Community Chat

[feline groovy]

Just a hopefully helpful thread about saving money that's applicable          to some other states as well. 

New Analysis Compares Prices At PA Supermarkets: Here's The Cheapest

Consumer advice website Checkbook recently compared area supermarket prices and quality. Here's how PA chains fared.

November 18, 2025

A new survey has revealed which Pennsylvania grocery stores offer shoppers the best value for their money — but they may also get what they pay for when it comes to product quality.

Consumer advice website Checkbook recently compared Delaware Valley area supermarket prices and quality. To determine where to find the best prices, the publication sent researchers to stores using a 150-item shopping list to compare prices.

To evaluate stores on the quality of products and service, Checkbook surveyed its members, according to the publication.

Discount grocery ALDI came in as the clear winner for best prices. For a family that typically spends $300 a week on groceries based on average prices, they could save nearly $5,500 a year by switching to ALDI.

Lidl came in second with an average annual savings of $4,056, followed by Amazon Fresh with savings of $2,496.

"For our shopping list, ALDI’s prices were 35 percent lower than the all-store average, and Lidl’s were 26 percent lower," Checkbook wrote. "ALDI’s per-unit prices were even lower than BJ’s, Costco and Sam’s Club."

Here's a look at the other Pennsylvania supermarkets where shoppers pay less and how much they would save annually by switching:

• Grocery Outlet: $1,872
• Walmart: $1,560
• Food Lion: $1,092
• Target: $624
• Trader Joe's: $468
• Wegman's: $156

On the other hand, there are several grocery chains where families would spend more each year if they chose to shop there. At the top of the list is Whole Foods, where shoppers pay nearly $5,000 more based on average prices. Acme came in second at $2,028, followed by McCaffrey's Food Markets at $1,872.

These are the other Pennsylvania supermarkets where shoppers pay more annually:

• TheFreshGrocer: $936
• Redner's: $468
• Dollar General: $468
• Weis Markets: $312
• Giant Food: $156
• ShopRite: $78

Unfortunately, Checkbook's report shows that shoppers can't have it all: The most affordable stores don't tend to offer the highest-quality products.

At  ALDI, only 58 percent of survey respondents were satisfied with the quality of products offered at stores, compared to 80 percent at Whole Foods.

"Whole Foods built a loyal following by offering high-quality produce, meat, prepared foods and generic staples," Checkbook wrote. "It continues to receive high marks in our surveys of consumers, especially for produce and meat quality."

Wegman's is the only exception, according to the report. While Wegmans' prices aren’t among the lowest in the region, it remains competitive, and the chain has consistently earned high ratings from its customers for quality.

Meanwhile, most other large chains receive dreadful ratings from their customers for quality. Target scored lowest, while Acme, Food Lion, TheFreshGrocer, Walmart and Weis also got abysmal scores.

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[Shelbelle]

We shop here in MD at Wegmans and believe it is on par with Walmart, and Wegmans offers the best service along with good pricing. 

[Sweet Kitties]

I stopped shopping at Target. I agree that their food prices are way too high. They also don't keep the shelves stocked well enough. Nothing more annoying that going to a store to buy something and several items aren't in stock.

[feline groovy]

Whole Foods aka "Whole Paycheck".  ;-)

[smoochy]

Cheaper prices aren't saving me anything if food quality is poor. This has been my experience with dairy and produce at Walmart and Aldi. Those items go bad far too soon, have to be replaced. I do better to spend a little more at Publix for those things.

[haddon9]

I'm in PA and this is where I shop:

Wegman's I find myself spending a lot here....lots of good prepared foods.

McCaffery's ..A small chain of about 8 stores two of which are local. A family owned market.

Organnon's....A single organic grocer 5 minutes from me 

NoneSuch Market...a local farm market which is expensive but pretty good.

DH likes to go to the weekly farmer's market on Saturday mornings.

Then there is Costco for paper goods and large sized cleaning supplies and some frozen goods.

That's it.  I have never shopped at Aldi's, Walmart or any of the other places mentioned.  Most are just too far to be worth it to me. Costco is the only place on my list that I will drive 30 minutes to stock up.

[Sweet Kitties]

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@smoochy wrote:

Cheaper prices aren't saving me anything if food quality is poor. This has been my experience with dairy and produce at Walmart and Aldi. Those items go bad far too soon, have to be replaced. I do better to spend a little more at Publix for those things.

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Where I live, Aldi always has fresh dairy. A lot of people shop there so they have to keep restocking. I don't know about Walmart. I hardly shop there because it's more out of the way compared to several closer grocery stores to my house.

[Zhills]

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@smoochy wrote:

Cheaper prices aren't saving me anything if food quality is poor. This has been my experience with dairy and produce at Walmart and Aldi. Those items go bad far too soon, have to be replaced. I do better to spend a little more at Publix for those things.

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If you shop Publix BOGOs and Weekly ads you can actually pay less for your total grocery order!   Quality is never a problem!

[Laura14]

Kroger has found its mind again and they aren't too bad with selection and quality if you take the time to clip the digital coupons beforehand.

I love Ingles, but the one near me closed down so they are a trek now. 

Publix is Whole Foods here and they have a very small selection of overpriced everything. It's a status symbol and that's it. 

Lately, I do Walmart. They seem to have gotten in line here since inflation got so bad. I was shocked in a good way at the meat prices which were not terrible for how much they gave you. 

I just went to Aldi for the first time last week.. It reminds me of the Duane Reads in NYC. I'm not sure how people find a whole list in there. Maybe after you've hit the bar and need a snack or for a college kid, maybe. The staples of eggs and almond milk are the same price as Walmart where I can get everything in one trip.  I really don't get it. 

[matty liz]

My success is at Kroger.  The digital coupons each week and coupons they send me are so good.  I also trust their brands.  Must admit it depends on some locations