Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on The Penny Hoarder.
The cheapest grocery store will vary based on where you live, but Aldi, Lidl, Walmart, WinCo or Save-A-Lot are typically the front-runners. These discount chains consistently rank among the lowest-priced retailers for common staples like milk, eggs, bread and chicken.
A 2026 study on supermarkets by Consumer Reports compared baskets of common groceries across major grocery chains nationwide and found that stores like Lidl, Aldi and WinCo frequently priced below Walmart’s (already low) baseline prices.
That doesn’t mean one store is necessarily the cheapest for every single item. It does mean these stores are a good place to start for shrinking your monthly grocery costs — one of the biggest recurring expenses in most household budgets.
Where you shop can make a big difference in how much you end up spending. Keep reading for a full breakdown of the stores that consistently offer the best prices on groceries, plus a few strategies to help you stretch your food budget even further.
Quick Answer: Where to Buy the Cheapest Groceries
Aldi is often the cheapest grocery store overall, with Walmart, Lidl, WinCo and Save-A-Lot coming next in line depending on your region.
If you’re trying to find the cheapest place to buy groceries, these stores repeatedly make the list:
- Aldi: Frequently lowest total basket price on store-brand staples
- Walmart: Consistently low everyday pricing nationwide
- Lidl: Strong on produce and private-label basics
- WinCo Foods: Low bulk pricing without a membership
- Save-A-Lot: Deep discounts on packaged goods
For example, Consumer Reports found Lidl and Aldi were about 8% cheaper than Walmart on average, while regional chain WinCo priced roughly 3% cheaper than Walmart.
The takeaway: Discount grocery stores typically beat traditional supermarkets on your total cart cost, especially if you’re buying store-brand products.
How We Determined the Cheapest Stores
We determined the cheapest grocery stores by comparing common household staples across major chains.
Our comparison focused on items most shoppers buy weekly, including:
- Gallon of milk
- Dozen eggs
- Sandwich bread
- Boneless chicken breast
- Ground beef
- Bananas
- Rice and pasta
We also looked at:
- Store-brand vs. national brand pricing
- Regional price differences
- Membership requirements
- Bulk purchasing discounts
Multiple independent grocery price studies consistently rank Aldi among the cheapest grocery stores in the U.S.
For example, Consumer Checkbook’s 2025 national supermarket price survey found Aldi’s prices were often 30% to 40% lower than the average grocery store, while other studies show Aldi frequently beating major chains like Walmart on staples like milk, eggs and pantry supplies.
Keep in mind: Grocery pricing can vary quite a bit based on where you live, the season, and other factors like supply chain issues.
Cheapest Grocery Stores Nationwide
Across most pricing studies, Aldi, Walmart, Lidl, WinCo and Save-A-Lot consistently rank among the cheapest grocery stores in the United States.
Here’s how each store manages to keep their prices low.
Aldi
Aldi is often the cheapest grocery store overall for basic staples and pantry items.
The German discount chain keeps prices low by selling mostly private-label products, operating smaller stores and limiting their product selection to high-turnover essentials. This model reduces the chain’s overhead costs, thereby passing on savings to its shoppers.
The data shows it perfectly: In one grocery study, Aldi reduced the total bill by about 14% compared with Walmart and by 25% compared with supermarkets like Kroger.
Aldi tends to be particularly competitive on:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Bread
- Cheese
- Produce
- Pantry staples
Keep in mind: The tradeoff to Aldi’s ultra-low prices is its limited selection and fewer name brands. But for shoppers focused on savings, that tends to be an acceptable trade-off.
Walmart
Walmart remains one of the cheapest grocery stores thanks to its Everyday Low Price model.
Unlike traditional supermarkets that rely heavily on weekly sales, Walmart focuses on maintaining consistently low base prices on staple products.
This can most easily be seen in the savings they offer on:
- National brands
- Frozen foods
- Meat and poultry
- Household essentials
Although some discount grocers beat Walmart on store-brand items, Walmart’s sheer scale often keeps their everyday prices extremely competitive, which is why Consumer Reports used them as a baseline in their 2026 study.
Keep in mind: Walmart also offers grocery pickup in many areas, which can save you time and help stick to just what’s on the grocery list (goodbye impulse shopping)!
