Where to Find the Cheapest Groceries: Top 10 Store Rankings

With food prices rising, choosing where you shop can make a big difference in your monthly budget.

To find the best deals, a study compared prices at ten major retailers that accept EBT (SNAP benefits). Researchers looked at the cost of a "basic basket" of food—items like milk, eggs, pasta, and chicken—needed to feed a family of four for one month.

Here is the ranking of the cheapest grocery stores from least expensive to most expensive.
 

1. Walmart

Best for: Overall savings and availability.

Walmart is the cheapest grocery store in the country. Because they have stores in every state and a massive selection of "Great Value" brand items, they offer consistently low prices on staples like bread, meat, and dairy.
 

2. Kroger

Best for: Regional shoppers.

Kroger (which also owns stores like Ralphs, Fred Meyer, and Smith’s) came in second. They operate in 35 states and are a very affordable option for families in the Midwest, South, and West.
 

3. Sam’s Club

Best for: Buying in bulk.

As a warehouse store, Sam’s Club offers great deals if you have the space to store large quantities of food. While you have to pay for a membership, the "price per ounce" is often much lower than at a regular supermarket.
 

4. Target

Best for: One-stop shopping.

Target is ranked fourth. Many families choose Target for the convenience of buying groceries and household items (like clothes or cleaning supplies) at the same time. They accept EBT for both in-store and online orders.
 

5. Dollar Tree

Best for: Pantry basics.

Dollar Tree is great for snacks and boxed goods, but there is a catch: most locations don’t sell fresh meat, milk, or produce. Use this store to supplement your pantry, but you’ll likely need to go elsewhere for fresh food.
 

6. ALDI

Best for: Low-cost store brands.

ALDI is famous for its "no-frills" shopping experience. By focusing on their own store brands rather than big-name brands, they are able to keep prices very low on essentials.
 

7. Costco

Best for: Large families.

Like Sam’s Club, Costco requires a membership and focuses on bulk items. It is a very affordable option, but it ranks slightly lower because you have to buy such large quantities at once.
 

8. Amazon

Best for: Online convenience.

You can use EBT on Amazon (including Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods). While the food prices are competitive, the ranking is lower because delivery fees and service charges can make the total bill more expensive.
 

9. Albertsons

Best for: Local convenience.

This group includes Safeway, Vons, and Jewel-Osco. While they are a major national chain, their everyday prices on basic items tended to be higher than those at Walmart or Kroger in this study.
 

10. Trader Joe’s

Best for: Specialty items.

Trader Joe’s is popular for its unique snacks and frozen meals. However, because they sell many organic and specialty products, their prices for basic staples were higher than the other stores on this list.
 

How the Study Worked

To make the comparison fair, researchers:
 

1. Created a shopping list for a family of four based on government nutrition guidelines.
2. Included 10 basics: rice, pasta, eggs, milk, peanut butter, chicken, tuna, tomatoes, bread, and beans.
3. Used "store-brand" prices (the cheapest option available) rather than name brands.

 

Tips to Save Even More

 

• Shop the Sales: Check your local store’s weekly ad before you go.
• Buy Store Brands: "Off-brand" items usually taste the same but cost much less.
• Check the "Unit Price": Look at the small text on the shelf tag that tells you the price per ounce. This helps you see if the bigger bottle is actually a better deal.
• Split Your Trips: If you have the time, buy your pantry staples at a place like Dollar Tree and your fresh meat and veggies at Walmart or ALDI.

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