I’m constantly looking for strategies to cut costs on my groceries. I mean, WHO IS NOT!? Right? Recently I noticed that Aldi is an excellent pick for customers on a limited budget. But is Aldi cheaper than Walmart, the retail giant? I made my mind up to carry out some analysis and compare the costs of a few typical grocery store items at both locations.
Aldi is often cheaper than Walmart for food items, although costs can change based on the item and the location. In comparison, Aldi was found to be 15% less costly than Walmart, and it also offered a wider range of items priced at least $0.10 less affordable than Walmart. Aldi keeps its low pricing by stocking less stuff, primarily private-label brands, charging for bags and carts, and operating smaller, simpler facilities with fewer employees. Walmart stores feature larger aisles and items than Aldi stores, which are smaller in size and have fewer items.
Aldi vs Walmart – Which Store Is Cheaper?
With 5342 outlets across the United States, Walmart ranks as one of the world’s largest networks of retail discount departmental stores. Its global net sales as of 2021 reached an incredible 555 billion dollars.
One of the primary catalysts for Walmart’s success is the stunningly low cost of its products. Aldi, a competitor, has however risen to challenge its market dominance. Aldi is constantly growing, has grown to over 2000 outlets due to its affordable rates. This poses the question concerning if Aldi is more affordable than Walmart.
I have laid out a web-based review of several grocery store products below. The prices mentioned only apply to each establishment’s exclusive brands as a way for a reliable assessment. Remember that geographic variations in pricing can happen.
Keep scrolling for a thorough analysis and to find out what products provide more savings at Walmart when compared to Aldi.
Fresh Groceries
| Product | Aldi price | Walmart Rates | Cheaper Rates |
| Green Onions | $0.89 | $0.88 | Walmart |
| Gala Apples | $2.99 | $3.70 | Aldi |
| Fuji Apples/lb | $1.32 | $1.86- | Aldi |
| Pineapple | $1.69 | $2.28 | Aldi |
| 1 pound Bananas | $0.46 | $0.47 | Aldi |
| 1 lb Yellow Onion | $0.883 | $0.757 | Walmart |
| 1 Pound Asparagus | $2.49 | $2.98 | Aldi |
| Bell-Peppers | $2.29 | $3.34 | Aldi |
| I Pound Red Grapes | $1.39 | $2.48 | Aldi |
| 1ea Lettuce | $2.09 | $2.56 | Aldi |
| Oranges, 3lb | $4.99 | $5.23 | Aldi |
Aldi charges a lesser price than Walmart for perishable groceries
Non-Perishable Groceries
| Product | Aldi Rates | Walmart Rates | Cheaper Rates |
| 28 oz Bush’s Best Original Baked Beans | $1.98 | $2.18 | Aldi |
| 12 oz Chunk Light Tuna | $1.80 | $1.72 | Walmart |
| 2 Pounds Granulated Bouillon Chicken | $4.88 | $4.74 | Walmart |
| 5 Pounds All-Purpose Flour | $1.15 | $1.56 | Aldi |
| 15 oz Canned Tomato Sauce | $0.54 | $0.64 | Aldi |
Although Walmart has a few low-cost products, Aldi wins in this comparison.
Meat & Seafood
| Product | Aldi Rates | Walmart Rates | Cheaper Rates |
| I pound Chicken Breast | $1.99 | $2.38 | Aldi |
| 1 lb Thick-cut Bacon | $4.39 | $4.24 | Walmart |
| Bacon | $3.89 | $3.24 | Walmart |
| 1 pound Ground Beef | $2.99 | $4.83 | Aldi |
| 1 Pound Fresh Salmon | $7.49 | $7.64 | Aldi |
| I Pound Pork Loin | $2.99 | $3.38 | Aldi |
| Imitation Crab Meat, 8 oz | $2.19 | $1.99 | Walmart |
| 1 Pound Beef Stew Meat | $5.49 | $5.98 | Aldi |
Walmart and Aldi both cost less for meat, with the sole exception of bacon and seafood.
Breakfast Cereals
| Product | Aldi Rates | Walmart Rates | Cheaper Rates |
| 15 oz Frosted Flakes | $1.49 | $2.98 | Aldi |
| Fit & Active Vitality Cereal Vanilla Almond | $1.95 | $2.25 | Aldi |
| Bran Flakes | $1.99 | $1.98 | Walmart |
| 18 oz Corn Flakes | $1.39 | $1.43 | Aldi |
With the most economical breakfast cereals, Aldi beats Walmart in this analysis.
