Top 10 Cheapest Grocery Stores That Will Save You Money

1. Aldi 

If you consider yourself a frugal spender, you’ve likely heard of the grocery store chain, Aldi. It’s in 39 states across the country and is wildly popular for it’s budget-friendly prices.

Aldi is able to keep it’s prices low by requiring customers to bring their own bags, charging $0.25 deposit for shopping carts, and predominantly stocking private-label brands, including “Simply Nature” and “Friendly Farms.”

How to Save Money Shopping at Aldi:

• Shop at Aldi for fresh produce. Consumers agree that the fresh fruits and vegetable quality can be hit or miss, depending on the region and day you’re shopping, but the price is hard to beat. For best quality produce, figure out when your local Aldi restocks the produce and switch your grocery shopping to that day. 
• Meal plan around the weekly specials. The deals in the weekly ad are the best of the week and almost always beat out prices at other stores in the area. 
• Plan on the mobile app first. Most grocery stores have mobile apps these days, and Aldi is no exception! If you’re on a tight budget, use the app to price your grocery trip before you go and make adjustments as needed. 
• Buy your essentials here. If you like to shop at multiple stores (I recommend it!) and choose to shop for your meat and produce elsewhere, Aldi is still one of the best places to buy your essential pantry items. Considering they don’t have any membership fees, the lower prices are hard to beat. Just don’t forget your quarter for a shopping cart!

Finally, before you shop, check out these Top 5 and Top 10 Things to Buy at Aldi in 2024. You might also like this Aldi Meal Plan: 7 Dinners for Under $50 for a Family of 5.

2. Grocery Outlet

My personal favorite! Grocery Outlet is a discount supermarket chain that offers customers a wide variety of groceries, including name-brand products (tons of plant-based options!) at significantly lower prices compared to traditional supermarkets. 

How to Save Money Shopping at Grocery Outlet:

• Shop the Bargain Bin: Grocery Outlet often has a designated bargain bin or clearance section where you can find deeply discounted items. At my local store, these items are usually in a designated grocery cart found near the back of the store. This cart is often loaded with products nearing their expiration date, seasonal items, or overstocked goods. Be sure to check this section for hidden gems at rock-bottom prices!
• Take Advantage of Weekly Deals: Like many grocery stores, Grocery Outlet offers weekly deals and promotions on various items. Check their weekly ad or website to see what’s on sale before you shop. Planning your purchases around these deals can lead to significant savings.
• Check Expiration Dates: Anything that is expiring within a few days will almost always be offered at a deeper discount at the register – just ask! 
• Sign Up for the Mailing List and Mobile App: Some Grocery Outlet locations have mailing lists and loyalty programs through their app that offer additional discounts and promotions to subscribers. Sign up to receive updates on special offers and exclusive deals. I regularly get coupons for $5 through the app!

Download the Grocery Outlet App and start saving on exclusive offers today! 

3. Winco Foods

WinCo Foods is an employee-owned supermarket chain that operates in the United States, primarily on the West Coast.  The name “WinCo” stands for “Winning Company,” and the store is known for its warehouse-style approach, offering a broad range of products at competitive prices. 

How to Save Money Shopping at Winco Foods:

• Shop the Bulk Section: WinCo Foods has a large bulk foods section where you can buy items like grains, nuts, spices, and more at lower prices compared to packaged goods. Buying in bulk can save you money in the long run, especially for staples like rice, pasta, and beans.
• Use Coupons: WinCo Foods accepts manufacturer’s coupons, so be sure to check for coupons in newspapers, printable coupons, or the WinCo Foods website itself. Combining coupons with sales can lead to significant savings.
• Join the WinCo Membership Program: WinCo Foods offers a membership program called the “WinCo Digital Coupons” program. By signing up for this program, you can access additional digital coupons and exclusive deals – a great way to lower your grocery bill even further.
• Buy Store Brands: WinCo Foods offers its own store brands, which are typically cheaper than name-brand products. Consider trying out store-brand items for savings on items like pantry staples, snacks, and household goods.
• Look for Manager’s Specials: Keep an eye out for manager’s specials or clearance items, which are often marked down for quick sale. These items may be nearing their expiration date or have damaged packaging, but they can still be perfectly good products at a discounted price.
• Bring Your Own Bags: WinCo Foods offers discounts for customers who bring their own reusable bags, so be sure to bring your own bags when you shop to save a little extra money and reduce waste.

Use the Store Locator to find the closest WincoFoods grocery store near you! 