Lidl
Lidl is one of the cheapest grocery stores for produce and everyday staples. Like Aldi, Lidl (also German in origin) relies heavily on private-label products and streamlined store ops.
According to the Consumer Reports price study, Lidl’s grocery basket averaged about 8.5% cheaper than Walmart, making it one of the lowest-priced national retailers.
Shoppers often find particularly good deals on things like:
Keep in mind: Lidl’s stores are mostly found on the East Coast, so shoppers in other parts of the country may not have one nearby.
WinCo Foods
WinCo Foods keeps grocery prices low through its bulk buying strategies and employee ownership.
The chain is beloved for its self-serve bulk goods, where shoppers can find:
- Grains
- Beans
- Spices
- Pasta
- Baking ingredients
Keep in mind: Buying only the exact amount you need often lowers the cost per pound.
And these grocery savings really do add up. In the Consumer Reports grocery price study, WinCo’scame in about 3% cheaper than Walmart’s prices.
Save-A-Lot
Save-A-Lot focuses on offering deep discounts on packaged goods and pantry items.
Shoppers often find decent savings on:
- Canned goods
- Frozen foods
- Pantry staples
- Packaged snacks
Keep in mind: Like Aldi, Save-A-Lot stores tend to be smaller and offer a limited selection — an OK compromise if you’re flexible on brand names and not shopping for specialty ingredients.
Costco and Sam’s Club
Warehouse clubs can offer the lowest per-unit grocery prices, but they aren’t always the cheapest option overall.
Consumer Reports found Costco groceries averaged about 21% cheaper than Walmart’s prices, making it the lowest-priced retailer in that study. But warehouse clubs come with extra costs — namely annual membership fees and bulk purchases (cue the 86-count bag of chicken nuggets you didn’t technically need). Those bigger quantities can drive up the total you spend in a single trip, meaning it isn’t always the cheapest option overall.
Keep in mind: For smaller households or shoppers who prefer shopping in smaller quantities, discount grocers like Aldi or Lidl may be a better option. Also, a regular annual Sam’s Club membership is $50, while it’s $65 at Costco.
If you’re considering joining, our guide on whether a Costco membership is worth it can help you decide if the potential savings justify the annual fee.
Cheapest Grocery Stores by Region
The cheapest grocery store varies significantly depending on where you live.
Regional price differences happen for several reasons:
- The cost of transportation and fuel to get the food to your region
- Local labor agreements
- Competition among grocery chains
- Distribution networks vary
For example:
- Midwest: Aldi and Walmart frequently lead
- Southeast: Walmart and Save-A-Lot often rank lowest
- Northeast: Lidl and Aldi are highly competitive
- West Coast: Walmart and warehouse clubs frequently lead on staple pricing
Keep in mind: Searching for “cheapest grocery store near me” and comparing weekly ads can reveal price differences even within the same city.
Grocery Store Price Comparison Snapshot
Aldi often edges out competitors on total basket price, though Walmart and Lidl remain close in many regions.
Example price comparison of common grocery staples.
Item
Aldi
Walmart
Lidl
Milk (1 gallon)
Lower
Competitive
Competitive
Eggs (dozen)
Lower
Slightly higher
Competitive
Bread
Lower
Similar
Similar
Chicken breast
Competitive
Competitive
Competitive
Actual prices vary by location and season, but discount grocers consistently produce lower overall basket totals compared to traditional supermarket chains.
Ways to Save Money When Grocery Shopping
Shopping at the cheapest grocery store helps, but combining that with smart habits will cut your bill even further.
We recommend combining these budgeting strategies for the lowest possible grocery bill:
- Buy store brands. Store-brand products usually cost a lot less than name-brand, while offering similar ingredients and quality.
- Check weekly ads. Lots of grocery chains rotate discounts on a weekly basis. Planning meals around sale items can help reduce your bill.
- Use digital coupons. Most grocery chains now offer mobile coupon apps that provide automatic discounts at checkout.
- Plan meals in advance. Meal planning can help reduce impulse shopping and your household’s food waste — like that sad, uneaten bag of salad greens currently in your fridge.
- Try grocery pickup. Ordering groceries online and picking them up can also prevent impulse buys and save you time shopping in-store.
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