Price Comparison

Trader Joe’s vs. Walmart Price Comparison: One Offers Great Prices, The Other Offers Great Service

Rebecca Choi

February 16, 2022

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It’s no secret that Trader Joe’s is pretty great (after all, they have a cult following)–but are Trader Joe’s prices all that great? That’s what we set out to discover in this Trader Joe’s vs. Walmart price comparison.

In contrast to Trader Joe’s, Walmart has a cult following of a different nature. And while most people know that Walmart’s quality could be better, Walmart is well known for having the lowest prices around (although Aldi busts that myth in this price comparison). 

So, instead of relying on gossip to decide where to shop, we’re going to look at the facts. How do Walmart and Trader Joe’s prices compare on 64 different items across 8 categories?

And what other essential information do you need to know when choosing where to spend your hard-earned cash?

All these questions and more will be answered in this ultimate Walmart vs. Trader Joe’s price comparison.

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

When we compare stores, the main goal is to help you discover which store is best for you. So, we created a total grocery list that includes basic items most shoppers will buy at Trader Joe’s and Walmart.

Since Trader Joe’s doesn’t offer all of the same products like Walmart, we didn’t compare every section that you can find in Walmart. After all, you can’t buy a TV at Trader Joe’s, so we really can’t do a complete comparison of the two retailers.

But, we did our best to compare similar-quality items while still searching for the lowest prices possible at both stores. And we looked at prices across eight different categories to provide both a broad and detailed look into how you can save money shopping at either Trader Joe’s, Walmart, or both.

Keep in mind that the prices you see here are unlikely to reflect the exact prices in your area. Prices can vary drastically between different locations across the US, because of things like suppliers, demand, availability, and transportation costs.

So, don’t go running to your nearest Trader Joe’s or Walmart just because you saw a great deal in this price comparison article.

Now, let’s get into the facts you need to know.

Trader Joe’s vs. Walmart Price Comparison Summary

If you don’t have the time or the inclination to dive into the details of this Walmart vs. Trader Joe’s comparison, then this is the essential information you need to know. 

For a broad look at how TJ’s and Walmart compare, don’t miss the conclusion where we break down which store is best for you and why.

When we reached the metaphorical check-out counter, we discovered that shopping at Walmart saved us upwards of 15% across all of the categories we looked at.

Trader Joe’s was only cheaper in one category, which was snacks. This surprised us since we were expecting Walmart to be cheaper across the board. 

Trader Joe’s vs. Walmart: Fresh Produce Price Comparison

First, let’s look at how Walmart and Trader Joe’s prices for fresh produce compare.

We looked at the prices of 16 different items in the fresh produce section, and what we found was interesting. Walmart and Trader Joe’s tied when it came down to the number of cheaper items in this section, but Walmart won as the store with the lower total cart price.

Trader Joe’s organic produce is certainly cheaper than Walmart’s, but overall, Walmart produce is cheaper than Trader Joe’s produce.

Now, whether the savings are worth it is up to you. From my personal experience, the produce at Trader Joe’s is much higher quality than the produce at Walmart–but what’s in season and where you live can have a major impact on the quality and price of produce in your area.

My advice? Shop at Walmart if you care the most about finding the lowest prices.

Shop at Trader Joe’s if you:

• want higher quality produce
• don’t mind paying a little more
• buy a significant amount of organic produce.

Trader Joe’s vs. Walmart: Meat, Dairy, and Eggs Price Comparison

Next up: meat, dairy, and eggs. These animal products are staples for most people’s diets, and they’re common items to see on grocery lists.

Again, Walmart reigned supreme as the store with the lowest prices overall in the meat, dairy, and eggs department.

This time, we saved a whopping $10.26 and walked away with 9 items for just $25.85 at Walmart.

Trader Joe’s is notorious for selling overpriced meat, although their selection and quality are higher than Walmart’s.

Just like the produce, choose Walmart if you prefer cheap options. However, we wouldn’t recommend buying any animal products at Trader Joe’s. 

Trader Joe’s vs. Walmart: Vegan Alternatives Price Comparison

Walmart and Trader Joe’s both offer a wide selection of vegan alternatives, which makes them both good grocers for people with vegan, vegetarian, and dairy-free diets.

We did end up saving money by choosing Walmart as our vegan items supplier–but it was only 30 cents.

And, if we hadn’t picked up the vegan buttery spread or the vegan caesar dressing, Trader Joe’s would have been the cheaper option.

The moral of the story? Trader Joe’s offers competitive low prices on vegan products–but some select products may be sorely overpriced compared to what you buy at Walmart.

Overall, we would choose Trader Joe’s like the cheaper option for vegan products–as long as you avoid those specific overpriced items.

Trader Joe’s vs. Walmart: Pantry Items Price Comparison

Now that we’ve covered all the basic perishable groceries you might buy at Walmart and Trader Joe’s, it’s time to stock our pantries.

The results for this section were haphazard. Out of 8 items, both stores had the best price on 4, and there was only a 1% price difference on our total cart prices.

We saved 42 cents by choosing Walmart over Trader Joe’s, but the data doesn’t seem to point towards one store as the best or cheapest option. 

So, let’s break it down.

Since Trader Joe’s we looked at only stocks some items as organic (like white rice, ketchup, and salsa), we were forced to buy the more expensive organic versions at Walmart, too. This threw off the price comparison a bit.

For example, the cheapest organic rice we could find was a whopping $9.41, but if we opted for non-organic white rice, we could have spent just 92 cents on a 12 oz bag of Mahatma long grain rice. That’s a major price difference.

