We all know that Walmart touts itself as the champion of low prices (even it’s at the cost of quality), but Aldi is also known for its cheap food, making it a competitive rival to the popular American chain.
Aldi began as a German brand in the 60s but soon moved to the US, where it now owns over 2,000 stores and employs over 25,000 people. Compared to the competition, which has over twice as many stores and 1.6 million US employees, Aldi seems like a dwarf. But does bigger necessarily mean better?
That’s what we’re going to find out.
With our ultimate grocery list, we compared various items at both stores to find out which store is cheaper: Aldi or Walmart.
Comparison Methodology: How We Compared Walmart and Aldi?
For this Walmart vs. Aldi price comparison, we compiled a shopping list that you might use at both stores.
When possible, we compared the same brand item. If that wasn’t possible, we compared the cheapest, most similar products offered. Usually, that was a Walmart Great Value brand and a private label Aldi supplier.
This price comparison was completed in July 2020 in the southwestern region of the US. Keep in mind that prices vary per location, and they often change daily, too. So, don’t overlook rollbacks and special offers at either store. After all, watching out for deals is the best way to save money, regardless of where you shop!
Aldi vs. Walmart Price Comparison Summary
Overall, we discovered that Aldi was actually cheaper than Walmart! But there is a caveat.
Prices were usually very close, however, some items saw steep discounts that were surprising. The moral of this story is that you can get cheap prices at Aldi and Walmart, but if you want to cash in on maximum savings, you should shop at both.
| Category | Aldi | Walmart | Savings |
| Perishable Groceries | $39.69 | $41.36 | $1.67 (4.04%) |
| Non Perishable Groceries | $30.56 | $30.46 | $0.10 (0.33%) |
| Snacks | $32.37 | $26.26 | $6.11 (18.88%) |
| Beverages | $19.50 | $31.63 | $12.13 (38.35%) |
| Personal Care | $18.78 | $36.70 | $17.92 (48.83%) |
| Total Cart Price | $140.90 | $166.41 | $25.51 (15.33%) |
We found out that the idea that Walmart always has the lowest prices around is a total myth. Aldi beat Walmart in three out of five categories, and one section was close to a tie!
At the end of the day, shopping at Aldi was the equivalent of using a “15% off your entire order” coupon at Walmart–but we all know it’s a bit more complicated than that.
Here’s the breakdown of what’s cheap where–and why.
Aldi vs. Walmart: Perishable Groceries Price Comparison
When shopping at Aldi and Walmart, most people spend their money on food–especially fresh produce and perishable staples like milk, bread, eggs, meat, and cheese. So, we’re starting here with our price comparison.
| Product | Aldi | Walmart | Savings |
| 24 slices Kraft Singles American Cheese | $4.39 | $5.56 | $1.17 (21.04%) |
| 1 Gallon Vitamin D Whole Milk (Family Farms vs. Great Value) | $3.39 | $2.73 | $0.66 (19.47%) |
| Dozen Large AA Eggs (Golden vs. Great Value) | $1.55 | $1.50 | $0.05 (3.23%) |
| 20 oz 100% Whole Wheat Bread (L’oven Fresh vs. Nature’s Own) | $1.65 | $2.88 | $1.23 (42.71%) |
| 64 fl oz Orange Juice (Nature’s Nectar vs. Great Value) | $4.00 | $2.48 | $1.52 (38%) |
| 1 lb Red Grapes | $1.35 | $1.72 | $0.37 (21.51%) |
| 1 lb Yellow Peaches | $1.85 | $1.78 | $0.07 (3.78%) |
| 5 lb Gala Apples | $4.98 | $5.85 | $0.87 (14.87%) |
| 5 lb Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (Kirkwood Fresh vs. Freshness Guaranteed) | $8.95 | $8.90 | $0.05 (0.56%) |
| 2 lb 80/20 Ground Beef (Aldi vs. Great Value) | $7.58 | $7.96 | $0.38 (4.77%) |
| Total | $39.69 | $41.36 | $1.67 (4.04%) |
Walmart might advertise themselves as having the lowest prices around, but Aldi actually beat Walmart in the price comparison for perishable goods such as produce, meat, and dairy. While we only saved about 4% or nearly $2 by shopping at Aldi instead of Walmart, this goes to show that Aldi’s prices are definitely competitive.
The most significant win by Walmart was the Great Value price for orange juice, which was about $1.50 less than the competition. But Aldi’s top savings were bread and cheese, which lowered our Aldi cart price by $2.50 collectively.
Overall, Aldi and Walmart both won 5 out of 10 items in this category, but Aldi ultimately came out on top.
