two-week period.
Also, on my first Aldi run I couldn’t locate cauliflower heads or white mushrooms. I had to return another day to pick them up.
The produce I did find looked a little rough — OK, REALLY rough. Many tomatoes were bruised or squashed, bananas were already browning, and fruit flies hovered around the produce area.
Plus, the onions and potatoes were sold in 2- and 5-pound bags, respectively. Since I’m shopping for one, I wasn’t sure I could use it all before spoilage.
So who’s the better pick?
I suppose the simplest answer is it depends.
Hear me out. I prefer fresher produce, and the nearby Aldi doesn’t offer the best selection, so Aldi might not be my top pick for fruits and vegetables — though that will differ by location.
For households, however, buying produce in the larger bags Aldi sells could be an advantage.
There also wasn’t a light cheese option at Aldi, which matters to me. But you can’t have everything.
For shoppers who are less particular, Aldi could be the budget-friendly choice. If you’re selective, think about buying certain staples at Trader Joe’s and the rest at Aldi.
What do you think? Are Aldi’s lower prices enough to make you switch?