4. Walmart Neighborhood Market

Walmart Neighborhood Market is a smaller-format grocery store chain operated by Walmart. Unlike traditional Walmart Supercenters, which are large stores that sell a wide variety of general merchandise in addition to groceries, Walmart Neighborhood Markets focus primarily on groceries and household essentials. 

How to Save Money Shopping at Walmart:

• Shop the Sales and Rollback Prices: Keep an eye out for sales and rollback prices on items throughout the store. Walmart Neighborhood Market typically offers discounts on various products, so check the weekly ad or look for signage in-store to find deals.
• Use Coupons: Walmart Neighborhood Market accepts both manufacturer’s coupons and digital coupons. Look for coupons in newspapers, magazines, coupon websites, and the Walmart app. You can also use rebate apps like Ibotta that offer cash back on grocery purchases.
• Buy the Store Brand “Great Value”: Walmart offers its own store brand, “Great Value“, which is almost always priced lower than name-brand products. Switch to purchasing generic items for significant savings on pantry staples, snacks, and household essentials.
• Use Walmart Grocery Pickup or Grocery Delivery: Avoid impulse buys and order your groceries online for convenient grocery pickup or delivery without a delivery fee. If you spend over $35, your pickup is free! Plus, you can Get $10 off your first 3 Walmart Grocery Pickup Orders with the code TRIPLE10. 

5. Food4Less

Food4Less is a discount grocery store chain owned by The Kroger Co., one of the largest supermarket chains in the United States. This discount chain is known for its low prices and no-frill approach to grocery shopping. offers customers discounted prices on a wide range of food and household prices.

Food4Less has 101 grocery stores in 3 states – California, Illinois, and Indiana.

How to Save Money Shopping at Food4Less:

• Take Advantage of Weekly Ads and Sales: Food4Less typically offers weekly ads with discounted prices on various items. Check the weekly ad either online or in-store before you shop to see what’s on sale and plan your purchases accordingly.
• Use Digital Coupons: Food4Less offers digital coupons that you can load onto your loyalty card through their website or mobile app. Take advantage of these coupons to save on a wide range of products. Plus, Food4Less also accepts manufacturer coupons, so you can stack digital and paper coupons for additional savings!
• Sign Up for Rewards Programs: This discount grocery store has a loyalty program that allows you to earn points on qualifying purchases, which can be redeemed for discounts on future purchases. Sign up for the rewards program to start earning points and receiving exclusive offers.
• Buy in Bulk: Food4Less offers bulk purchasing options on items like rice, beans, pasta, and snacks.

Check out Food4Less’ website to find more Ways to Save at Food4Less!

6. Target

This well-known retail chain is easy to find nationwide and offers a wide range of products, including groceries! Depending on the offerings at your nearest location, you may be able to do all of your grocery shopping here. 

How to Save Money Shopping at Target: 

• Utilize Target Circle Offers: Target Circle is Target’s loyalty program and app that offers personalized deals and discounts to members. Sign up for Target Circle for free and check the app or website regularly for exclusive grocery offers and discounts.
• Stack Coupons: Target accepts manufacturer coupons, store coupons, and Target Circle offers (from the app!). Stack coupons with sale items to maximize your savings. You can find coupons in newspapers, magazines, online coupon websites, and the Target app.
• Take Advantage of Weekly Ad Deals: The popular chain releases weekly ads that feature sales and promotions on grocery items. Check the weekly ad online or in-store to plan your shopping trip around the best deals.
• Shop for Generic and Store-Brand Items: Target offers a variety of store-brand and generic grocery items that are almost always cheaper than name-brand products. Consider purchasing these items to save money without sacrificing quality.
• Use Target REDcard: If you have a REDcard (debit cards or credit cards), you can save an additional 5% on purchases, including groceries.
• Take Advantage of Target’s Drive Up and Order Pickup: Like Walmart, you can use these services to avoid impulse purchases and stick to your shopping list, helping you save money.
• Check for Clearance and Markdowns: Target often marks down perishable and non-perishable grocery items that are approaching their expiration date or are being discontinued. Look for clearance stickers or markdowns in-store to find discounted items.

7. Lidl

Lidl is a German discount supermarket chain known for its efficient store layout, private labels, and limited product selection. These cheap grocery store locations can be found on the East Coast, in states like Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, and DC.