Aldi vs. Walmart: Non-Perishable Groceries Price Comparison
Now let’s move onto our pantry essentials with non-perishable goods like peanut butter, canned goods, rice, and oats. Since these items are good to stock up on and always have at home, it’s
So, will Aldi win again? Or, will Walmart come out on top this time?
| Product | Aldi | Walmart | Savings |
| 40 oz Creamy Peanut Butter (Peanut Delight vs. Great Value) | $3.45 | $2.74 | $0.71 (20.58%) |
| 28 oz Bush’s Best Original Baked Beans | $2.19 | $1.98 | $0.21 (9.59%) |
| 2 lb Knorr Granulated Bouillon Chicken | $5.19 | $5.99 | $0.80 (13.36%) |
| 16 oz Rotini Pasta (Reggiano vs. Great Value) | $0.85 | $0.82 | $0.03 (3.53%) |
| 6.6 oz Hamburger Helper, Cheeseburger Macaroni Meal | $1.39 | $1.24 | $0.15 (10.79%) |
| 15 oz Canned Tomato Sauce (Happy Harvest vs. Great Value) | $0.54 | $1.48 | $0.94 (63.51%) |
| 32 fl oz Hamburger Dill Chip Pickles (Great Gherkins vs. Great Value) | $2.05 | $1.94 | $0.11 (5.37%) |
| 42 oz Old Fashioned Oats (Milville vs. Great Value) | $2.65 | $2.46 | $0.19 (7.17%) |
| 10 lb Long Grain White Rice (Earthly Grains vs. Great Value) | $5.05 | $4.60 | $0.45 (8.91%) |
| 12 oz Chunk Light Tuna (Northern Catch cs. Great Value) | $1.80 | $2.22 | $0.42 (18.92%) |
| 30 oz Best Foods Real Mayonnaise | $3.85 | $3.77 | $0.08 (2.08%) |
| 5 lb All-Purpose Flour (Baker’s Corner vs. Great Value) | $1.55 | $1.22 | $0.33 (21.29%) |
| Total | $30.56 | $30.46 | $0.10 (0.33%) |
Even though Walmart beat Aldi with lower-priced items 9 times out of 12, we only ended up saving 10 cents on non-perishable pantry items by shopping at Walmart. And while the Great Value brand does live up to its name when it comes to prices, it’s also known for skimping on quality.
This slight difference shows that while Walmart offers marginally cheaper prices across the board, Aldi offers steeper discounts where they can.
It’s worth noting that Aldi didn’t offer many familiar name brands like Quaker Oats, Vlasic, Jif, and more. While they do offer comparable products, if specific brand products are important to you, Aldi may not compare to Walmart, regardless of the prices.
So, when you need to stock your pantry with non-perishables, you can find great prices at either store. While Walmart will offer slightly better deals on brand-name items, Aldi offers steeper discounts on select items–like pasta sauce, bouillon, and canned goods.
Aldi vs. Walmart: Snack Items Price Comparison
Aldi and Walmart both offer a decent snack selection, but one store is definitely cheaper in this category.
| Product | Aldi | Walmart | Savings |
| 16 oz Pretzel Sticks (Clancy’s vs. Great Value) | $1.65 | $1.33 | $0.32 (19.39%) |
| 7 oz Original Cheez-It Cheese Crackers | $2.15 | $1.65 | $0.50 (23.26%) |
| 8.75 oz Traditional Chex Mix | $2.19 | $1.74 | $0.45 (20.55%) |
| 18 count Frito-Lay Flavor Mix Variety Pack Snacks | $8.79 | $6.98 | $1.81 (20.59%) |
| 14.4 oz Honey Maid Graham Crackers | $3.55 | $3.38 | $0.17 (4.79%) |
| 11 oz Vanilla Wafer Cookies (Benton’s vs. Great Value) | $1.75 | $1.64 | $0.11 (6.29%) |
| 26.7 oz Party Size Double Stuf Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies | $5.35 | $4.82 | $0.53 (9.91%) |
| 11 oz Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers | $4.39 | $2.71 | $1.68 (38.27%) |
| 24 oz Restaurant Style White Corn Tortilla Chips (Pueblo Lindo vs. Great Value) | $2.55 | $2.01 | $0.54 (21.18%) |
| Total | $32.37 | $26.26 | $6.11 (18.88%) |
Walmart reigned supreme in the snack aisle, where they offered not just lower prices but way more varieties in brands, flavors, and sizes. Walmart beat Aldi in every item we compared, and we saved a total of $6 (nearly 20%) by choosing Walmart instead of Aldi.
