America’s Cheapest Grocery Store in 2026
What is the cheapest grocery store? Which grocery store will save you the most money? Take a look at this massive price comparison of four of the biggest grocery store chains to see how they rank. Let’s find out the cheapest grocery store in 2026!
Are you geniunely wondering what is the cheapest grocery store in 2026? Is Aldi really cheaper than Walmart? And how do Kroger and Meijer compare?
I have been tracking grocery prices for years because I want to know where I can get the most groceries for my money. I first completed this massive grocery price comparison in 2019, and I have updated it five times since then.
For my latest update, I compared 184 common grocery and household items at Aldi, Walmart, Kroger and Meijer.
And once again, we have a clear winner.
Aldi is the cheapest grocery store in 2026 based on everyday prices.
But there are some very interesting changes in the numbers this year, especially when you compare them to what grocery prices looked like when I started this project in 2019.
If you are a grocery geek like me, you’re going to love this because I have a lot of numbers, prices and data to share with you. I’m not guessing. I really compared all these prices in September 2026.
Let’s dive into all the numbers!
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. You can read more in my disclosure policy.
What Is the Cheapest Grocery Store in 2026?
If you want the quick answer, Aldi has the cheapest everyday grocery prices in my 2026 price comparison.
Here are the results.
| 2026 Results | Aldi | Meijer | Kroger | Walmart |
| Lowest Price | 125 | 8 | 13 | 49 |
| Second Lowest | 2 | 8 | 8 | 32 |
| Total Lowest | 127 | 16 | 21 | 81 |
| Lowest Price | 68% | 4% | 7% | 27% |
| Second Lowest | 1% | 4% | 4% | 17% |
| Total Lowest | 69% | 8% | 11% | 44% |
Aldi had the absolute lowest price on 125 items, or about 68% of the items compared.
Walmart came in second with the lowest price on 49 items, followed by Kroger with 13 and Meijer with 8.
When I include prices that were within 5 cents of the lowest price, Aldi was at or near the lowest price on 127 items, compared to 81 at Walmart, 21 at Kroger and 16 at Meijer.
Note: Some stores tied for the lowest price on the same product, so the totals will not add up perfectly.
The numbers make it pretty clear. If you are shopping strictly based on regular, everyday prices, Aldi continues to be the cheapest grocery store in my comparison.
How Did I Compare Grocery Store Prices?
I live in Northern Indiana, where I have easy access to Aldi, Walmart, Meijer and Kroger. Those are the four stores I have tracked since I started this project.
I compared prices in 10 different areas of the grocery store:
- Dairy
- Pantry
- Canned Goods
- Condiments
- Baking Goods
- Meat
- Frozen Foods
- Paper and Cleaning Products
- Personal Products
- Diapers
I compared the cheapest generic option whenever possible, along with some name-brand products where appropriate.
I also compared package sizes carefully. When stores carried different sizes, I compared the price per ounce rather than simply looking at the sticker price.
Most importantly, these are everyday prices.
I did NOT include sale prices, digital coupons, clearance prices, or other special discounts.
That is intentional.
I love shopping sales and regularly save money that way, but I wanted this comparison to answer one very specific question:
Which grocery store has the lowest regular prices?
Please remember that prices also vary around the country. These are prices from Northern Indiana, so your exact prices may be different. Still, comparing this much data gives us a very good look at the pricing differences between these four stores.
How Much Cheaper Is Aldi Than Walmart, Kroger and Meijer?
This year, I wanted to look beyond simply counting which store had the lowest price.
I also wanted to know: How much money are we actually talking about?
Because some stores sell products in different package sizes, it would not be accurate to simply add every price in my complete spreadsheet together.
However, I found 109 products where all four stores had directly comparable prices. When I totaled those 109 products, here is what they cost.
| Store | Cost of 109 Comparable Items |
|---|---|
| Aldi | $263.62 |
| Walmart | $279.73 |
| Kroger | $311.34 |
| Meijer | $313.26 |
That is a pretty substantial difference!
Buying those same 109 items at Aldi instead of Walmart saved $16.11, making the Aldi total about 5.8% cheaper than Walmart.
The difference was even larger at the other stores.
