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With grocery prices continuing to climb, many shoppers are looking for practical ways to keep their food bills under control. A new analysis suggests that one of the simplest ways to save money may be choosing the right grocery store.

A study commissioned by Consumer Reports found that grocery prices can vary significantly depending on where shoppers buy their food. In some cases, the difference between the least expensive and most expensive grocery chains in a city exceeded 30 percent.

lidl grocery store — Image Credit: Deposit Photos

Cities Across the U.S. Were Included in the Study

To better understand how grocery prices vary by retailer, researchers examined stores in six major metro areas across the country. These included markets representing different regions, such as the Chicago area in Illinois, the Los Angeles region in California, and cities in Texas, Florida, New York, and North Carolina.

Within each location, researchers compared grocery prices at the major supermarket chains serving those markets. Prices were collected directly from store shelves within a 48-hour window to ensure the comparisons reflected the same time period.

Using this approach allowed researchers to see how grocery prices compared not only between retailers but also across different regions of the country.

The Cheapest Grocery Chains Nationwide

Across the six metro areas studied, several grocery chains consistently offered prices below Walmart’s, which served as the baseline retailer for comparison.

The least expensive grocery chains across the country included:

Costco — about 21 percent cheaper than Walmart on average
BJ’s Wholesale Club — about 21 percent cheaper
Lidl — about 8.5 percent cheaper
Aldi — about 8.3 percent cheaper
WinCo Foods — about 3.3 percent cheaper

Warehouse clubs such as Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club topped the list, largely because of their bulk pricing structure and limited product selection, which often allows them to offer lower prices than traditional supermarkets.

Discount grocery chains like Aldi and Lidl also ranked among the most affordable options nationwide.

Price Differences Can Be Significant

The analysis found that price gaps between grocery retailers were often substantial within the same metro area.

For example, in the Los Angeles area, Costco’s prices were roughly 20 percent lower than Walmart’s. Meanwhile, some traditional grocery stores charged considerably more. In many cities, the difference between the least expensive and most expensive supermarkets exceeded 33 percent.

In practical terms, this means the same grocery basket could cost dramatically different amounts depending on the store.

A $200 grocery trip at Walmart might drop to around $160 at Costco, while the same items could cost well over $250 at some higher-priced supermarkets.

How Researchers Compared Grocery Prices

The study compared grocery baskets containing commonly purchased items, including packaged foods, fresh produce, and meat.

Mainstream supermarkets that carry many national-brand products allowed researchers to compare identical items across stores, making those comparisons the most detailed.

For retailers that focus heavily on private-label goods or specialty items, such as certain discount chains or specialty grocers, fewer products overlapped with Walmart. As a result, the comparison baskets for those stores contained fewer items.

Prices included sale discounts and deals available through free loyalty programs, but did not include manufacturer coupons or promotions available only through smartphone apps.

Why Some Grocery Stores Cost More

Grocery pricing can vary for several reasons. Warehouse clubs often offer lower prices because they sell products in larger quantities, reducing the cost per unit.

Discount chains tend to rely heavily on private-label products, which can also keep prices lower than national brands.

On the other hand, specialty grocery stores may charge more because they emphasize premium products, organic options, or stricter ingredient standards.

Overall, the findings suggest that where shoppers choose to buy their groceries can significantly affect their overall spending. For many households, switching stores or shopping at multiple retailers may be one of the easiest ways to reduce grocery costs.