Overview
- A Consumer Reports analysis across six metro areas found Costco’s average prices about 21.4% below Walmart’s, with BJ’s roughly 21% lower.
- Discount chains Lidl and Aldi undercut Walmart by about 8.5% and 8.3%, and WinCo and H‑E‑B also came in slightly cheaper in the comparison.
- Target averaged 5.9% higher than Walmart, Trader Joe’s about 24.6% higher, and Whole Foods roughly 39–40% higher.
- Strategic Resource Group gathered in‑store prices within 48‑hour windows in late summer 2025, reflecting sales and loyalty discounts but excluding manufacturer coupons and app‑only deals.
- Consumer Reports said price gaps between the lowest‑ and highest‑priced mainstream supermarkets in each city exceeded 33%, underscoring wide dispersion.