$50 Grocery Challenge: Walmart vs. Trader Joe’s Price Battle
Grocery shoppers are more focused than ever on stretching their food budgets, even when it comes to choosing between two stores known for offering great deals. For this curated grocery list, MoneyLion spent $50 at two grocery stores: Walmart and Trader Joe's.
Walmart, known for its massive inventory and everyday low prices, contrasts sharply with Trader Joe's, a smaller neighborhood store famous for its private-label staples and specialty items. Both offer affordable options, but the real question is which one offers the better deals on groceries for $50?
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Below is a breakdown that highlights the differences, so you can shop smarter and save more.
Romaine Hearts
Walmart's price: $3.83
Trader Joe's price: $3.49
Cheaper price: Trader Joe's
You may think that with all the options, a three-count bag of romaine hearts would be cheaper at Walmart. But Trader Joe's romaine hearts beat the price slightly by $0.34 per bag. Fresh Romaine Lettuce Hearts at Walmart costs $3.83 per bag compared to Trader Joe's $3.49.
Organic Avocados
Walmart's price: $4.36
Trader Joe's price: $4.99
Cheaper price: Walmart
When buying a 4-count bag of this popular fruit, you'll pay $4.99 at Trader Joe's for organic avocados, but the Walmart price for Hass organic avocados is just $4.36, saving shoppers nearly $0.63 per bag. To make sure the number of avocados was even, two bags were purchased at each store.
Bananas
Walmart's price: $0.20 ($1 for 5)
Trader Joe's price: $0.23 ($1.15 for 5)
Cheaper price: Walmart
When comparing fresh non-organic bananas, Trader Joe's offered a slightly higher price per banana compared to Walmart. That makes the total for five bananas $1.15 at Trader Joe's and $1 at Walmart, a savings of $0.15.
Cherry Tomatoes
Walmart's price: $2.97 ($0.30 per ounce)
Trader Joe's price: $4.99 ($0.42 per ounce)
Cheaper price: Walmart
While cherry tomatoes cost over a dollar less per package at Walmart, Trader Joe's gives you 12 ounces of cherry tomatoes on the vine, which is two ounces more than Walmart's 10-ounce Fresh Glory option. This is something to keep in mind while you shop in general, but still means you are paying $0.12 more per ounce at Trader Joe’s.
Dozen Eggs
Walmart's price: $5.96
Trader Joe's price: $5.99
Cheaper price: Walmart (but just barely)
For a dozen eggs, you'll pay $5.99 for pasture raised large brown eggs at Trader Joe's, and $5.96 for Happy Egg Co. organic free-range large brown eggs at Walmart for one 12-count carton. Either way, you don’t need to break a few budgetary rules when choosing where to buy eggs.
Loaf of White Bread
Walmart's price: $1.48
Trader Joe's price: $1.99
Cheaper price: Walmart
There was a substantial price variation when comparing the cheapest loaf of bread we could find at both stores. Great Value white bread at Walmart costs $1.48 a loaf compared to $1.99 for sliced white bread at Trader Joe's.
Organic Chicken Breasts
Walmart's price: $5.17 per pound
Trader Joe's price: $7.49 per pound
Cheaper price: Walmart
Both Walmart and Trader Joe's offer organic, skinless chicken breasts. The difference between the stores is that you'll pay over $2 more per pound at Trader Joe's, with a price of $7.49 per pound for organic free-range boneless chicken breasts versus $5.17 per pound for Foster Farms cage-free boneless chicken breasts at Walmart.
Fresh Atlantic Salmon
Walmart's price: $10.41 per pound
Trader Joe's price: $9.99 per pound
Cheaper price: Trader Joe's
Nothing beats fresh, juicy salmon on the grill in summer or baked in the winter. The cost for unfrozen skinless Atlantic salmon at Walmart is $10.41 per pound and $9.99 per pound for fresh Atlantic boneless salmon fillet at Trader Joe's, making almost a dollar more at Walmart.
Frozen Mandarin Chicken
Walmart's price: $7.84 for 24 ounces ($0.33 per ounce)
Trader Joe's price: $5.49 for 22 ounces ($0.25 per ounce)
Cheaper price: Trader Joe's
A 24-ounce bag of Crazy Cuisine mandarin orange chicken at Walmart costs $7.84 and is slightly more per ounce compared to Trader Joe's 22-ounce bag of frozen mandarin orange chicken for $5.49 per bag. Which is also one of Trader Joe’s most popular frozen foods.
Bottom Line: You'll Pay $2.92 More at Trader Joe's
If you got this exact grocery list, you would have spent $44.65 at Trader Joe's and $42.22 at Walmart before tax. While the price difference was $2.43 in favor of saving more at Walmart, savings by volume was even slightly more. Keep in mind, price difference can depend on the items you buy, if they are priced by weight or if you use coupons or purchase items in bulk, which may not be possible at every store.
Disclaimer: Prices and availability accurate as of May 24, 2026 and subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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