Aldi Update

After reading the comments on my Aldi post, I decided to go to Walmart and check actual prices in comparison.  Here is the breakdown. (Warning: Your eyes may glaze over if you are not a nerd like me.)

Aldi price (Walmart price in parenthesis).

Note: I have adjusted prices for size differences.  For example, Aldi 24 oz salsa is 1.69;  Walmart 26 oz salsa is 1.98.  If the Walmart brand were 24 oz it would cost 1.83, so I have listed that price.) If no Walmart brand was available, I listed the name brand that was available.

PRODUCE

bananas .39/lb (.37/lb)

3 heads Romaine lettuce 1.99 (2.38)

12 oz Garden Salad .99 (1.34)

9 oz fresh spinach 1.99 (10 oz 1.78)

avocados .49 (.48)

cantaloupe 1.69 (1.50)

3 lbs Golden Delicious Apples 1.69 (2.47)

5 lb Russet Potatoes 1.99 (2.17, but 10 lbs are 2.97 or 1.50/5 lbs)

MEAT

Sirloin tip steak 3.79/lb ($4.48/lb-found it marked down to 3.14/lb)

Stew meat 3.29/lb ($4.28/lb -markdown $3.00/lb)

73/27 ground beef 1.89/lb (5 lb chub 1.60/lb;5.5 lb styrofoam tray 1.81/lb)

Tyson Bnls Skls Chic. Breast 2.79/lb (Walmart brand $1.98/lb)

GROCERY

13 oz Tortilla chips .99 (1.85)

9 oz Corn chips .99 (1.50)

9 oz Cheese puffs .99 (1.50)

Rice cakes 1.29 (Quaker 2.00)

24 oz salsa 1.69 (1.83)

24 oz quick grits 1.09 (1.46)

16.9 oz Virgin olive oil 3.99 (4.88)

box instant pudding .49 (.54)

16 oz. peanuts 1.99 (2.18)

16 oz. canned pineapple .89  (.96)

14.5 oz canned diced tomatoes .55 (.63)

28 oz baked beans 1.29 (no Walmart brand-Bush’s baked beans are 1.48)

DAIRY

Milk gallon 1.49 (2.69)

Eggs .79 (1.28)

16 oz Whipping Cream 1.59 (1.48)

16 oz Butter 1.99 (1.96)

FROZEN

16 oz green beans 1.49 (.96)

16 oz corn .95 (.96)

16 oz peas .95 (.96)

Self Rising Pizza 3.69 (3.71)

Non Food Items

100 zipper sandwich bags 1.95 (2.18)

30 gallon zipper freezer bags 1.95 (2.18)

20 count 30 gal. trash bags 2.49 (2.76)

BREAD

Hamburger/hotdog buns .59 (1.00)

Wheat bread .89 (.75)

6 count Bagels 1.39 (1.77)

As you can see Walmart is lower or very close on some items, especially produce and frozen food items.  Aldi beats Walmart prices hands down on milk and eggs, snack foods, plastic bags and bread.

If I purchased one of each of the above items at Aldi, my total would be $72.11 plus tax.  Walmart would be $87.73- a difference of $15.62 which is significant enough to make the change.

For our family, however, I save more buying items on sale with coupons.  I only buy meat on sale or markdown and rarely pay more than $3.00/lb for it.  I recently purchased first cold press premium olive oil for $2.99 for 16 ounces.  This beats the Aldi price by $1.00.

Nutrition and grocery shopping are intensely personal.  Every family eats differently and shops differently. Of course, you should shop the way that works for your family.  If you love Aldi, by all means, shop there.  For our family I will continue to stock up on sales and use coupons and if I run out of something before the next sale, I will go to Walmart.