Again, while Aldi did have some popular brand name items, many snacks were only offered as private labels, which may be unfamiliar to your family. If brand names matter, Walmart is a better choice for snack shopping.
It’s important to remember that junk food like packaged snacks can easily increase your grocery bill with empty calories that don’t leave you feeling full–which means you could end up spending more money than you’d save by shopping at Walmart instead of buying only a few snacks at Aldi.
Smart shoppers know that sales and low prices are a great way to save money, but they can just as easily trick you into spending more than you’d like to if you’re not paying attention and making wise decisions.
With that said, if you need to buy lots of snacks for an upcoming party or event, stopping at Walmart for the chips and dip isn’t a bad idea.
Aldi vs. Walmart: Beverages Price Comparison
While juices, sodas, and sports drinks can quickly raise your grocery bill, if you usually purchase these drinks for your family, it’s important to know where you can get the cheapest ones.
| Product | Aldi | Walmart | Savings |
| 20 fl oz Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness Smoothie | $2.11 | $3.53 | $1.42 (40.23%) |
| 10 6 fl oz pouches of Fruit Punch Capri Sun | $2.05 | $1.98 | $0.07 (3.41%) |
| 8 20 fl oz bottles of Thirst Quencher Gatorade | $5.49 | $5.48 | $0.01 (0.18%) |
| 64 fl oz Cranberry Juice Cocktail (Nature’s Nectar vs. Great Value) | $1.95 | $1.83 | $0.12 (6.15%) |
| 2-liter bottle of Coca-Cola | $2.05 | $1.82 | $0.23 (11.22%) |
| 12 12 fl oz cans of Coca-Cola | $5.85 | $16.99 | $11.14 (65.57%) |
| Total | $19.50 | $31.63 | $12.13 (38.35%) |
One surprising disparity between prices at Aldi and Walmart was the canned soda. Walmart charged nearly $10 more for 12 cans of Coca-Cola. We suspect that the high demand at Walmart for this product allows them to charge such high prices and get away with it. The lesson learned here is that not everything at Walmart is cheap! So, don’t be fooled.
Although Walmart offers slightly cheaper options for most beverages, Aldi won out on this section thanks to its significantly lower prices on Coke and specialty smoothies.
Aldi vs. Walmart: Personal Care Products Price Comparison
While Walmart has an entire department dedicated to personal care products, Aldi is first and foremost a grocery store, but they do have a small selection of things like shampoo, soap, toothpaste.
| Product | Aldi | Walmart | Savings |
| 28 fl oz Men’s Suave Ocean Charge 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner | $4.35 | $3.54 | $0.81 (18.62%) |
| 5.4 oz Crest Complete Extra Whitening Toothpaste | $3.29 | $22.42 | $19.13 (85.33%) |
| 100 500mg Extra Strength Acetaminophen Caplets (Welby vs. Equate) | $2.15 | $1.72 | $0.43 (20%) |
| 500 count Cotton Swabs (Welby vs. Equate) | $1.75 | $1.98 | $0.23 (11.62%) |
| 36 count Ultra Thin Pads (Blossom vs. Equate) | $3.95 | $4.07 | $0.12 (2.95%) |
| 2.6 oz Secret Powder Fresh Invisible Solid Antiperspirant and Deodorant | $3.29 | $2.97 | $0.32 (9.73%) |
| Total | $18.78 | $36.70 | $17.92 (48.83%) |
Since Aldi is primarily a grocery store, its selection of personal care items was even more limited than its groceries. For example, we could choose between only two kinds of toothpaste–and both were Crest. However, compared to what Walmart charged for the same type of toothpaste, what we got at Aldi was a steal! We saved almost $20 just on toothpaste.
That one item unbalanced the scales, so Aldi won out on the cheapest personal care products, but it’s worth noting that Walmart and Aldi both had some wins in this section and are on par with each other for the most part.
Aldi vs. Walmart: Services, Departments, and Public Perception Comparison
Aldi has a slightly better reputation than Walmart when it comes to customer service and public perception. Walmart is seen as a cheap department store–and that includes cutting corners and quality to slash prices.
On the other hand, the smaller and somewhat European-centric grocery store Aldi tends to have a more positive reputation. However, it is by no means a one-stop shop and has fewer departments, services, and options for buyers.
