QUICK ANSWER
In our same-day check in Columbus, OH, ALDI was cheapest pack for pack at $74.34 for 30 groceries, and Kroger the most expensive at $85.14, 15% more. At the till Walmart came out lowest ($79.21), because ALDI sells some items only in bigger packs.
The ranking, Columbus, OH, November 5, 2026.
| Store | Size-matched | Checkout total | Per plate |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALDIALDI SPR 53, 2396 Morse Rd, Columbus, OH | $74.34 | $80.97 | $4.05 |
| WalmartWhitehall Supercenter, 3657 E Main St, Whitehall (Columbus), OH 43213 (store 3447) | $79.21 | $79.21 | $3.96 |
| KrogerKroger E Broad Whitehall, 3675 E Broad St, Whitehall (Columbus), OH 43213 | $85.14 | $85.20 | $4.26 |
Target is missing: target.com stopped loading prices partway through our check, so Target is not in this comparison.
Head to head.
- Is ALDI cheaper than Walmart?
- Is Kroger cheaper than Walmart?
- Is ALDI cheaper than Kroger?
- Thanksgiving dinner for 10 at Walmart, ALDI and Kroger
What made the difference.
- Pack sizes. Some stores sell only the bigger bag of rice, pasta, cheese or salsa, so the cheapest per ounce is not always the cheapest at the till.
- Sales. Kroger had 10 of 30 lines on sale that day and was still the most expensive, so its everyday shelf prices are higher.
- Meat. Chicken and ground beef are about a third of the bill at every store, so that is where switching stores saves most.
How we compared them.
Both stores are in Columbus, OH and were priced on the same day, November 5, 2026, from their own websites: Walmart at Whitehall Supercenter, 3657 E Main St, Whitehall (Columbus), OH 43213 (store 3447); ALDI at ALDI SPR 53, 2396 Morse Rd, Columbus, OH; Kroger at Kroger E Broad Whitehall, 3675 E Broad St, Whitehall (Columbus), OH 43213. The basket is the fixed 30 items of the MealPot Grocery Index: five weeknight dinners for a family of four. Store brand where there is one, the closest pack size, the price shown that day. Checkout total is what the packs cost at the till. Size-matched rescales any pack that differs from the basket size, so stores compare like for like. Online shelf prices before tax; no coupons, loyalty prices or fees. Full rules: How we price.
Questions.
What is the cheapest grocery store?
In our Columbus, OH check on November 5, 2026, ALDI was cheapest size-matched ($74.34 for 30 groceries), then Walmart ($79.21) and Kroger ($85.14). It depends on your area, so check the stores near you.
Why is Target not included?
target.com stopped loading prices partway through our check, so Target is not in this comparison.
Get your week priced at your store.
MealPot plans your dinners and writes one list. Shop Walmart? MealPot Easy puts the week in your cart.
Sources.
- Walmart website, Whitehall Supercenter, 3657 E Main St, Whitehall (Columbus), OH 43213 (store 3447): 30 prices read on November 5, 2026. Each price links to the page we read.
- ALDI website, ALDI SPR 53, 2396 Morse Rd, Columbus, OH: 30 prices read on November 5, 2026. Each price links to the page we read.
- Kroger website, Kroger E Broad Whitehall, 3675 E Broad St, Whitehall (Columbus), OH 43213: 30 prices read on November 5, 2026. Each price links to the page we read.
- MealPot is independent of these stores and is not paid by them.