Aldi was $47.72 cheaper than Kroger, which made the Aldi cart about 15.3% cheaper than Kroger.
Aldi was $49.64 cheaper than Meijer, making the Aldi total about 15.8% cheaper than Meijer.
This is why looking at actual dollars matters. Walmart remains fairly competitive with Aldi, but the gap becomes much larger when you compare Aldi to Kroger or Meijer at regular prices.
What Is the Cheapest Grocery Store by Category?
One of the most interesting parts of this year’s research was breaking the results down by category.
Aldi didn’t just win overall. Aldi had the most lowest-price items in 8 of the 10 categories I compared.
Aldi Is Especially Cheap for Canned Goods and Dairy
Aldi absolutely dominated the canned goods category.
Out of 21 canned goods I compared, Aldi had the lowest price on 19 of them – 90% of the category.
Aldi also had the lowest price on 21 of 24 dairy products, or 88%.
Here is how many lowest-price wins Aldi had in each category:
| Category | Aldi Lowest Prices | Items Compared | Aldi % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canned Goods | 19 | 21 | 90% |
| Dairy | 21 | 24 | 88% |
| Meat | 9 | 11 | 82% |
| Frozen | 7 | 9 | 78% |
| Condiments | 16 | 22 | 73% |
| Baking Goods | 20 | 29 | 69% |
| Pantry | 23 | 39 | 59% |
| Paper & Cleaning | 7 | 12 | 58% |
| Personal Products | 2 | 10 | 20% |
| Diapers | 1 | 7 | 14% |
Again, ties are included, so more than one store can receive a lowest-price win on the same item.
There is an important takeaway here.
Aldi is strongest on actual food. Walmart becomes much more competitive once you move into personal care products and diapers.
Walmart Is Cheapest for Personal Care and Diapers
Walmart beat Aldi in two categories.
For personal products, Walmart had the lowest price on 6 of 10 products, compared to only 2 for Aldi. Some of that is due to their limited selection which means Aldi just doesn’t carry everything you need to always be a one stop shop.
For diapers, Walmart had the lowest price on 5 of 7 products, or 71% of the products compared.
So even though Aldi is the clear overall winner, I wouldn’t automatically assume Aldi is cheapest for everything.
This is exactly why knowing your prices matters!
Is Aldi Cheaper Than Walmart?
Yes. Based on my 2026 price comparison, Aldi is cheaper than Walmart overall.
Aldi had the lowest price on 125 items, compared to 49 for Walmart.
Aldi was at or within 5 cents of the lowest price on 127 items, compared to 81 for Walmart.
And on the 109 products where I could make a direct dollar-for-dollar comparison, Aldi cost $263.62 compared to $279.73 at Walmart.
That’s a difference of $16.11, or about 5.8%.
Still, Walmart remains Aldi’s closest competitor.
Walmart also carries many products Aldi does not. If you want to shop at only one store and need groceries, toiletries, paper products and household items, paying a little more at Walmart may be worth the convenience.
Is Walmart Cheaper Than Kroger?
Based strictly on everyday prices, yes. Walmart is considerably cheaper than Kroger.
Walmart had the lowest price on 49 items compared to only 13 for Kroger.
On my 109 directly comparable products, Walmart totaled $279.73, while Kroger totaled $311.34.
That is a difference of $31.61.
But this is where I have to put in a big disclaimer.
I rarely pay Kroger’s regular prices.
Kroger has some fantastic sales, digital coupons and markdowns. When Kroger puts something on a great sale, that price can absolutely beat Aldi or Walmart.
So I don’t consider these results a reason to stop shopping at Kroger. Instead, they remind me to be very selective about what I buy there.
Is Meijer Cheaper Than Aldi or Walmart?
Not when comparing regular prices.
Meijer had the lowest price on only 8 items in my 2026 comparison.
On the 109 directly comparable products, Meijer was the most expensive store at $313.26.
That was $49.64 more than Aldi and $33.53 more than Walmart.
Once again, though, this doesn’t mean I won’t shop at Meijer.
Meijer runs good sales, particularly on meat. I am happy to shop those sales when the price beats my normal stock-up prices.
The key is knowing when a sale really is a good deal.
How Has the Cheapest Grocery Store Changed Since 2019?