Here’s how some of Aldi and Walmart’s policies compare.
| Service | Aldi | Walmart |
| Shipping | Aldi does not offer to ship. | Walmart offers free 3-5 day shipping on orders over $35. |
| Curbside Pickup | You can receive same-day curbside pickup from Aldi when you order through their website or Instacart, but there is a fee. | You can get a free same-day curbside pickup from Walmart. |
| Delivery | Aldi employees will deliver online orders to your door, but prices may be higher to pay for your personal Aldi shopper. You can also get groceries delivered from Aldi through Instacart for a fee. | Walmart offers free next-day and two-day delivery on select items at participating locations when your order is over $35. |
| Return Policy | Aldi has a “Twice as Nice Guarantee” which will replace your product and refund you the cost. However non-food items, alcohol, and some brands are not covered by this return policy. | Walmart offers a 90-day return policy on most items and will process returns without a receipt under certain conditions. |
| Loyalty Programs | Aldi does not have a rewards program. | For $12.95 a month or $98 a year, you can be a member of Walmart Plus, which gives you perks like free shipping and delivery, mobile check out, and discounts on prescriptions and gas. |
| Customer Service | Customer service is largely variable based on the store location you shop at–and even the shift of employees you’re working with. But overall, both Aldi and Walmart have poor reviews on Trustpilot, with Aldi having two stars and Walmart having one and a half stars. |
The main difference between Aldi and Walmart is that Walmart is a superstore while Aldi is a no-frills grocery store.
That means when you shop at Aldi:
- There are limited options when it comes to brands, variety, and size
- Most of the products offered are private label and not large brands
- There is no deli, bakery, or pharmacy
- You can’t use coupons
- There’s no shipping or rewards program
Another interesting aspect of shopping at Aldi is that you need a quarter to “pay” for your grocery cart. When you return the cart, you get your quarterback–so technically, it’s a free rental. This system helps Aldi keep prices low since they don’t need to pay anyone to collect wandering carts in the parking lot.
On the other hand, shopping at Walmart often means access to other services and perks like:
- More options when it comes to products
- Vision and hearing test centers at some locations
- Pharmacies and bakeries at some locations
- Store and manufacturer coupons
FAQs About Aldi and Walmart
Which is cheaper, Aldi or Walmart?
When it comes to prices, Aldi and Walmart are at a near tie. Both stores offer low prices, but when you compare specific products or when sales come around, one store often beats the other. To save the most money, do your research before you shop and make more than one trip.
To learn more about how to save money and what to buy (or not buy) at Aldi and Walmart, check out our price comparison blog.
How does Walmart beat Aldi?
Although Walmart may not always have lower prices than Aldi all the time, Walmart does have better policies when it comes to shipping and coupons. They also offer more products and services, including vision and hearing test centers, pharmacies, bakeries, bulk items, and a variety of packs of items.
How much money can I save by shopping at Aldi instead of Walmart?
In our price comparison, we saved a total of $25.51 in one shopping trip by choosing Aldi instead of Walmart. Aldi had the lowest prices for perishable foods, personal care products, and drinks, and it nearly tied Walmart when comparing non-perishable pantry groceries.
Learn more about how much money you can save by analyzing our price comparison between Aldi and Walmart.
How is Aldi different from Walmart?
Like Walmart, Aldi is a large company that sells groceries, personal care products, and some non-food items for low prices. However, Aldi is a slightly smaller brand and focuses primarily on groceries. Aldi has fewer options, and their grocery stores are usually much smaller compared to the huge Walmart department stores.
Final Thoughts: Is it Better to shop at Aldi or Walmart?
When it boils down, whether or not Aldi or Walmart is cheaper depends on your shopping habits.
Shopping at Walmart means having more options (way more options), and that can be a good or a bad thing. While you can rest assured you’ll be able to purchase the brands you want in bulk or variety packs, your shopping experience can become overwhelming–and you might end up overspending.
It’s best to shop at Aldi if:
- You mostly purchase groceries and drinks
- You prefer smaller stores
- You find lots of options overwhelming
- You don’t mind visiting multiple stores
- You’ll take advantage of Aldi’s special deals
It’s better to shop at Walmart if:
- You buy a lot of snacks and junk food
- You’re particular about what brands you like
- You prefer to shop in bulk
- You don’t have quarters for the carts at Aldi
- You like more options
- You want a one-stop-shop for all your errands
- You use a lot of coupons
- You want groceries delivered
Remember, if you want to save the most money when shopping at Aldi, Walmart, or both:
- Do your research before shopping instead of choosing one store to shop at all the time.
- Compare prices on items you buy often. A few dollars adds up over the course of a year.
- Know that produce varies significantly depending on your location and season, and always trip to shop in season for your fruits and veggies.
Hopefully, you have a better idea of where you can save the most money now with this comprehensive price comparison between Aldi and Walmart. And for more money-saving deals and coupons, check out Koopy.com!
