I took my usual grocery list to Walmart. I missed Aldi's lower prices but still found surprising wins.

Business Insider

2 days ago

I spend $40 shopping at Aldi for two on a biweekly basis, and I took that grocery list to Walmart.
I bought similar items at Walmart and compared prices between the chains based on cost per ounce.
Both chains had some great deals, but Aldi felt like the cheaper option for me overall.
For years, I've been a fiercely loyal Aldi shopper.
Our household of two usually spends about $40 there every two weeks and generally walk away feeling like we've scored a great deal.
From produce to pantry staples, the chain's budget-friendly selection keeps our grocery bills in check without making us sacrifice quality.
Still, I've always been curious if we're missing out on deals by not buying groceries at other retailers. So, I took my usual Aldi shopping list to Walmart, another chain that's famous for its low prices.
I did my best to purchase the lowest cost, most comparable items at Walmart. Since product sizes varied, I compared the price per ounce of what I purchased at each store.
Here's how my go-to Aldi grocery list fared at Walmart.
It was nice to see a true tie right out of the gate.
For the spring mix, Walmart edged out Aldi with both quantity and cost efficiency.
Marketside spring mix from Walmart: $0.36 an ounce
Simply Nature mixed greens from Aldi: $0.58 an ounce
I use mixed greens constantly, whether in salads, sandwiches, or smoothies.
I ended up with a bigger container at Walmart for a better price per ounce. Since I knew we'd use up these greens before they went bad, I also preferred buying the larger package.
Ground turkey was cheaper at Aldi.
Jennie-O ground turkey from Walmart: $0.25 an ounce
Kirkwood ground turkey from Aldi: $0.17 an ounce
Ground turkey is one of my favorite proteins to cook with, especially for tacos or rice bowls. I usually go for 85% lean.
Both stores provided me with a great quality product, but Aldi won me over with its lower price.
I prefer the taste of Aldi's frozen veggie mix, but Walmart's won me over with its price.
Great Value deluxe stir-fry mix from Walmart: $0.12 an ounce
Season's Choice broccoli stir-fry mix from Aldi: $0.19 an ounce
I love having frozen vegetables on hand for last-minute stir-fries or side dishes.
Both bags were solid, though Walmart's option was a bit cheaper by the ounce. Although I like the taste of Aldi's veggie mix better, Walmart gets the win on price.
I'll keep getting black beans at Aldi.
Goya black beans from Walmart: $0.09 an ounce
Dakota's Pride black beans from Aldi: $0.05 an ounce
Black beans are my go-to when I need to stretch a meal or add protein to a dish. I like mixing them with ground turkey or adding them to rice dishes.
Aldi wins this round, no question. Savings add up fast when it comes to pantry staples.
The shredded cheese at Walmart was only slightly more cost-effective.
Great Value shredded cheese from Walmart: $0.25 an ounce
Happy Farms shredded cheese from Aldi: $0.27 an ounce
We go through a lot of shredded cheddar each week, whether we're using it on taco night or in scrambled eggs.
Prices were close, but Walmart just barely took this round. I couldn't tell a huge difference in taste or quality, so I'd buy this from whichever store I'm already at.
Both chains sell Café Bustelo — but the price per ounce was far better at Aldi.
Café Bustelo espresso from Walmart: $0.53 an ounce
Café Bustelo espresso from Aldi: $0.39 an ounce
I was excited to find a big tub of Café Bustelo at Walmart, especially since buying larger quantities of something can often save you money in the long run.
However, I was surprised when I compared the cost per ounce. Aldi is my clear winner here: Same brand, same taste, way better value.
Walmart had cheaper whole milk.
The savings were minimal on old-fashioned oats.
Aldi's prices on mandarins was hard to beat.
Aldi's Moser Roth chocolate will continue to be a staple for me.
Bettergoods 90% dark-chocolate bar from Walmart: $0.71 an ounce
Moser Roth 90% cacao bar from Aldi: $0.45 an ounce
I can't leave the store without a treat. For me, it's usually dark chocolate.
The prices weren't too far off — but Aldi's Moser Roth bars felt like an even better value after I tasted the bar from Bettergoods. It wasn't bad, but it didn't beat my go-to chocolate.
I was impressed by the variety I found at Walmart, but I missed the simplicity and savings of Aldi.
Looking at these numbers, my money still seems to go further at my usual grocer: Aldi.
I found some pleasant surprises at Walmart, especially when it came to the prices of the mixed greens and milk. However, Aldi's lower prices across the board on staples like beans and coffee impressed me more.
Walmart also deserves kudos for its wide variety of brands and options. Aldi mostly only sells products from its own label, which some shoppers may not like.
Personally, though, I think Aldi's simplicity and limited options can make grocery shopping a quicker task.