When I started this research in 2019, Walmart was the clear winner. Walmart was at or near the lowest price on 72% of the items I compared, compared to only 33% at Aldi. In 2026, those positions have almost reversed, with Aldi at 69% and Walmart at 44%.
This is also a good reminder of why I keep updating this research.
Grocery prices change.
The cheapest store then (2019) is not the cheapest store now (2026).
How Much Have Grocery Prices Increased Since 2019?
We all know groceries cost more than they used to, but exactly how much more?
Since I have been tracking the same grocery prices since 2019, I went back through my original data to find out.
I found 88 products that I could directly compare between my 2019 and 2026 research. For each item, I looked at the lowest price available among Aldi, Walmart, Kroger and Meijer.
In 2019, buying those 88 products at the store with the lowest price would have cost $135.00.
In 2026, those same 88 products at the lowest available prices cost $199.96.
That’s an increase of $64.96 – or 48.1% – in seven years.
For comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that overall food-at-home prices increased approximately 33.4% from August 2019 to July 2026. My basket of 88 commonly purchased products increased even more, at 48.1% over roughly the same time period.
Some individual price increases were even more dramatic:
- Ground beef (80% lean) increased from $2.99 to $6.19 per pound – an increase of 107%.
- Canola oil (48 oz) increased from $1.85 to $3.89 – up 110%.
- Chocolate chips increased from $1.74 to $3.65 – up 110%.
- Saltine crackers increased from $0.77 to $1.85 – up 140%.
- Tomato paste (6 oz) increased from $0.39 to $0.86 – up 121%.
- Salad dressing (16 oz) increased from $0.92 to $1.99 – up 116%.
Not everything doubled, of course. A gallon of milk went from a lowest price of $1.77 in 2019 to $2.02 in 2026, an increase of only 14%. Butter was surprisingly steady in my particular comparison, increasing from $2.85 to $2.89 per pound.
But taken together, the numbers are pretty striking.
Even shopping every single item at the cheapest store, this same basket of 88 groceries costs 48% more than it did in 2019.
That is exactly why I believe knowing your prices – and shopping sales and stockpiling when prices are low – matters more than ever.
Is Aldi Still Cheapest If You Shop Grocery Sales?
Let’s get back to saving today. This is where things get a bit more complicated.
Aldi is the cheapest store in my comparison based on everyday prices.
But everyday prices are only one way to save money on groceries.
If you are willing to shop sales, use digital coupons and stock up when prices are low, stores like Kroger and Meijer can have prices that beat Aldi.
This is how I personally grocery shop.
I don’t buy everything at Aldi just because Aldi won this comparison.
Instead, I combine Aldi’s low regular prices with the best sales I find elsewhere.
Cheapest Everyday Prices: Aldi
If I need something now and there isn’t a good sale anywhere, Aldi is usually my first choice.
With 125 lowest-price items in this comparison, the numbers support that strategy.
Best One-Stop Low Price Option: Walmart
Walmart doesn’t beat Aldi overall, but it comes closer than Kroger or Meijer.
Walmart is also a much easier one-stop shop because it carries products Aldi doesn’t.
If I don’t want to make another stop, I am often willing to pay a few cents more at Walmart.
Best Strategy for Sale Shoppers: Shop More Than One Store
This is where you can really save.
For me, I check the weekly ads and shop the amazing sales at Kroger because their sale food prices usually beat the every day low price at Aldi and Walmart. Then, I do a stock up trip once or twice a month at Aldi where prices are the lowest to fill in the gaps. This is what it currently looks like for me, but I am constantly reevaluating to be a smart shopper.
You don’t have to visit four stores every week.
Simply knowing which prices are good allows you to shop strategically when the sales appear.
What About Costco, Sam’s Club, Trader Joe’s, WinCo and Other Grocery Stores?
I know there are other inexpensive grocery stores, but I intentionally limited this comparison to Aldi, Walmart, Kroger and Meijer.
Warehouse stores such as Costco and Sam’s Club sell many products in much larger package sizes, which makes a direct shopping-list comparison difficult.
Specialty stores don’t necessarily carry all the same products either.
I wanted to compare the same basic grocery list across traditional grocery stores as fairly as possible.
