Price Comparison

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s Price Comparison: We Uncover Which Store is Cheaper and Which One is Better

Rebecca Choi

August 31, 2021

3 comments

Trader Joe’s and Aldi are both popular grocery chains known for their affordable products, but we wanted to know which is cheaper, Aldi or Trader Joe’s?

If you know anyone who shops at Trader Joe’s–or if you shop there yourself–you know that TJ’s shoppers tend to be TJ’s superfans. With unique store-brand items like Chocolate Hummus and their Everything but the Leftovers Seasoning Blend, it’s easy to see why. 

And there are a ton more products under the Trader Joe’s private label that are secretly manufactured by your favorite name brands. So, with high quality and low prices, Traer Joe’s is a viable contender for Aldi.

Trader Joe’s claims that it can lower prices by buying in bulk quantities from reliable sellers. Meanwhile, despite being a chain, Aldi grocery stores can charge way less for certain items like fresh produce since they tend to buy locally. This saves on transportation and packaging costs, plus human power since employees don’t need to sift through and remove damaged goods.

So, we set out on a mission to uncover which store is really cheaper, Trader Joe’s or Aldi? We also wanted to know which store is better overall. We found out, and the results surprised us.

Comparison Methodology: How We Compared Aldi and Trader Joe’s

To compare Aldi and Trader Joe’s, we started by creating a master grocery list to shop at both stores. We explored 48 items across seven different categories, comparing the most similar items possible.

When comparing items, we followed these rules.

Shop for the cheapest items possible.

At Koopy.com, we’re all about saving money. And for this price comparison, we wanted a definitive answer on which store is cheaper–so we bought the cheapest options possible at both stores.

Compare the same or similar items.

Even though we wanted to compare the cheapest options, we also needed to compare items that were similar. That means not comparing organic items to non-organic items or items of vastly different quality.

Compare the same amount or weight.

We also kept things consistent by always comparing the same weight or amount. Trader Joe’s doesn’t sell loose produce by the pound, so for this section, we estimated prices for items like apples and peaches. 

Then, we set out down the aisles to compare Aldi and Trader Joe’s.

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s Price Comparison Summary: What You Need to Know

At the end of our ultimate shopping trips at Trader Joe’s and Aldi, we discovered that Aldi is clearly cheaper than Trader Joe’s. But that cheapness comes at a cost.

As you can see, Aldi had lower prices in four categories, while Trader Joe’s had lower prices in three categories. But, we ended up saving about $27 on our total cart after shopping at Aldi. That’s equivalent to using a 16%-off-your-entire-purchase coupon at Trader Joe’s–which seems like a great deal.

But, after uncovering more information about the shopping experience, we learned that these low prices will cost you convenience.

Here are a few things that might discourage people from shopping at Aldi instead of TJ’s, despite the low prices:

• Lower quality produce
• Less variety and unpredictable availability of produce
• Less organic options
• Fewer conveniences (you need to “pay” for a cart, pay for bags, and bag your own groceries)
• No frills or special products

If you’re curious about which store is better for you, explore each category for our findings–and check out our final thoughts at the end of the article, where we summarize the pros and cons of shopping at Aldi and Trader Joe’s.

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s: Produce Price Comparison

First, we explore the produce aisle, where shoppers can find the fresh and nutritious foods that are staples of a healthy diet.

If you want low prices on produce, it’s good to know that Aldi offers fresh fruits and veggies at a fraction of the price of those at Trader Joe’s. At Aldi, the produce is nearly 40% cheaper–but it also doesn’t meet Trader Joe’s standards for quality.

At Aldi, it’s not uncommon to experience these inconveniences:

• Produce that’s soft, bruised, or wilted.
• Fruit flies buzzing around.
• Specific items being out of stock when you shop.
• Limited availability in general.

If you’re a spontaneous shopper that shops according to prices, quality, and availability, Aldi produce is a good buy. You can avoid any spoiled food and go for the freshest possible options. 

But if you like to make a list and plan recipes, missing a vital ingredient could put a dent in your plans. And, if quality and freshness are important to you, Trader Joe’s may be a better option for produce, even though it’s more expensive.

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s: Organic Produce Price Comparison

Trader Joe’s orients itself towards shoppers who want quality foods, and that includes organic produce. Aldi also has organic options, and here’s how the two compare.

This time, Trader Joe’s beat Aldi in the produce section. Organic produce at Trader Joe’s is about 10% less expensive than organic produce at Aldi, and it saved us about $2.

If you regularly shop organic for most of your produce, you’re probably wondering, who has more organic produce, Trader Joe’s or Aldi?