How to Save Money Shopping at Lidl: 

• Use Lidl Plus App: Download the Lidl Plus app to access exclusive discounts, coupons, and offers. The app may also provide personalized deals based on your shopping habits, allowing you to save even more money on groceries.
• Take Advantage of Rewards & Coupons: Lidl regularly offers weekly rewards and coupons on a wide range of products. Check the weekly ad or Lidl app to see what items are on sale before you shop. Planning your purchases around these specials can help you save money on groceries.
• Shop for Lidl Own Brands: Lidl carries its own private label brands, which are often priced lower than name-brand products but maintain high quality. Try Lidl’s own brands for items like cereal, snacks, dairy products, and more to save money without compromising on taste or quality.

Before you shop, check out these 8 Additional Tips for Finding the Best Deals at Lidl, too! 

8. Costco

Very similar to Sam’s Club, Costco is a popular membership-based warehouse store offering bulk quantities of products at discounted prices.

Browse the 17 Staples I Buy From Costco to Save Money!

How to Save Money Shopping at Costco: 

1. Choose the Right Membership: Costco offers different membership levels, including Gold Star and Executive Members. Depending on the size of your family or your specific shopping needs, an executive membership can help save you hundreds of dollars each year. For example, Executive members receive an annual 2% reward on qualified purchases, which can end up covering cost of membership, plus some!
2. Buy in Bulk: Costco is known for its bulk buying options, which allow you to purchase larger quantities of items at lower prices per unit. For the average family, you likely won’t need to shop at Costco too often, but stocking up here on large quantities of non perishables and household items you use regularly can help you save a lot of money in the long run. Think laundry detergents, paper towels, sponges, shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper, non-perishable groceries, etc.
3. Shop the Kirkland Signature Brand: Costco’s private label brand, Kirkland Signature, offers high-quality products at lower prices than the name-brand equivalents. Switch to purchasing Kirkland Signature items to save money without sacrificing quality.
4. Take Advantage of Costco Coupons: Costco offers monthly coupon books with discounts on a variety of products. Keep an eye out for these coupons and use them to save money on items you need.
5. Take Advantage of Price Matching: All Costco locations will price match for you up to 3 months after purchase. For example, if you purchase an item that goes on sale 3 weeks later, visit the member services counter and Costco will refund you the difference. 

9. Sam’s Club

Owned and operated by Walmart, Inc., Sam’s Club is a membership-based warehouse retailer. The chain is named after Walmart founder, Sam Walton and is known for offering bulk products sold at discounted prices to its members.

How to Save Money Shopping at Sam’s Club: 

• Choose the Right Membership: Sam’s Club offers different levels of membership, including Sam’s Club Plus and Sam’s Savings. Evaluate your needs and choose the membership level that will give you the best bang for your buck (Make sure to consider factors such as cash rewards, early shopping hours, and additional discounts!).
• Shop the Instant Savings: Look for items marked with Instant Savings stickers throughout the store. These discounts are available exclusively to Sam’s Club members and can help you save on a variety of products, from groceries to electronics.
• Stock up on Bulk Items: Buying in bulk will almost always save you money in the long run and reduces the need for frequent trips to the store. You’ll pay higher prices up front, but have lower costs throughout the year.
• Utilize Club Pickup or Delivery: Save time and money by using Sam’s Club’s Club Pickup or delivery options. You can order online and pick up your items at the store or have them delivered to your doorstep. Online grocery shopping is one of my favorite ways to avoid impulse purchases and stick to your shopping list.
• Shop Seasonal Sales: Sam’s Club often offers seasonal sales and promotions on items like outdoor furniture, grills, holiday decorations, and more. Take advantage of these sales to score discounts and save big!

Here are 29 More Tips Every Sam’s Club Shopper Needs to Know! 

10. Trader Joe’s 

Trader Joe’s is a wildly popular grocery chain in the United States. It is known for its unique selection of specialty and gourmet foods, as well as its affordable prices, particularly for smaller families shopping for just 1-3 people. 

How to Save Money Shopping at Trader Joe’s: 

• Shop for Produce and Dairy: Trader Joe’s typically offers competitive prices on fresh produce and dairy products. Stock up on fruits, vegetables, and dairy items at Trader Joe’s to save money on these essentials.
• Avoid Pre-Packaged Convenience Items: While Trader Joe’s offers a variety of convenient pre-packaged meals and snacks, these items can sometimes be more expensive than making similar dishes from scratch. Opt for whole ingredients and cook meals at home to save money in the long run.
• Shop for Store-Brand Products: Trader Joe’s offers a wide selection of private label products under its own brand that are often cheaper than name brand counterparts. Look for Trader Joe’s branded items in various categories, including snacks, pantry staples, frozen foods, and more.

Next, follow these 14 Extra Shopping Hacks at Trader Joe’s to Save Money.