There is also an important location aspect to this comparison.
I live in Indiana. Stores such as WinCo, Lidl, H-E-B and other regional chains are not available to me, so I can’t personally collect the same in-store pricing data for those stores.
I would rather give you actual prices I researched myself than guess about stores I can’t accurately compare.
What is the cheapest grocery store near me?
Your cheapest grocery store may be different from mine.
Thankfully, you don’t need to compare more than 180 products to figure it out!
Start with 20 to 25 products your family buys regularly.
Write down what you normally pay for milk, eggs, butter, cheese, bread, cereal, chicken, ground beef and whatever other staples regularly end up in your cart.
Then compare those same products at two or three grocery stores near you. Don’t rule out the “more expensive” stores because you might be surprised at what you find.
Many grocery store apps make this easier than it used to be.
Just make sure you are comparing the same package sizes—or calculate the unit price when the sizes are different.
Once you know which store is consistently cheaper on the things you actually buy, you have your answer.
Here’s a printable price book form you can use if you want to do your own price comparison.
One more thing to consider…
Does the Cheapest Grocery Store Always Save You the Most Money?
Not necessarily.
Price matters, but so does…
- The quality of the food
- How far you have to drive
- How much time another grocery stop takes
- Whether the store carries everything you need
- Sales and digital coupons
- Fuel rewards
- Whether you actually like the store brands
Saving 10 cents isn’t worth driving across town.
On the other hand, saving $10, $20 or $30 on a larger grocery trip can certainly make another stop worthwhile.
Use the numbers as a starting point, but make the decision that works best for your family.
How Do I Use This Information to Save Money on Groceries?
After doing this research for years, I keep coming back to the same conclusion.
Know your prices.
If you want to shop mainly at one store, Aldi is a great choice based on my research.
If you want to save even more, learn the everyday low prices at Aldi and Walmart and then watch for Kroger and Meijer sales that beat them.
That is also why I keep a list of my personal stock-up prices.
When I see a sale, I don’t have to wonder if $2.99 is a good price. I already know what I normally pay and what price is low enough for me to stock up.
Combining low everyday prices with great sale prices is one of the simplest ways to stretch your grocery budget.
Want to See All My Grocery Price Research?
Want to see all the actual numbers and compare the different prices yourself?
I compiled way too much information to share in one blog post. This blog post is already quite long, but there is still more I could share. If you want a copy of all my charts with prices and statistics, you are welcome to it! I compiled all my research into a 34 page printable PDF ebook – with lots of detailed lists!
What lists are included in the ebook?
- Master Price Comparison (with all 4 stores and their prices)
- Lowest and Second Lowest Prices
- Stock Up Prices (Category)
- Stock Up Prices (Alphabetical) – My Favorite List!
- Best Places to Buy (Category)
- Best Places to Buy (Alphabetical)
- Aldi Shopping List
- Meijer Shopping List
- Kroger Shopping List
- Walmart Shopping List
I hope this price comparison helps you save money next time you are shopping! Will it change where you shop? What is the cheapest grocery store near you?
I hope this price comparison helps you save money next time you are shopping! Will it change where you shop? What is the cheapest grocery store near you?
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cheapest Grocery Store
Based on my comparison of more than 180 grocery and household items in Northern Indiana, Aldi has the cheapest everyday prices in 2026. Aldi had the lowest price on 125 items, compared to 49 at Walmart, 13 at Kroger and 8 at Meijer.
Yes. Aldi had the lowest price on 68% of the products in my 2026 comparison, compared to 27% for Walmart. On 109 directly comparable products, Aldi cost $263.62 compared to $279.73 at Walmart.
For regular everyday prices, yes. My 109-item comparable shopping basket cost $279.73 at Walmart versus $311.34 at Kroger—a difference of $31.61. Kroger sales and digital coupons can change that equation considerably, which is why I still regularly shop Kroger sales.
Aldi was the clear winner in my 2026 comparison. Aldi had the lowest price on 19 of 21 canned goods, or 90%.
Walmart won the diaper category in my comparison, with the lowest price on 5 of 7 diaper and wipe products.
