The Cheapest Grocery Chain In The US Isn't Walmart Or Aldi - Tasting Table

"Consumer Reports partnered with the Strategic Research Group to collect prices at stores in Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; and Virginia Beach, Virginia in late summer 2025. They then compared the prices against prices at Walmart stores across all locations. The results showed that at a national average, Costco prices are 21.4% lower than those recorded at Walmart for comparable items."

"Following close behind Costco is another wholesale club: BJ's. Consumer Reports found that BJ's prices were 21% lower than Walmart's at the time the data was collected. The third and fourth least expensive grocery chains are, unsurprisingly, Lidl and Aldi, which come in at 8.5% and 8.3% cheaper than Walmart, respectively."

"The 2026 report also offers data on the most expensive grocery chains in the U.S., and Whole Foods was determined to have the highest prices compared to Walmart at the time the data was collected. On average, its groceries are 39.7% higher than Walmart's."

A February 2026 Consumer Reports study analyzed grocery prices across six major U.S. cities by comparing prices at various chains against Walmart's baseline. Costco Wholesale emerged as the cheapest option with prices 21.4% lower than Walmart, followed by BJ's at 21% lower. Lidl and Aldi, traditionally known as budget options, ranked third and fourth at 8.5% and 8.3% cheaper respectively. WinCo and H-E-B followed with minimal savings. Conversely, Whole Foods had the highest prices at 39.7% above Walmart. The research challenges common assumptions about which retailers offer the best grocery deals.

Read at Tasting Table