Dairy & Eggs
| Product | Aldi Rates | Walmart Rates | Cheaper Rates |
| 1 Gallon Milk | $2.50 | $2.50 | Tie |
| 1 oz Non-fat Vanilla Yogurt | $0.796 | $0.737 | Walmart |
| 1 lb Unsalted Butter | $3.55 | $4.18 | Aldi |
| Almond Milk, 64 oz | $1.79 | $2.22 | Aldi |
| Free Range Organic Eggs,12-ct | $2.39 | $3.62 | Aldi |
| Butter, 16 oz | $1.89 | $2.98 | Aldi |
| Shredded Cheddar Cheese | $2.99 for/11 oz | $2.77/16 oz | Walmart |
| 1 ea Large Eggs | $0.1125 | $0.115 | Walmart |
| Eggs, 12-ct | $1.31 | $1.53 | Aldi |
| Oat Milk, 64 oz | $0.46/oz | $0.86/oz | Aldi |
Aldi leads Walmart overall despite frequent shifts in dairy pricing.
Pantry Items
| Product | Aldi Rates | Walmart Rates | Cheaper Rates |
| Soy Sauce, 15 oz. | $1.29 | $1.48 | Aldi |
| Apple Sauce Pouches | $1.49 | $2.46 | Aldi |
| Barbecue Sauce,18 oz | $0.95 | $0.98 | Aldi |
| Coffee | $3.65 | Coffee | |
| Flour (All purpose, barley, bleached) | $1.15 | $1.18 | Aldi |
| Organic Chicken Broth | $2.99 | $1.98 | Walmart |
| Peanut Butter,40 oz. | $2.29 | $3.47 | Aldi |
| Pure Maple Syrup, 12.5oz | $6.09 | $7.98 | Aldi |
| Mayonnaise, 30 oz | $1.94 | $2.48 | Aldi |
Aldi outperforms Walmart in this category when it pertains to stocking your pantry.
Bakery & Bread
| Product | Aldi Rates | Walmart Rates | Cheaper Rates |
| White Bread | $0.65 | $0.84 | Aldi |
| Tortillas | $1.29 | $1.33 | Aldi |
| Hot Dog Buns | $0.79 | $0.88 | Aldi |
| Gluten-Free Bread | $5.49 | $3.88 | Walmart |
| Chocolate Mini Donuts | $2.39 | $2.36 | Walmart |
| Plain English Muffins | $1.15 | $1.18 | Aldi |
Aldi offers lower costs than Walmart, as already visible.
Pasta & Grains
| Product | Aldi Rates | Walmart Rates | Cheaper Rates |
| Mac & Cheese, 7.25 oz | $0.34 | $0.34 | Tie |
| Elbow Macaroni | $1.82 | $1.64 | Walmart |
| Jasmine Rice, 5 Pounds | $0.069/oz | $ 0.077/oz | Aldi |
| Gluten Free Penne, 16 oz | $2.89 | $2.98 | Aldi |
| Instant White Rice, 28 oz | $2.65 | $2.44 | Walmart |
| Black Beans | $0.50 | $0.50 | Tie |
When compared to Aldi, Walmart offers very competitive pricing in the pasta and grain subcategories.
Beverages & Soda
| Product | Aldi Rates | Walmart Rates | Cheaper Rates |
| 64 fl oz Cranberry Juice Cocktail | $1.95 | $1.83 | Walmart |
| 10 6 fl oz pouches of Fruit Punch Capri Sun | $2.05 | $1.98 | Walmart |
| 20 fl oz Bolthouse Farm Green Goodness Smoothie | $2.11 | $3.53 | Aldi |
| 2-liter bottle of Coca-Cola | $2.05 | $1.96 | Walmart |
| 8 20 fl oz bottles of Thirst Quencher Gatorade | $5.49 | $5.48 | Walmart |
Aldi was surpassed by Walmart in that category.
