You might be feeling fed up with your rising grocery bills right now. Apparently, you are not alone. In fact, about 58% of Americans are spending more money on groceries this year than last year. Meanwhile, grocery prices have gone up by about 2.6%. According to the latest Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, usually American households spend more than $1,000 per month on groceries. With the rising cost of living, of course, you want to find the best way to save on your essentials. If that is the case, it is time to turn to cheaper grocery stores. Well, in this article, we will share the ten cheapest grocery stores in America in 2025.
The Top Ten Most Cheapest Grocery Stores
If you really want to move to the cheapest grocery store in America, make sure you read the following text. We want to share information about the top ten cheapest grocery stores in America. Also, we will explain how these stores keep prices low and what items are best to buy.
1. Aldi
Aldi is the best choice when you turn to the cheapest grocery store. For your information, Aldi is a grocery store that was established in 1961 in Germany. However, over the past 50 years, Aldi has opened more than 2,000 stores in 39 states of the United States. Aldi offers high-quality products at low prices. Due to its low prices, its popularity is constantly increasing.
To keep prices low, Aldi uses several cost-cutting strategies:
-
- Customers must rent shopping carts for a quarter of a dollar and return them by themselves. In this way, Aldi can reduce labor costs as it does not require employees to collect shopping carts.
- Customers must bring their own shopping bags as Aldi does not provide free shopping bags. Alternatively, customers can purchase bags provided by Aldi.
- Aldi staff do not pack your groceries. You must pack your groceries yourself.
Here are several best items to buy at Aldi:
-
- Baking supplies
- Fresh produce
- Chocolate
- Cheese
- Canned goods
- Wine
Need to know that there are weekly Aldi specials that you should try. However, Aldi’s weekly specials vary by location.
2. Food 4 Less
Food 4 Less is a grocery store located in Illinois, Indiana, and California. For your information, it is a subsidiary of Kroger. When you visit Food 4 Less, you could be walking into an independent store operated by Kroger. This grocery store offers very affordable grocery prices so many people shop for their needs at this grocery store.
To keep prices low, Food 4 Less uses these strategies:
-
- Customers must pack their own groceries so that Food 4 Less does not need employees to pack the groceries.
- Food 4 Less provides quality brands such as Kroger, Private Selection, and Simple Truth.
Here are several best items to buy at Food 4 Less:
-
- Produce (even organic)
- Gluten-free items
- Meats
- Canned goods
- Baking supplies
- Health and beauty items
- Dry goods (like peanut butter, pasta, and quick oats)
If you want to save your shopping budget, then you can choose to shop at Food 4 Less.
3. WinCo Foods
WinCo Foods is a large grocery store that provides groceries at low prices. Originally, WinCo Foods was called Waremart. When the original founder passed away, the employees joined and bought the shares. After that, Waremart changed its name to WinCo Foods. You can find WinCo Foods in 10 states including Idaho, Arizona, California, and Texas.
Here is how WinCo Foods keep prices low:
-
- They do not accept credit cards thus avoiding transaction fees.
- They do not hire packers thereby reducing employee expenses
- They do not spend a dime on advertising.
Here are several best items to buy at WinCo Foods:
-
- Baking supplies
- Spices
- Cereal
- Beans
- Pasta
- Rice
WinCo Foods’ food storage bins offer significant savings compared to pre-packaged items.
4. Market Basket
Established in 1917, Market Basket provides significant savings to customers. Today, Market Basket has more than 90 stores across New England. “More for your dollar” is Market Basket’s slogan. And many customers can attest to that. To keep costs low, Market Basket employs a lean corporate structure and efficient purchasing strategies.
This is how Market Basket keeps prices low:
-
- They only have a small corporate staff. That definitely cuts down on employee salary expenses.
- They simplify purchasing by stocking all the same products.
Here are several best items to buy at Market Basket:
-
- Maple syrup
- Rhode Island clams
- Regional produce like pears from New Hampshire and apples from Maine.
In addition, customers can also find many great deals on household supplies and daily necessities.
5. Lidl
Lidl is a grocery store headquartered in Germany. They offer affordable and high-quality groceries. Also, Lidl offers gardening supplies, kitchenware, and toys. In fact, you can also find power tools at this grocery store. Based on research, along the East Coast, Lidl is thriving. Hence, Lidl is one of the cheapest grocery stores in areas like Virginia and North Carolina.
How Lidl Keeps Costs Low:
-
- Lidl offers only a few brands so it gets competitive prices from vendors.
- Lidl is designed to attract more shoppers in and out quickly.
- Lidl eliminates unnecessary costs such as paying employees to pack groceries or unpack products.
Several best items you can buy at Lidl:
-
- Spices
- Certified seafood
- Spanish olives
- Fresh meats
- Imported cheeses
- Authentic Greek pastries
Are you interested in shopping for your needs at Lidl? If so, you will definitely save your money.
