Aldi vs. Walmart: Which Store Has the Better Prices on Summer Basics?
If you're choosing between Aldi and Walmart for your summer shopping list, you'll likely be interested to know that Walmart came out ahead on more items in this comparison overall, but Aldi delivered the single biggest savings on ground beef — making each store the better choice depending on what you're buying.
MoneyLion checked prices across seven summer staples at both stores: fresh produce, dairy, meat and snacks. The same items were compared at each retailer whenever possible, using current prices from each store's website.
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Here's how the prices stacked up item by item.
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1. Strawberries
Aldi: $2.35
Walmart: $2.09
Aldi's fresh strawberries came in 25 cents over Walmart's 1-lb container. For a summer staple that disappears fast at cookouts, it's a small savings that adds up if you're buying multiple containers a week.
2. Eggs
Aldi: $1.65
Walmart: $1.47
Great Value large eggs at Walmart beat Goldhen Grade A large eggs at Aldi by a margin of 28 cents per dozen. Eggs are one of the most-bought grocery items, so Walmart holds the edge in this category.
3. Butter
Aldi: $3.19
Walmart: $3.06
Countryside Creamery unsalted butter at Aldi and Great Value unsalted butter at Walmart are within 13 cents of each other for a 1-lb, 4-stick package. Call this one a tie — either store works for summer baking and grilling prep.
4. Watermelon
Aldi: $5.15
Walmart: $4.67
Walmart's whole seedless watermelon came in 48 cents cheaper than Aldi's large seedless watermelon. It's one of the categories where Walmart has the clear edge and watermelon is the kind of summer buy that gets repeated.
5. Ground Beef
Aldi: $5.79 per lb
Walmart: $7.23 per lb
The biggest price gap in this comparison was on 80/20 ground beef. Aldi's 80% lean ground beef undercut Walmart's 80/20 ground beef chuck by $1.44 per pound. For anyone grilling burgers this summer, that gap is especially relevant if you expect to hold multiple cookouts.
6. Whole Milk
Aldi: $3.59
Walmart: $3.16
Great Value whole milk at Walmart edges out Friendly Farms whole milk at Aldi by 43 cents per gallon. Both are house-label options and the quality difference is minimal, making Walmart the better value here.
7. Wavy Potato Chips
Aldi: $1.99 (10 oz)
Walmart: $1.50 (8 oz)
Walmart's Great Value wavy chips cost less at the register, but Aldi's Clancy's wavy chips give you 2 more ounces for 49 cents more. The per-ounce cost works out to be roughly comparable between stores — 18 to 20 cents per ounce — so this one is a practical tie.
Walmart came out ahead on four of seven categories in this comparison (strawberries, eggs, watermelon and milk), while Aldi won one outright (ground beef) and two categories were effectively ties (butter and chips).
The takeaway is less about one store being cheaper overall and more about shopping strategically: Walmart is the better bet for most everyday summer staples, but Aldi stands out when it comes to meat — especially ground beef. If you're planning multiple cookouts, buying your meat at Aldi and filling the rest of your cart at Walmart may yield the best savings overall.
Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. This article was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy.
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