Skip to Content

Is Wal Mart Cheaper than Aldi? A $75 Shopping Challenge

Is Wal Mart cheaper than Aldi? Here is a $75 shopping trip, only at Wal Mart, to see how the prices compare. I was surprised at the results!

Awhile back I received an email from a reader who kind of challenged me in regards to grocery shopping. If you read my blog often, you know that I usually visit multiple stores every weekend to get the best deals. In her email, my reader said the only store around her for miles is a Wal Mart; she isn’t blessed with 6 different grocery stores in a 5-mile radius like I am, and she wanted to see people who could do all of their shopping at one store, no matter the prices.

That got me thinking: I rarely shop at Wal Mart for groceries. I wonder if it’s any cheaper than Aldi?

Friends, I have an answer. And I’ll break it all down for you.

Before I go into what I bought, I have to set the stage. To let you know what I had to work with here.

  • I planned my trip around $75, my usual spending money. I do have a $14 overage from last week but chose not to use it here.
  • I’m using items I already have at home to help with these meals, as I’m sure you do as well. For example: I already had tuna, frozen chicken, black beans, and cheese. Creating the entire menu below would cost me over $75, but I always have some sort of small stockpile.
  • I went with the Great Value brand wherever I could to save money.

So below is the list of everything I bought at Wal Mart. I tried to include what I know of Aldi prices, if there was a huge price difference. I’m actually quite surprised, and I’ll elaborate later:


Is Wal Mart cheaper than Aldi? Here is a $75 shopping trip, only at Wal Mart, to see how the prices compare. I was surprised at the results!

Is Wal Mart cheaper than Aldi? Here is a $75 shopping trip, only at Wal Mart, to see how the prices compare. I was surprised at the results!

Wal Mart

BirdsEye Oriental Stir Fry veggies: $5.98
Oranges: $4.48, around $2.99 at Aldi
Box of 12-pack mandarin oranges: $4.98. I can’t find canned mandarins that are in 100% fruit juice! Anyone have suggestions?
Ground turkey: $1.50, $1.89 at Aldi
Pepsi Max 2-liter: $1.00
Cauliflower: $2.47, $1.99 at Aldi
Milk: $1.07
Sweet potatoes, 3-pound bag: $2.94, $1.69 at Aldi
McIntosh apples, 3-pound bag: $3.44
Carrots, 2-pound bag: $1.44, $1.29 at Aldi
Russet potatoes: $1.97
2 cans diced tomatoes: $.72 each
Smuckers Natural peanut butter: $3.32. Their store brand peanut butter contained sugar and this was the next best thing.
Hot salsa: $1.98
7 cups Greek yogurt: $.76 each
Ground cinnamon: $.98
Cream cheese tub: $2.36
Canned tomato sauce: $.72
Applesauce: $1.98
Cottage cheese: $1.84
Red bell pepper: $.68. This was supposed to be $1.48 but I think she accidentally rang it up as a green pepper.
Shredded lettuce: $1.75. I’ll definitely shred my own next time; a 3-pack of Romaine hearts at Aldi is $1.99!
Pretzels: $1.98, $1.29 at Aldi
White cheddar popcorn: $1.98
Tomatoes, 1.14 pounds: $2.03
Bananas, 3.05 pounds: $1.66
Tortilla shells: $1.75
Brown rice: $1.37
French bread: $.40, on clearance
2 dozen eggs: $.72 each
Avocado: $1.68
Pads: $3.76
Toothpaste: $2.47

Weekly Total: $74.68, plus got 12 cents back from the Savings Catcher app!


So, I made it right under $75. Technically it should have been a little over because of the bell pepper, but I’m still pretty much right on target. Here are my thoughts:

  • Wal Mart has Aldi beat based on item varieties. I know that’s the point of Aldi, is to have a small selection to make prices cheaper; but I do like how Wal Mart has more variety. For example, Wal Mart has hot salsa, and Aldi does not. Wal Mart also has different flavors of diced tomatoes, like fire roasted.
  • In the case of fresh produce prices, Aldi wins hands-down. Some items didn’t vary as much in price; bananas were the same price per pound, and apples and carrots were very similar too. But the sweet potatoes killed me. $2.94 at Wal Mart compared to $1.69 at Aldi? For 3 pounds! I guess Aldi’s spoiled me.
  • I like how I can get both groceries and personal care items at Wal Mart. Aldi has a small selection of personal care stuff, but I prefer to go elsewhere because I can find it cheaper.

In conclusion, would I go to Wal Mart for all of my shopping? Probably not. Is shopping only at Wal Mart do-able? Yes. You have to be deliberate in your purchases, and make sure none of that food goes to waste; but other than the higher prices of produce, I think Wal Mart is a fine place to do all of your shopping, and I commend anyone who does it!

Here’s the menu of what we’ll be making this week:


Menu

Lunch is always leftovers. Items marked with an asterisk (*) were purchased in previous weeks.

Dinner
Small group
Turkey Meatloaf Muffins, roasted potatoes, frozen veggies
Chicken* with Peanut Sauce, rice, stir fry veggies
Stuffed Pepper Soup, French loaf
Tuna* salad wraps, roasted potatoes
Black bean* tacos, roasted sweet potatoes
Leftovers

Breakfast
Carrot Cake Oatmeal (Using regular oats and pecans I found in my pantry)
French toast* (Bread in freezer)
Mini egg cups, English muffins* with cream cheese
Sausage egg and cheese casserole for MOPS (Using turkey sausage from freezer)

Allison’s Lunch
Carrot Cake Muffins, Mandarin oranges, string cheese*, peanuts*, cauliflower

What’s on your menu this week? Share in the comments below!

fernando

Friday 17th of May 2019

Agree Aldi have a smaller selection and I have no frills cereals as kid growing you know the fake from the good stuff. Also cheaper doesn't necessarily mean better.

Jaime

Friday 17th of May 2019

You're right! There are some foods I'm brand loyal to even though they're more expensive. =) You have to find what works for you!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.