My gf likes going to Walmart and HEaB. But, when I go to Krogers, it seems I am able to get far more groceries for a giant less. I think using my Kroger card makes a big difference. Many items are greatly marked down, but only if you use your Kroger card. I had also found it seems only Krogers seems to have lots of great sales prices in their meat department. Which seems to not be the case with other stores. Then, as you mentioned. I earn fuel points for every dollar I spend. More I spend, the greater the discount. It seems their gas prices tend to be very competitive, And, closest in the are or very close. With the file points, it’s a game changer. There have been times where I earned ¢50 off on every gallon. Though I had not spent as much lately and made me like my saved up points at the end of the month is more around ¢20. What I use to do was take my car with the largest tank to the grocery store and gas station next, so to max my discount. But, also bring two large gas cans , so I can go home and fill up my smaller car’s tank. Thus maximizing my saving on gas. I hope this helps. I’m also interested in finding out how those who are super couponers are able to get hundreds of dollars worth of groceries, and do it for only a few bucks. And, sometimes even get money back without having to pay a penny for 2 full baskets of stuff. The shows seem great on this subject. Though offer little if any information on how people can do so well, themselves.
Are you still sharing your spreadsheet with email subscribers? I have one from a previous year and even though only Aldi and Walmart are in my area, it’s very helpful to me for price comparisons.
Yes, indeed! I sent it out awhile ago, but just emailed you the link again!
I wish that the tables were labeled. I see Walmart 68, Kroger 26 .. 68 what? Bananas? 68 out of 100 rating?
The tables are labeled…as it says just above the chart. All numbers and percentages are out of the 183 items I calculated.
Good morning Kristen,
I enjoyed your article, lot of effort on your part! The one item I did not see was QUALITY.
I’m a 72 retired guy that enjoys grocery shopping. I have done a similar survey (not as detailed) and have found that it’s not only about price. Aldi’s “soft” dairy products (milk, cream, sour cream, yogurt etc) I will to Meijer/Walmart. Their produce is hit and miss, I don’t bother looking. Too many times there’s spoiled/moldy items in the box with the “marginal”.
If you’re not going to use it 24 hours do not purchase it. Have you tried their meats? I gave them a chance. Not for my family. The good thing about the meat/poultry is if you don’t like it and return the product they double the purchase price for the refund. I use Aldi for canned goods, bread (great selection), crackers, cereal, cheese, snacks, etc. I also like to cruise the home goods and Aldi “finds”.
Enjoy your article! Thanks
PS: do a little digging on why I will no longer purchase the items I listed.
Great insights, Greg! I agree with you. I skip the produce at Aldi as well. It never lasts for me. And meats? I go to Meijer or Kroger where I get a much better quality meat than at Walmart or Aldi. I agree that price is not the only important factor. Sometimes, you have to weigh in other factors as well. Thanks for taking the time to read and share your insights as well!
I have learned to shop the weekly and 5X digital sales at Kroger. They also frequently have markdowns. Since my diet strongly goes in the direction of keto with a disproportionate amount spent on meat & fish, produce, and dairy I am doing better than Aldi (or Walmart, or Meijer). I brew my own kombucha and kefir and I can anticipate the sales on fruit juice and milk where I buy multiple items to last me until the next sale. Aldi rarely has lower meat prices. I basically shop the sales for my needs and avoid processed foods and sugary items. I also bake my own keto bread which, in turn, generates keto breadcrumbs. I freeze in bulk as well.
Good points! I buy ahead on the Kroger sales too. They really make for some fabulous deals! As for meat, the sales at Kroger often beat Aldi for me too.
Taking into account as well, the viability of travel distance and time required. It isn’t worth driving to two different stores to save 10 cents on seven items in most peoples’ opinions. Kroger knows this and thus often has the biggest and most diverse inventory…as does WallMart. This study is great, but only if you have all four options fairly close to each other. Otherwise, you’ll be shopping the way Kroger wants you to. Using coupons for items you are going to buy anyway is still a good option, and you are helped by stores like Kroger and Meijer that often mail you coupons for such items. So, the question you must ask is, “Am I willing to accept a lower quality in place of products I am comfortable in buying in order to save money?” If so, then Aldi is the way to go…keeping in mind their aforementioned limited inventory. Presently I find myself shopping at Aldi and supplementing with Kroger along with coupons.
