Trader Joe's vs. Aldi: Which Discount Store Wins on 11 Grocery Staples?
Soaring grocery prices have made coupon-clippers and deal-seekers out of many Americans. It’s often worth the effort financially.
MoneyLion has done some of your research for you, comparing prices at two popular grocery chains: Trader Joe’s and Aldi. For this story, we’ve pulled prices for 11 staples and mixed in some organics with conventional products. Prices may vary, of course.
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Read on for our breakdown, and our verdict for the overall winner.
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1. Whole Wheat Bread
Aldi (L'Oven Fresh 100% Whole Wheat Bread, 20 ounces): $2.15
Trader Joe’s (22 ounces): $2.49
Aldi gets the edge here, but just barely. Because TJ’s gives you two extra ounces in its standard whole-wheat loaf of bread, the cost per ounce is nearly identical (10.8 cents at Aldi, 11.3 cents at TJ’s).
2. Salted Butter, 1 Pound
Aldi (Countryside Creamery): $3.19
Trader Joe’s: $2.99
TJ’s prevails for a conventional four sticks of butter, coming in 20 to 56 cents lower. While TJ’s often offers lower prices than Aldi for organic products, that’s not the case in this particular snapshot. Aldi’s Simply Nature organic entry checks in at $6.85, slightly lower than the TJ’s organic product ($6.99).
3. Organic Canned Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas), 15 Ounces
Aldi (Dakota’s Pride): $1.25
Trader Joe's: $1.19
The winner here depends on which canned good you are buying, and whether you are buying organic or conventional. TJ's beats Aldi pricewise on this canned product.
4. Cheddar Cheese, 8-Ounce Block
Aldi (Happy Farms): $1.95
Trader Joe’s: $2.49
Aldi is the consistent winner on conventional cheese prices. If you’re looking for specialty and gourmet cheeses, TJ’s has more to offer.
5. Pasture-Raised Large Brown Eggs, 1 Dozen
Aldi (Goldhen): $3.95
Trader Joe’s: $5.99
Aldi offers lower prices on basic eggs, while TJ’s specializes in organic eggs and other premium varieties. TJ’s doesn’t even have an equivalent to Aldi’s conventional large white eggs from Goldhen ($1.47 to $1.85), as TJs phased out standard white eggs years ago.
With that said, when comparing a dozen pasture-raised, large brown eggs, Aldi still clears TJ's on price.
6. Ground Beef, 96% Lean
Aldi: $7.79 per pound
Trader Joe’s: $8.99 per pound
Aldi wins for conventional ground beef. If you’re buying organic, TJ’s comes in 50 cents to $1 cheaper per pound.
7. 2% Organic Milk, Half-Gallon
Aldi (Simply Nature Organic): $4.25
Trader Joe’s: $5.99
Here’s another case in which Aldi bucks the usual trend and comes in lower than TJ’s on an organic product.
8. Spaghetti, 1 Pound
Aldi (Reggano): $2.09
Trader Joe’s: 99 cents
TJ’s not only beats Aldi on price, but they also specialize more on premium and specialty Italian pastas.
9. Organic Peanut Butter, Creamy or Crunchy
Aldi (Simply Nature): $5.05
Trader Joe’s: $4.49
TJ’s wins on organic. But if you’re buying conventional peanut butter, Aldi has a slight edge -- $2.19 on a few brands.
10. Organic Tofu, 14 Ounces
Aldi: Earth Grown Organic Tofu, firm or extra firm: $1.75
Trader Joe’s, firm or extra firm: $2.49
Even buying organic, you can save 74 cents per package at Aldi.
11. Low-Fat Yogurt, 32 Ounces
Aldi (Friendly Farms): $2.79
Trader Joe’s: $2.99
You can save 20 cents per tub at Aldi. It’s worth noting though that if you buy organic, TJ’s ($5.49) comes in lower than Simple Nature Organic at Aldi ($7.15).
And the Winner Is…
Well, it’s not that simple. Trader Joe’s and Aldi have different business models that emphasize different things.
If the bottom line grocery bill is your main concern, Aldi – a chain built to provide maximum discounts – will generally come in lower. TJ’s, more geared toward people shopping for organics, often comes in lower on those and close on conventional products. TJ’s also banks on drawing customers back with specialty items unavailable through other chains.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are 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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