6. Trader Joe’s
If you want to shop somewhere with the ambience of a convenience store, a vegetable stand, and an international market, you can try visiting Trader Joe’s. To its fans, this grocery store is more than just a store. Shopping there is an exciting adventure. Trader Joe’s sells mostly its own brands. You will be able to find a box of peanut butter for $2.49, and a loaf of bread for $1.99. The affordability of the price is a big draw for shoppers. There are several ways that Trader Joe’s keeps prices low.
Here’s how Trader Joe’s keeps prices low:
-
- Trader Joe’s mostly sells their own brands, which means no middlemen.
- Trader Joe’s does not spend money on traditional advertising, which keeps operating costs down.
- Trader Joe’s maintains a simple store design to keep costs down, including leaving products in their original packaging.
- Trader Joe’s never deals in coupons.
Best items to buy at Trader Joe’s:
-
- Honey-roasted pumpkin ravioli
- Vegan chickpea masala salad
- Their brand of cereal bars
- Salad kits
- Seasoning blends
- Hummus
- Dried fruit
- Pumpkin butter
- Fresh and frozen meats
- Sweet cinnamon-filled Korean pancakes
- Dark chocolate peanut butter cups
If you are a big fan of coupons, don’t feel bad, because even if there are no coupons or special offers, Trader Joe’s always has very low prices compared to other grocery stores.
7. Costco
Costco is one of the largest retailers in the world that you can visit to shop for your needs at affordable prices. Costco started in 1976 as Price Mart in San Diego and today, Costco operates in eight countries. Costco has a mission, which is to provide branded merchandise to customers at the best prices. You should know that Costco specializes in the wholesale sale of products. If you are shopping for groceries in bulk, this is the perfect solution.
This is how Costco keeps costs low:
-
- Costco spends almost nothing on traditional advertising.
- Costco does not hire employees to pack or unpack items.
- Costco provides tons of products under the Kirkland Signature brand.
- Costco charges a membership fee, which ranges from $60-120.
Best items to buy at Costco:
-
- Kirkland’s coffee
- Kirkland’s cranberry juice
- Kirkland’s diapers
- Bulk canned goods
- Olive oil
- Name-brand pasta sauces
- Large bags of chocolate chips
In addition, at Costco, you will also be able to find hot dogs for $1.50 and a hot 18-inch pizza for $9.95.
8. Walmart
As we know that Walmart is the largest retailer in the world. Walmart is known for its large stores, large selection of goods and products, and low prices. You may have already shopped at Walmart. If not, you should give it a try to cut your monthly budget. There you will find many groceries and daily necessities. In addition, you can also find clothing, gardening supplies, jewellery, and gift items. For your information, in 1950, Walmart once earned the title of the cheapest grocery store. To this day, Walmart continues to provide cheaper groceries than anywhere else.
Here’s why Walmart can keep costs low:
-
- Walmart is a very large retailer. As such, Walmart has great bargaining power with their suppliers.
- Walmart is very busy and sells a lot of items so they can offer lower prices than others.
Best items to buy at Walmart:
-
- Pantry staples
- Toiletries
- Organic foods
- Sauces
- Condiments
- Spices
- Keto products
- Cleaning supplies
- Gluten-free items
- Laundry detergents
Despite inflation, America’s largest retailer has managed to keep prices lower than others, especially in the grocery section. You will not regret shopping at Walmart. And get ready to save money.
9. Sam’s Club
Have you ever shopped at Sam’s Club? It is a membership warehouse club chain owned by Walmart. If you are really interested in shopping at Sam’s Club, you can join for $50 per year. By doing so, you will gain access to a network of stores that offer premium quality and exclusive savings. Once you are a member, you will get amazing discount offers on a wide range of items. You must be interested, right?
To keep prices low:
-
- Sam’s Club buys goods or products in bulk.
- Sam’s Club charges a membership fee.
- Sam’s Club leverages their vendor relationship with Walmart.
- Sam’s Club offers scan-and-grab technology in their app.
Best items to buy at Sam’s Club:
-
- Vitamins
- Protein bars
- Toilet paper
- Extreme value gift cards
There are lots of people who go to Sam’s Club. If you want to visit there, just go, and shop at Sam’s Club. We are sure that you can save some money.
10. H-E-B
Another cheapest grocery store is H-E-B. For your information, there are 420 stores spread across Texas and Mexico. By shopping here, you will save your money. We learned that H-E-B has been serving Texans since 1905. They offer a variety of groceries and daily necessities at low prices.
This is how H-E-B keeps costs low:
-
- H-E-B provides local food. That way, they can save on transportation costs.
- H-E-B offers customers mobile payment on the H-E-B Go app. That way, customers can scan and enter their groceries themselves while shopping.
Best items to buy at H-E-B:
-
- Whataburger sauces
- Olé coffee (San Antonio’s Café)
- Clint’s Texas Salsa
- Fresh guacamole
- Cranberry pistachio bread
- Ultra-strong toilet paper (H-E-B’s brand)
- Texas pecan K-Cups
AUTHOR BIO
On my daily job, I am a software engineer, programmer & computer technician. My passion is assembling PC hardware, studying Operating System and all things related to computers technology. I also love to make short films for YouTube as a producer. More at about me…