Can you compare ALDI USA everyday prices with Trader Joes and Costco?
Hi, Daniel! No, I have not, as Costco is exclusive to members and does not publically share prices on their website. It is similar to Sams but I can’t give you an exact comparison. As for Trader Joe’s, as a speciality store, it does not have all the items available to do a true cost comparison. If I ever add those two stores to my price comparison, I will let you know!
Walmart has equal or higher prices than Meijer. Meijer has very good sales that Walmart never has.
While I agree that Meijer has good sales that Walmart does not have (and I shop those regularly!), if you are comparing every day prices – without sales – Walmart near us always beats Meijer.
Yes. This was true where I lived in Chicagoland. Also when I lived there & in West Michigan, Meijer was known more as a mid-range price store. Both areas had other stores that were known to have higher prices. I live in FL now & sure miss Meijer! They are an awesome one stop place, had vitamins B1G1 often, sales like that you don’t typically see at grocery stores. Between that sort of sales, their coupons & loyalty program, I paid about the same as Aldi for total groceries but had more product choices. I even used to get toys & clothes there! I have scored $3 pants for my kids, $15 Sketchers with sale & coupon combined, etc. Sometimes I could even get a nice toy almost free when combining a coupon with clearance. Also they were practically next door to Walmart, so they definitely competed & Meijer gas price was the best in the neighborhood. I would just go to Aldi once per month to stock up on stuff that was always cheapest there.
Thanks so much for the info. I have always wondered about Aldi. I will certainly take your advice!
I find your article very interessting I think that two years has made a major change in pricing. We only have two local stores Piggly Wiggly and Dollar General Market. The PIG is very overpriced since we are in a tourist area . Walmart(s) are about an hour away ( 4 within 15 minutes of each other) and are among at least six other grocery stores in that area. Currently the closest Aldi’s is in another state several hours away.
Aldis in past home locations has always been lower than Walmart on everything they sell.. Walmarts in those locations refused to match any Aldi’s Ads even years ago.. Every where prices have sky rocketed and most stores have large gaps on shelves. We hope to get an Aldi’s near Walmart here soon.
Walmart used to brag 90+ % US made goods they are currently under 5% US or North America made. We haven’t found a Walmart with good produce anywhere. It just doesn’t stay fresh for even a couple of days. The closest ones to us have now priced themselves higher than several Grocery chains. The only advantage shopping Walmart is being able to get a larger selection of types of things in one trip.They also have lots of missing items.Now waiting until we have a appointment in that area and going store to store for sales and selecting on sale items to eat rather than preferred items is our only way to save in the Florida panhandle especially right now. When we travel to see relatives we buy tons of staples at Aldi’s to bring home. Several articles have rated Aldis brand products and COSCO products as high or higher than name brand products. That is certainly not all of them.but makes them worth trying. They also seem to have less pricing errors than Walmart.
I have to wholeheartedly agree! I DO want to point out, however, that Dollar Tree has some pretty amazing deals on non-perishable grocery items (my local DTs do not have any fresh produce, but for a dollar, their pasta is always more than a pound; 2 pounds of dried beans/peas/lentils, etc…). I am fortunate that, approximately half an hour from my home town, there is an Aldi, a Dollar Tree, AND a Walmart all within the same “shopping center” footprint. Locally, we have a smaller Wal-Mart. BUT, our local Kwik Trip (which is a gas station/convenience store) can NOT be beat for onions/potatoes/bananas ($.38/pound), and rotating sales (i.e., ground chuck – $2.98/lb, butter – $1.99/lb, bread – $.50/1-lb loaf, 5-oz beef sirloin fillets 3-for-$5, bacon-wrapped 6-oz pork sirloin fillets at $1.99/ea), etc. Plus, they are 100% sustainable (i.e., recycle their own plastic to make their own milk jugs, have their own bakery, farms, profit-share for even their part-time employees, and treat their employees beautifully!). It is an AMAZING corporation!!
Great tips, Chrissie! I was not aware of those Kwik Trip deals, as we don’t have one nearby – but this is really good to know. It just goes to show that you can find good deals in many different places – when you look for the deals! 🙂