In The Penny Hoarder’s North Carolina comparison, Aldi’s 18-item basket cost $49.15 before tax, versus $62.34 at Trader Joe’s—a $13.19 difference in Aldi’s favor. That result applies to one reported basket and market, not every store or shopper. Package sizes and product matches were not perfect, and the source does not give the exact shopping date or store branches.
What the 18-item comparison found
The Penny Hoarder, in an article updated September 10, 2026, compared items its author said she normally bought every two weeks. The prices were reported for North Carolina stores and may vary by location. The table shows the listed price for each item and the difference between the two prices; a positive difference means Trader Joe’s was more expensive.
| Item | Aldi | Trader Joe’s | Trader Joe’s minus Aldi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-gallon whole milk | $2.29 | $2.59 | $0.30 |
| Whole-grain loaf | $2.99 | $2.99 | $0.00 |
| Dozen eggs | $1.85 | $2.99 | $1.14 |
| Tomato | $0.69 | $1.29 | $0.60 |
| Ground coffee | $6.95 for 12 ounces | $6.99 for 14 ounces | $0.04 by package price |
| Chicken breast, 1.96 pounds | $6.45 | $6.84 | $0.39 |
| Iceberg lettuce | $2.09 | $1.99 | −$0.10 |
| White mushrooms | $1.25 | $2.49 | $1.24 |
| Red onion | $0.99 | $1.99 | $1.00 |
| Potatoes, 3 pounds | $1.85, adjusted from a 5-pound bag | $3.99 | $2.14 |
| Four bananas | $0.64 | $1.16 | $0.52 |
| Provolone | $3.85 | $4.99 | $1.14 |
| Coffee creamer | $2.39 | $3.99 | $1.60 |
| Nonfat Greek yogurt | $2.79 | $5.49 | $2.70 |
| Frozen blueberries | $4.19 | $2.49 | −$1.70 |
| Organic frozen broccoli | $2.15 | $2.79 | $0.64 |
| Butter croissants | $3.85 | $3.99 | $0.14 |
| Six granola bars | $1.89 | $3.29 | $1.40 |
| Reported pretax total | $49.15 | $62.34 | $13.19 |
Aldi had the lower listed price on most items; Trader Joe’s was lower for lettuce and frozen blueberries, while the bread prices matched. The coffee difference is only four cents by package price, but the packages were different sizes: Trader Joe’s listed 14 ounces and Aldi 12 ounces. On a per-ounce basis, Aldi’s listed coffee price was lower. The potatoes were also not a straight package match: the author converted Aldi’s five-pound-bag price to a three-pound quantity. [The Penny Hoarder, updated September 10, 2026]
Why the result is not a universal price verdict
One basket and one market
The $13.19 gap reflects the items selected, the prices reported for North Carolina, and the comparison’s timing. The article does not identify the exact branches or price-collection date, so its figures cannot be treated as verified shelf prices for a particular store today.
#1 Best Overall
Some items were not fully matched
Package sizes, product attributes, and availability can affect the comparison. The author reported being unable to find white mushrooms on the first Aldi visit and described a poor produce display at that particular Aldi. The article explicitly notes that store conditions can vary; that visit is not evidence that Aldi produce is generally worse.
Prices can move
ALDI announced a nationwide round of fall price reductions beginning September 23, 2026, scheduled to run through at least November 3. Its examples included Honeycrisp apples at $1.99 for a two-pound bag and Kirkwood chicken breast family packs at $1.99 per pound. Those are company-announced promotional prices, not a repricing of the 18-item comparison. ALDI said prices, availability, and savings may vary by store and that online or delivery prices may be higher. [ALDI U.S., September 23, 2026]
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Other comparisons point in the same direction, with exceptions
Consumers’ Checkbook’s Boston-area report, last updated November 2025, found Aldi 28 percent below the all-store average for its shopping list. It also found Trader Joe’s more expensive than Aldi but cheaper than most traditional supermarket chains. That is a separate regional result, not a confirmation of the North Carolina basket. Checkbook said a standard 150-item basket made largely of national brands was poorly suited to the two chains, which mostly sell their own brands. It instead compared similar produce, meat, and dairy products by unit price, choosing the cheapest comparable store-brand items at conventional grocers. [Consumers’ Checkbook, November 2025]
Other published comparisons illustrate why the item matters. GOBankingRates’ comparison, whose price disclaimer says its figures were accurate as of March 27, 2026, listed Aldi as cheaper for organic milk, pancake products, raspberries, and olive oil, but Trader Joe’s as cheaper for unsalted butter and ketchup. The products were not always identical—for example, the ketchup packages differed in size—so these are examples from that comparison rather than a controlled ranking of either chain. [GOBankingRates, price disclaimer dated March 27, 2026]
Recommended Free Tools
A separate GOBankingRates basket reported $50.55 at Aldi and $58.92 at Trader Joe’s, excluding tax. Its examples included peanut butter in 18-ounce and 16-ounce packages and coffee in different forms and sizes, limiting how directly the totals can be compared with each other or with the 18-item North Carolina basket. [GOBankingRates, “$50 in Groceries: Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s”]
Smopper’s Pittsburgh-area price table, using data pulled September 30, 2026, likewise shows item-level variation: Aldi’s listed unit prices were lower for butter and milk, while Trader Joe’s was lower for coffee. Smopper describes its own regional database, not a nationally representative survey or independent audit; it leaves some listings unpriced when they cannot be converted cleanly. [Smopper, “Compare Grocery Prices,” data pulled September 30, 2026]
Rank #4
How to compare the stores for your own grocery list
- Start with your actual list. Compare the items and quantities your household buys, rather than assuming a published basket represents your routine.
- Match the product that matters to you. Check attributes such as organic status, fat level, cut, and product form. If one store has no suitable match, note it rather than silently substituting something different.
- Normalize package sizes. Compare price per ounce, pound, or other relevant unit when packages differ. A lower sticker price does not necessarily mean a lower cost for the same amount.
- Record local prices and the date. Compare the branches you would actually shop at, and distinguish in-store prices from online or delivery prices.
- Compare the practical total. Consider whether package quantities suit your household and whether the extra trip or the available produce works for you, as well as the basket’s sticker-price total.
This approach follows the logic of unit-price comparisons used in the Boston-area Checkbook study and avoids treating a regional database or one shopper’s store visit as a nationwide rule.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