Frozen Foods
| Product | Aldi Rates | Walmart Rates | Cheaper Rates |
| Ice-cream, 1.5 quarts | $1.85 | $1.97 | Aldi |
| Vanilla Ice Cream, 48 oz | $1.85 | $3.98 | Aldi |
| Brussels Sprouts, 12 oz | $1.15 | $1.27 | Aldi |
| Thin Crust Cheese Pizza | $2.19 | $2.80 | Aldi |
| Corn, 12 oz | $0.47 | $1.00 | Aldi |
| Cooked Shrimp | $4.59 | $5.60 | Aldi |
Aldi was outnumbered by Walmart in this particular niche.
Chips & Snacks
| Product | Aldi Rates | Walmart Rates | Cheaper Rates |
| Fruit Snacks, 28 ct | $0.15/oz | $0.136/oz | Aldi |
| Chocolate Chip Cookies, 4oz | $2.29 | $2.74 | Walmart |
| Mini Pretzels, 16 oz | $1.32 | $1.33 | Aldi |
| Plain Potato Chips, 8 oz | $1.35 | $1.23 | Walmart |
| Dark Chocolate Bar | $0.29/oz | $0.56/oz | Aldi |
Because of its tax-free status, Walmart surpasses Aldi when pertains to dry snacks.
Personal Care Products
| Product | Aldi Rates | Walmart Rates | Cheaper Rates |
| 1 Bag Trash Bags | $4.95 (11 cents/bag) | $5.12(12 cents/ bag) | Aldi |
| 28 fl oz Men’s Suave Ocean Charge 2 in 1 | $4.35 | $3.54 | Walmart |
| 500 Cotton Swabs | $1.75 | $1.98 | Aldi |
| Dish Soap | $1.69 | $1.98 | Aldi |
| 36 Count Ultra Thin Pads | $3.95 | $4.07 | Aldi |
| 5.4 oz Crest Complete Extra Whitening Toothpaste | $3.29 | $2.42 | Walmart |
| Diapers | $10.99/100 diapers | $17.57/160 diapers | Aldi |
In the domain of personal care products, Aldi turned out to be more affordable than Walmart.
Service, Departments, and Public Perception
| Product | Aldi Rates | Walmart Rates |
| Return Policy | It offers a “Twice as Nice Guarantee” | Return Policy |
| Curbside Pickup | You can get the same-day curbside pickup when you make an order on the website or via Instacart. | It gives a complimentary same-day curbside pickup. |
| Delivery | Fee is charged for Instacart delivery | It gives complimentary next-day or two-day delivery. |
| Shipping | Offer No shipping | For orders over $35, shipping is free for 3-5 days. |
| Loyalty Programs | It does not offer a loyalty reward scheme. | It features a Walmart Plus membership. |
However, I always recommend creating and sticking to a list when it comes to grocery shopping when trying to save money, irrespective of the store you select. Starting your shopping excursion with a sense that there is not enough space for flexibility. It is only up to you to take care of the items on the list.
Who Wins?
Aldi works because I cannot empty my pockets just for a more classy shopping experience!
When evaluating the per-unit costs for those items, Aldi and Walmart exhibited a price difference of around 10.4%. However, the amount of savings differed depending on the product in question.
Compared to pantry products, Aldi disclosed that fruit and certain kinds of meat were cheaper. You’ll save more every time you shop at Aldi because of their regular low prices.
It calls for weighing the benefits and drawbacks of Aldi and Walmart before making a choice. The shopping experience between the two is a key comparison.
The stores at Aldi are relatively tiny and offer a simple shopping experience since they want to keep costs down. While keeping costs low, Walmart has larger outlets that offer an extensive range of products and a more classic supermarket shopping experience.
Despite knowing that Aldi is usually less expensive than Walmart for many items, Walmart often offers discounts on its products. This indicates that there may be an opportunity for bigger savings at Walmart for smart customers who use these offerings.
In addition, compared to Aldi, Walmart offers a greater range of goods. Therefore, Walmart can be your preferred option if you’re looking for an item that Aldi doesn’t offer.
While Aldi and Walmart offer attractive grocery shopping options, your final choice ultimately boils down to priorities and individual preferences. Aldi’s low prices and consistent excellence make it an informed decision that could help you save money.
On the other hand, Walmart may offer various items and take advantage of discounts. Aldi delivers a no-frills experience, while Walmart’s shopping environment has a classic vibe.
How Does Aldi Keep Its Prices Low As Compared to Other Retailers?