And when Walmart had a lower price, their price was a lot lower. For example, TJ’s cheapest pickles were $4 more expensive than Walmart’s–and so was the olive oil. That’s $8 in savings for just two items!

So, if you don’t care if your food is organic, then Trader Joe’s is the more expensive choice.

But, the one exception is for people who gravitate towards organic foods, because Walmart’s organic foods are more expensive.

Trader Joe’s vs. Walmart: Frozen Food Price Comparison

Now let’s take a walk through the frozen foods aisle to discover who has better prices on frozen foods that stay good in your freezer for months.

Once again, Walmart defeated Trader Joe’s. We saved about 6% in this category, which ended up being $1.32 total.

Honestly, we were surprised we didn’t save more money by choosing Walmart’s frozen foods.

Trader Joe’s has formed a massive cult following for its unique, tasty, and affordable (for some) prepared frozen food. And it’s easy to see why. They have truly unique offerings that just can’t be found at other stores. And their grocery shopping experience is one of a kind.

To summarize, choose Walmart if you want low prices and Trader Joe’s for a unique experience with great prepared foods that are slightly more expensive than the competition.

Trader Joe’s vs. Walmart: Snack Price Comparison

Even though Trader Joe’s is a family-friendly grocer, I would not describe what we see in this section of our price comparison as fair play.

Trader Joe’s beat Walmart in the snack department, but what we found surprised us. Again, Trader Joe’s and Walmart were caught in a 50/50 tie between the number of cheaper items. However, TJ’s won out with a total cart price that was $2 lower than Walmart’s.

Here’s why.

Specialty snacks were more expensive at Walmart than at Trader Joe’s, even though we saw a general trend towards Walmart being cheaper than their competitor.

So, we saved a total of $4.55 on three specialty items: chocolate, peanut butter pretzels, and crispy dried mushrooms–at Trader Joe’s.

On the other hand, simple snacks like tortilla chips, popcorn, and potato chips were cheaper at Walmart. But we only saved $2.54 on these items, leaving Trader Joe’s in the lead.

If you’re a hard-core Trader Joe’s fan and want to indulge in their specialty snacks, then it’s worth a trip. But you should shop at Walmart for classic snacks if you want to save money.

And if you want to save money, we recommend you skip the snack aisle altogether.

Trader Joe’s vs. Walmart: Drink Price Comparison

Although bottled and canned beverages are items you’ll want to skip is saving the most money when grocery shopping is your main goal, they’re also a staple for many households.

Walmart smashed the competition by offering prices that were almost 25% cheaper on average. Trader Joe’s charged us about $26 for these six items, while our cart total at Walmart was less than $20.

We saved over $1 on every item we looked at in this category, so our solid recommendation is to shop at Walmart for drinks–especially if you’re having a party.

It’s also important to note that Trader Joe’s is unlikely to offer the sodas you might hope to see on the shelves, like Pepsi or Coke.

When it comes to beverages, Walmart is the clear winner.

Trader Joe’s vs. Walmart: Items For Your Home Price Comparison

Walmart and Trader Joe’s both sell home basics, but one retailer is clearly the cheaper option.

We saved more money in the home and personal care aisles than any other category in this price comparison. The items sold at Walmart were about 47% cheaper on average than similar products sold at Trader Joe’s.

If you shop for things like soap or lotion at Trader Joe’s, you’re paying about twice as much as you would at Walmart.

Trader Joe’s also carries fewer products for home and personal care.

Again, Walmart is the better option for non-food items in the home and personal care departments.

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

Now that we’ve seen how the prices compare, it’s time to look at how these two grocers compare when it comes to the services they offer and their public perception.

When comparing Trader Joe’s and Walmart, the results are clear.

Trader Joe’s is more expensive, but they offer better customer service. That’s why people love Trader Joe’s so much.

Walmart is cheaper, but you’ll sacrifice quality for quantity.

Walmart also offers convenience with services like shipping and pickup, while you’ll need to use a third-party company to receive those services from Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe’s is also strictly a grocer. They barely even sell items like personal care products or items to clean your home. Meanwhile, Walmart is the ultimate one-stop-shop that carries everything from groceries to home entertainment systems and prescription medications. 

FAQs About Trader Joe’s and Walmart

Final Thoughts: Is It Better to Shop at Walmart or Trader Joe’s?

Other than the prices, the most significant difference between Trader Joe’s and Walmart is the shopping experience.

Although both stores can descent into shopping chaos, Trader Joe’s focuses on selling high-quality groceries to consumers who care about a healthy diet. They offer unique prepared foods, an entire section devoted to charcuterie board meats and cheeses, and stellar customer service that just can’t be beaten.

On the other hand, Walmart is an extremely affordable one-stop-shop.

Choose Trader Joe’s if:

• You don’t mind paying more money for a better shopping experience
• You’re a TJ’s superfan and can’t bear the thought of shopping anywhere else
• You buy a lot of organic items, including produce
• You buy vegan or dairy-free alternatives

Choose Walmart if:

• You want the lowest prices, no matter what
• You prefer to shop at one store for everything
• You’re okay with lower quality produce
• You don’t buy organic produce
• You don’t mind the “Walmart experience”
• You buy a lot of snacks and drinks or are throwing a party

Well, there you have it. This summarizes all the key differences between Walmart and Trader Joe’s, so you can choose the best store for you–if you haven’t already.

We want to hear from you. Which store do you prefer and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below!