Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s: Which Is Actually Cheaper? We Compared 18 Staples to Find Out

Here at The Penny Hoarder, we love to hunt down good deals at grocery stores.

And with Aldi taking America by storm, it’s time for another duel: Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s.

Which one is cheaper for everyday grocery shopping? Let’s find out.

Save more. Stress less. Sign up for The Penny Hoarder’s free newsletter today.

Here’s How Much I Spent at Trader Joe’s

If you’re a fan of novelty snacks, you may be a Trader Joe’s superfan. While Trader Joe’s snacks usually carry the labels of the store’s own brands, recent reports claim larger companies, like PepsiCo and Frito-Lay, manufacture them.¹

Aside from its delicious and wacky treats, the grocery chain is also known for its excellent customer service, paying its employees well and being affordable.

When it comes to a plain ol’ grocery list, though, is the Joe actually cheap?

Below is a sample grocery list filled with everyday items based off what I normally purchase for myself every two weeks. (Prices listed for both Aldi and Trader Joe’s are for stores in North Carolina and will vary by location.)

• Half gallon whole milk: $2.59
• Loaf of whole-grain bread: $2.99
• 1 dozen eggs: $2.99
• One tomato: $1.29
• 14-ounce container ground coffee: $6.99
• 1.96 pounds chicken breasts: $6.84
• Head of iceberg: $1.99
• White mushrooms: $2.49
• One red onion: $1.99
• Three-pound bag of potatoes: $3.99
• Four bananas: $1.16
• Provolone cheese: $4.99
• Coffee creamer: $3.99
• TJ’s nonfat greek yogurt: $5.49
• Frozen blueberries: $2.49
• Organic frozen broccoli: $2.79
• Butter croissants: $3.99
• Six granola bars: $3.29

Pretax total at Trader Joe’s: $62.34

… and Here’s What I Spent at Aldi

Aldi is best described as a no-frills grocery store. You have to bring your own bags or pay for them at the store, bag your own groceries and pay a refundable 25-cent deposit for a grocery cart. Because Aldi’s labor and supply costs are low, it can keep its prices low for consumers.

Keeping the no-frills concept in mind, Aldi doesn’t have many brand-name items to my knowledge. It does, however, claim to guarantee quality on private-label products.

Here’s how much it cost to buy (almost) the same items at Aldi:

• Half gallon whole milk: $2.29
• Loaf of whole-grain bread: $2.99
• 1 dozen eggs: $1.85
• One tomato: 69 cents
• 12-ounce container ground coffee: $6.95
• 1.96 pounds chicken breasts: $6.45
• Head of iceberg: $2.09
• White mushrooms: $1.25
• One red onion: 99 cents
• Three-pound bag of potatoes: $1.85
• Four bananas: 64 cents
• Provolone cheese: $3.85
• Coffee creamer: $2.39
• Nonfat greek yogurt: $2.79
• Frozen blueberries: $4.19
• Organic frozen broccoli: $2.15
• Butter croissants: $3.85
• Six granola bars: $1.89

Pretax total: $49.15

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s Verdict: Aldi Is Cheaper, but…

At first glance, it’s obvious that Aldi was cheaper than Trader Joe’s. However, that lower grocery bill can come at a price.

For example, I couldn’t find any white mushrooms on my first trip to Aldi. I  had to go back another day to get them.

The produce I could find, though, was a tad scary looking — OK, REALLY scary looking. All the tomatoes were either bruised or smooshed, the bananas were already turning brown, and fruit flies were buzzing around the produce section. However, this can vary by store.

Additionally, the potatoes technically came in 5-pound packaging and I did the math to match Trader Joe’s. Considering I was shopping for myself, I’m not sure if I could eat all those potatoes before they went bad.

So, who is the real winner here?

I guess the best I can say is it depends.

Hear me out. I enjoy fresh produce, and the closest store to me doesn’t have the most ideal produce section, so Aldi may not be my first choice for fruits and veggies. But that may be different at your local store.

If you have a family, though, buying produce in the big bags Aldi offers would be beneficial.

For those who aren’t so picky about their groceries, Aldi could be the way to go. If you are picky, consider buying specific items at Trader Joe’s and the rest at Aldi.

Mackenzie Raetz is senior editor at The Penny Hoarder and a Certified Educator in Personal Finance. Former writer Kelly Smith contributed to this report.

1. Delish