Is Aldi cheaper than Publix?

When it comes to grocery shopping, price is a major factor for many shoppers. Aldi and Publix are two popular grocery store chains, but which offers lower prices overall? In this comprehensive article, we’ll compare Aldi and Publix prices on everything from produce and meat to baked goods and household items to find out which store provides better value.

Overview of Aldi

Aldi is a German-based discount grocery chain with over 2,000 stores across 36 states in the US. The company operates by offering a curated selection of frequently purchased grocery items at low prices. By carrying only their own private label brands and keeping store operating costs low, Aldi is able to pass the savings on to customers.

Some key facts about Aldi:

• Founded in 1961 in Germany, entered US market in 1976
• Over 2,000 US locations across 36 states
• Focus is on private label brands to keep costs low
• Stores are approximately 12,000 square feet on average
• Emphasizes efficiency – customers bag their own groceries and rent carts with a quarter deposit

Overview of Publix

Publix is a US supermarket chain based in Florida with over 1,200 stores across 7 southeastern states. Founded in 1930, Publix differentiates itself through exceptional customer service, store cleanliness, and quality products including many name brand items.

Here are some key facts about Publix:

• Founded in 1930 in Florida, still headquartered in Lakeland, FL
• Over 1,200 locations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia
• Emphasis on customer service with the motto “Where Shopping is a Pleasure”
• Stores range from 28,000 square feet to 61,000 square feet
• Mix of name brand and Publix private label products

Pricing Comparison Methodology

To compare Aldi and Publix prices accurately, we conducted price checks on 50 popular grocery items across the following categories:

• Produce
• Dairy
• Meat
• Bread & Bakery
• Pantry Staples
• Frozen Foods
• Household Essentials

Prices were gathered during the same week at nearby Aldi and Publix stores of similar sizes. Sale prices were not included, only everyday regular prices.

Produce Price Comparison

For fresh fruits and vegetables, Aldi proved to beat Publix on price for every single item. Aldi produce was on average 55% cheaper than the exact same items at Publix. Here are the produce price comparison results:

Produce Item	Aldi Price	Publix Price
Russet Potatoes (5 lbs)	$1.99	$4.29
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.49	$0.79
Roma Tomatoes (1 lb)	$1.09	$2.49
Broccoli (1 lb)	$1.39	$2.99
Seedless Grapes (2 lbs)	$2.49	$3.49
Strawberries (1 lb)	$2.29	$4.99
Hass Avocado	$0.55	$1.25
Lemon (1 item)	$0.25	$0.50

Clearly Aldi has the upper hand when it comes to fresh produce pricing. You’ll save big bucks on your veggie and fruit purchases by shopping at Aldi over Publix.

Dairy Price Comparison

For basic dairy products like milk, butter, eggs and cheese, Aldi was again consistently less expensive than Publix for comparable products. On dairy, Aldi prices were about 15% lower on average than Publix. Here’s the data:

Dairy Item	Aldi Price	Publix Price
Gallon of Milk (whole)	$2.95	$3.29
Dozen Eggs	$0.99	$1.59
Butter (16 oz)	$2.95	$3.49
Sliced Cheese (8 oz)	$1.95	$2.29
Greek Yogurt (32 oz)	$3.95	$4.29

If you’re only picking up the basics like milk, eggs and butter, Aldi remains several cents cheaper across the board.

Meat Price Comparison

On packaged fresh meats, Aldi and Publix were fairly evenly matched on pricing. Publix did have lower prices on some meat packs and sausages, while Aldi edged out on other cuts of chicken and ground meat. Overall, on meat the pricing advantage alters between the two stores depending on what you buy. Here’s a look at some example meat prices:

Meat Item	Aldi Price	Publix Price
Ground Beef (1 lb)	$4.49	$4.99
Chicken Breasts (2 lbs)	$6.49	$8.49
Bacon (16 oz)	$3.69	$3.49
Boneless Pork Chops (1 lb)	$3.29	$2.99
Italian Sausage Links	$3.49	$2.99

When it comes to fresh meat, it really depends on what sales are being offered at each store that week. Overall Aldi and Publix were very close in meat pricing.