The answer to that question can vary depending on where you live. Because Aldi works with local farms to source produce, the prices and availability can change drastically based on the location of your Aldi supermarket.

But, in general, Trader Joe’s has more organic options than most Aldi locations. If you buy organic produce, Trader Joe’s is the way to go.

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s: Perishable Groceries Price Comparison

We can’t live off produce alone (or we just don’t want to!), so next up, we have perishable groceries, like meat, dairy, and bread.

For this section, we saved about $6 by choosing Aldi instead of Trader Joe’s. Aldi beat TJ’s prices six out of eight times, which goes to show that Aldi is definitely cheaper.

It was difficult to compare items like meat since many of the products offered at Trader Joe’s were organic or meatless, while Aldi offered a more conventional spread of meat options. Our takeaway, though, is that you’ll usually spend more money at Trader Joe’s for meat since your options are higher-quality or specialty products.

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s: Non-Perishable Pantry Foods Price Comparison

It’s time to stock our pantries with foods from Aldi and Trader Joe’s. Which store will offer lower prices on non-perishable staples like rice, condiments, and oil?

Aldi won again! This time, the margin of savings was larger at nearly 30% and $8. So far, it’s looking like Aldi is the clear winner for lower prices–but that doesn’t necessarily mean better food.

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s: Frozen Foods Price Comparison

Browsing the freezers, Trader Joe’s has a lot of unique, easy-to-make frozen foods–but they come at a premium price, so they’re not included here. Instead, we looked at a few household staples for the freezer from both TJ’s and Aldi.

Here’s what we found.

Aldi’s reigned supreme with the lowest prices again. Although Trader Joe’s has interesting finds, Aldi is the best store to buy frozen foods if your priority is saving money.

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s: Beverages & Packaged Snacks Price Comparison

If you like saving money, one of the easiest ways to do it is to buy nothing from this category–or at least cut back. Beverages and packaged snacks can quickly run your grocery bill up.

Now, we look at whether Aldi or Trader Joe’s will charge you more for snacks and drinks.

For the snacks and drinks section, Trader Joe’s total cart price beat Aldi’s by about $2.

However, Aldi had lower prices for five items, while TJ’s only had lower prices for three. One bottle of Trader Joe’s infamous “Two Buck Chuck” tipped the scales by $4, while a 6-pack of beer helped us save another $2, making this a win for Trader Joe’s.

If alcohol wasn’t on the list, this would be another savings win for Aldi. So, if you rarely or never buy booze, Aldi is better for snacks and beverages–but if you enjoy wine weekly, switching to Charles Shaw could save you big.

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s: Health and Beauty Items Price Comparison

Aldi and Trader Joe’s are food stores first, but they do carry some personal care products. In the health and beauty section, we found that Aldi and Trader Joe’s are pretty even.

Trader Joe’s won the health and beauty section with the lowest cart price, but don’t go running to TJ’s for your shampoo just yet. It only beat Aldi’s by 32 cents, and both stores had limited options with high prices in this category.

Comparing personal care products at Aldi and Trader Joe’s was difficult since both suppliers have limited options in this department. Since both retailers are grocery stores first, they don’t sell many health and beauty products–that means prices are higher than competitor stores like Walmart or Target, and the items available are limited and niche.

So, we don’t recommend shopping at either Aldi or Trader Joe’s for your personal care products.

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s: Services and Public Perception Comparison

When it comes to prices, it’s clear that Aldi is the winner. But choosing a regular grocery store is about more than just prices for most people. Here’s how the stores compare regarding their services and public perception.

FAQs About Aldi and Trader Joe’s

Final Thoughts: Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s

No matter how you look at it, shopping at Trader Joe’s is more expensive than shopping at Aldi. With the price cut, though, you also lose out on some conveniences.

Aldi is better if:

• You want lower prices, no matter what.
• You don’t mind if certain foods are out of stock.
• You’re a spontaneous shopper who shops according to price, availability, and quality.
• You don’t usually buy organic foods.
• You often get grocery pickup or delivery.
• You usually carry quarters to pay for the carts.
• You like bringing reusable bags.
• You don’t mind bagging your own groceries.

On the other hand, you might prefer Trader Joe’s if:

• You’re willing to pay more for a higher-quality experience.
• You often shop for organic foods.
• You want a store that offers a reliable selection of high-quality, fresh produce.
• You enjoy the quirky and unique TJ’s brand products.
• You never or rarely get groceries delivered or picked up.

Whether you shop at Trader Joe’s or Aldi, there are still ways to save more money when shopping. To learn more about how to keep your money in your pockets, check out Koopy.com’s savings blog!