With grocery store prices climbing, consumers have been searching for the best deals, and a new report highlights supermarkets that are among the least expensive.
Where you shop for groceries significantly impacts how much you spend to feed your family, according to a recent Consumer Reports analysis. Most Americans buy food from at least two retailers each week, according to the report, but where you shop can impact on your overall spending.
Researchers compared prices at major retailers using Walmart, the nation’s largest grocery seller, as a baseline. The publication found price gaps of more than 50 percentage points between the cheapest and most expensive supermarket chains.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index’s “food at home index” rose 2.4% over the 12 months ending in February. The index for other food at home rose 3.3% over the last 12 months. The nonalcoholic beverages index increased 5.6% over the same period and the fruits and vegetables index rose 2.7%.
Despite a 42.1% drop in the eggs index, the meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index rose 0.4% over the year and the dairy and related products index increased 0.1% over the same period, the BLS said.
With prices continuing to climb, here’s what Consumer Reports findings show regarding the most and least expensive supermarkets:
Costco, Aldi, BJs among cheapest supermarkets
The Consumer Reports analysis found that warehouse clubs were the cheapest for groceries overall, compared to the national average.
Costco led the list at 21.4% cheaper than Walmart, followed closely by BJ’s Wholesale Club at 21% less, Lidl (8.5% cheaper), and Aldi 8.3% cheaper than Walmart. WinCo was 3.3% less expensive than Walmart and H-E-B was 0.2% less.
Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s among more expensive grocery chains
Two chains known for healthier and organic foods were higher: Whole Foods was the most expensive chain nationally, averaging 39.7 higher than Walmart. Trader Joe’s was 24.6% higher.
New England-based Shaw’s was 31.9% more expensive overall than Walmart while El Rancho was 30.1% more expensive.
Whole Foods responded to the Consumer Reports study and said it did not account for other factors that could be important to shoppers, such as ingredient standards and sourcing.
Consumer Reports ranking: Cheapest vs. most expensive grocery stores
Here’s how major grocery chains compare to Walmart, from cheapest to most expensive, according to Consumer Reports. Companies with Michigan locations are in bold:
Tips to keep in mind when grocery shopping
How did Consumer Reports determine the rankings?
To determine the rankings, Consumer Reports commissioned research from Strategic Resource Group, a New York-based retail and grocery market research firm.
It compared baskets of commonly used national-brand purchased items at mainstream grocery chains in six representative U.S. cities – Boston, Chicago, Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles/Southern California and Virginia Beach.
Prices were collected in person from store shelves in late summer 2025, according to the report.
Contributing: USA Today network
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: These grocery stores are cheaper than Walmart. See new rankings
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, Jalen Williams and Susan Selasky, USA TODAY NETWORK / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