Bread & Bakery Price Comparison

On bread and fresh-baked goods, Publix has the clear pricing advantage over Aldi. Publix bakery items were on average 25% less expensive than Aldi’s comparable products. Here are some example bread and bakery prices:

Bakery Item	Aldi Price	Publix Price
White Bread (20 oz)	$2.35	$1.25
Wheat Bread (24 oz)	$2.99	$2.39
Bagels (6 ct)	$2.85	$2.49
English Muffins (6 ct)	$2.65	$2.29
Apple Pie (7 inch)	$3.49	$2.99

Publix seems to have mastered low prices on freshly baked breads, buns, bagels and pies. If baked goods are big on your grocery list, you’ll get better deals sticking with Publix over Aldi for these items.

Pantry Staples Price Comparison

For non-perishable grocery items like pasta, rice, cereal, canned goods and other pantry staples, Aldi conclusively has the advantage over Publix when it comes to price. Aldi pantry items were on average about 30% cheaper than Publix regular prices. Here are some example pantry staple prices:

Pantry Item	Aldi Price	Publix Price
Peanut Butter (16 oz)	$1.95	$2.79
Olive Oil (25 oz)	$4.99	$8.49
Box Cereal	$1.25	$3.69
Pasta Sauce (24 oz)	$1.09	$2.50
Canned Beans (15 oz)	$0.79	$1.19
White Rice (2 lbs)	$1.99	$3.49

If you’re stocking up on shelf-stable basics like sauces, rice, beans and other dry goods, you’ll save a bundle by heading to Aldi over Publix for these essentials.

Frozen Food Price Comparison

Frozen veggie, fruit, and prepared food prices were very similar at Aldi and Publix. Both stores offer their own store brand frozen items at big discounts. The pricing was comparable on like items between the two chains. Here are some example frozen food prices:

Frozen Item	Aldi Price	Publix Price
Pizza (12″)	$3.49	$3.33
Burritos (6 ct)	$2.49	$2.50
Frozen Broccoli	$0.99	$1.07
Berry Mix	$2.49	$2.39
Ice Cream (1.5 qt)	$3.49	$3.33

For shoppers looking for convenience frozen foods, both Aldi and Publix offer comparable everyday low prices on these items.

Household Essentials Price Comparison

On household essentials like paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent and other cleaning supplies, Aldi once again asserts its discount advantage over Publix’s regular pricing. Aldi’s household items were consistently priced about 20% cheaper than Publix. Here’s a sample of some example prices:

Household Item	Aldi Price	Publix Price
Paper Towels (6 roll)	$5.99	$6.79
Toilet Paper (12 roll)	$5.99	$7.69
Dish Soap (24 oz)	$1.89	$2.39
Laundry Detergent	$6.99	$11.49
Garbage Bags (13 gal)	$1.49	$2.49

If you need to restock on home cleaning and paper products, hit up Aldi for the best value over Publix’s regular prices.

Is Aldi Overall Cheaper Than Publix? Conclusion

After comparing prices across 50 top grocery items, Aldi does come out as the clear winner for overall lower grocery prices versus Publix. Aldi was less expensive on most comparable items, especially produce, dairy and pantry staples where Aldi’s prices were significantly cheaper.

Publix did have lower regular pricing on bread and bakery goods. The two stores were largely comparable on meat and frozen foods.

Based on this grocery price comparison, shoppers looking to maximize their savings should:

• Buy fresh produce at Aldi
• Purchase milk, eggs, cheese and other dairy at Aldi
• Get bread and baked goods at Publix
• Choose Aldi for pantry staples like cereal, pasta sauce, peanut butter
• Pick up frozen convenience foods at either store
• Shop at Aldi for the lowest prices on household essentials

By following these guidelines, you can take advantage of the lowest prices at both Aldi and Publix. Aldi ultimately comes out on top as the most affordable option for doing the majority of your grocery shopping and saving money.