Aldi has earned an image for its wide range of reasonably cost goods sold under its private label. Aldi’s exclusive items comprise more than 90% of the groceries they sell, avoiding the need for higher expenses connected with well-known brand names, like fees associated with marketing and advertising.
Aldi streamlines its buying process and avoids brand names, drawing comparisons to Trader Joe’s plan. Aldi keeps a restricted inventory of roughly 1,400 products, significantly fewer than Costco’s stock of about 4,000 items.
Due to this, the stores have smaller tracks, resulting in lower rent and labor expenses. In contrast, Walmart supercenters have over 100,000 products, whereas an ordinary grocer only stocks around 40,000 items.
In contrast to other retailers, Aldi also takes a modest strategy for advertising. Customers must also carry their bags and lease shopping carts, further decreasing costs. Customers then benefit from these savings while sustaining the store’s dedication to affordable prices.
Rather than having to be placed separately on shelves, Aldi displays its products in the original cardboard shipment containers. This allows you to save costs while reducing workers’ time during refilling.
Aldi Store Details
With around 2,000 shop sites across 36 states, German discount retailer Aldi has an important position in the retail sector.
Aldi states that its prices are surprisingly 50% lower than those at traditional stores. A comprehensive review in locations like Chicago and Houston demonstrated that Aldi’s prices represented a 15% discount compared to Walmart’s.
The considerable price difference has helped Aldi emerge as the fastest-growing grocery company in the United States over the last year.
Aldi currently holds the third-largest position amongst grocery retailers regarding the number of stores, after Walmart and Kroger, who claim the first and second places, respectively. According to data from the National Retail Federation, Aldi earns the 4th rank in sales, having sales close to $135 billion.
Walmart Store Details
As the largest retailer in the world, Walmart maintains a significant footprint with about 10,000 outlets and 600 Sam’s Club sites spread across 20 different countries. This giant company also has 2.1 million employees worldwide, of whom 1.6 million work in the United States, making it the biggest private employer in the world.
Walmart’s huge supercentres are what set them above other retailers. They are known for having a large inventory that includes many products and surpasses Aldi’s selection by an average of 70. These supercentres surpass Aldi’s average store size of 12,000 sq ft, covering a vast 178,000 square foot area.
Around $538 billion was Walmart’s overall sales as of the end of 2022, a startling sum that is nearly four times the $135 billion in profit that Aldi stated.
Additionally, Walmart offers an extensive selection of private-label products, including well-known brands like Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, Member’s Mark, Ol’ Roy, Parents Choice, and others.
The basis of Walmart’s capacity to maintain cost-efficiency rests on its vast scale, made possible by multiple sales that allow procurement of products in bulk.
Additionally, Walmart has been investing heavily in cutting-edge technology, facilitating streamlined processes, waste reduction, and improved efficiency. It is now offering one of the best buy now pay later programs to make shopping more affordable for buyers.
Key Takeaways
- For most grocery store items, Aldi usually costs less than Walmart. The prices I assessed revealed that Aldi was around 15% less costly than Walmart.
- Prices at Aldi were particularly affordable for vegetables along with certain meats. A wider range of private-label products is also available at Aldi, which helps you save a lot more.
- Walmart has a higher price tag but more options and convenience than Aldi, which offers smaller range and less convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Aldi cheaper than Costco?
Aldi usually charges less for its private-label items than Costco, but Costco costs less for brand-name products.
Is Aldi cheaper than Target?
Although costs can differ by product and location, Aldi usually provides lower prices for groceries than Target.
Is Aldi cheaper than Publix?
Aldi came out above Publix with an aggregate price of $114.93, which was $26.15 (or about 18%) less expensive than Publix’s average of $141.08.
Is Aldi cheaper than H-E-B?
Budget buyers who dread shopping might prefer Aldi over H-E-B. In most cases, Aldi is more affordable than H-E-B for groceries.
Is Aldi cheaper than Trader’s Joe?
Aldi offers specialty and gourmet products at a cheaper rate than Trader Joe’s, providing it the advantage. Along with handmade bread and baked goods, customers may find a wide range of exotic cheeses and charcuterie.
Ashley G. Anderson has than a decade of experience in business strategy and retail industry. She is an expert on the U.S. and world economies. She served as president of World Money Watch, where she shared her expertise on U.S. and world economies, as well as retail industry.
