We Compared Produce Prices at Costco, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Whole Foods — Here’s What We Learned

Costco and Trader Joe’s are both known for their super-low prices and good selection of organic products. Ditto for Aldi. Whole Foods has long been a go-to for organic foods, and now that it’s owned by Amazon, prices on some items have gotten a lot more competitive.

So, even though shopping at each of these stores is a wildly different experience, we thought it made sense to compare the prices for some fruits and vegetables at each store.

It goes without saying that quantities at Costco are much larger than the other three stores — and many people swear by the fact that the bulk packages always result in savings. In this sampling, however, Costco was only cheaper seven out of 21 times. The big winner was Aldi; although, while there were many organic options, the discount store didn’t always have organic versions to match its competitors.

Here’s how the items stacked up at each of the four stores.

If you’re okay with non-organic apples, Aldi is the way to go. If you prefer organic, then the winner is Trader Joe’s.

• Costco (organic): $8.99 for 5.5 pounds ($1.63 per pound)
• Whole Foods (organic): $1.99 per pound
• Trader Joe’s (organic): $2.99 for two pounds ($1.49 per pound)
• WINNER! Aldi (not organic): $2.69 for three pounds ($0.896 per pound)

• Costco (organic): $6.49 for two pounds ($3.24 per pound)
• Whole Foods (organic): $4.99 per pound
• Trader Joe’s (not organic): $2.99 per pound
• WINNER! Aldi (not organic): $1.99 per pound

Costco and Whole Foods come out the same for organic blueberries. Aldi is much cheaper for non-organic blueberries, though.

• Costco (organic): $8.99 for 18 ounces ($0.50 per ounce)
• Whole Foods (organic): $5.99 per dry pint (about $0.50 per ounce)
• Trader Joe’s (organic): $3.49 for six ounces ($0.58 per ounce)
• WINNER! Aldi (not organic): $1.89 for six ounces ($0.315 per ounce)

• Costco: $1.39 for three pounds ( $0.463 per pound)
• Whole Foods: $0.49 per pound
• Trader Joes: $0.19 each (about $0.57 per pound)
• WINNER! Aldi: $0.44 per pound

• WINNER! Costco: $5.99 for five pounds ($1.198 per pound)
• Whole Foods (organic): $3.99 per pound
• Trader Joe’s: $1.69 per pound
• Aldi: $1.99 per pound

• Costco: $6.99 for five pounds ($1.398 per pound)
• Whole Foods (organic): $5.99 for two pounds ($2.995 per pound)
• WINNER! Trader Joe’s: $1.29 per pound
• Aldi: $3.49 for two pounds ($1.745 per pound)

• WINNER! Costco: $12.99 for 13 pounds ($0.99 per pound)
• Whole Foods: $1.99 per pound
• Trader Joe’s: $0.69 each (about $2.07 per pound)
• Aldi: $4.29 for four pounds ($1.072 per pound)

• Costco $2.99 each
• Whole Foods: $3.99 each
• Trader Joe’s: $2.99 each
• WINNER! Aldi: $2.49 each

• Costco: $6.99 for six ($1.165 each)
• Whole Foods (organic): $1.99 each
• Trader Joe’s (organic): $1.69 each
• WINNER! Aldi (organic): $3.99 for four ($0.997 each)

• Costco: $4.99 for two pounds ($2.495 per pound)
• Whole Foods: $5.99 for 1.5 pounds ($3.99 per pound)
• Trader Joe’s: $2.49 per pound
• WINNER! Aldi: $1.49 for 10 ounces ($2.384 per pound)

• Costco: $4.49 for 24 ounces ($2.993 per pound)
• Whole Foods: $4.99 per pound
• Trader Joe’s: $1.79 for eight ounces ($3.58 per pound)
• WINNER! Aldi: $1.29 for eight ounces ($2.58 per pound)

Whole Foods’ and Trader Joe’s prices for organic cucumbers are the same. For non-organic, Aldi is the way to go.

• Costco: $3.49 for three ($1.163 each)
• Whole Foods (organic): $2.49 each organic
• Trader Joe’s (organic): $2.49 each
• WINNER! Aldi: $0.99 each

• WINNER! Costco: $5.79 for five pounds ($1.158 per pound)
• Whole Foods: $2.99 for two pounds ($1.49 per pound)
• Trader Joe’s $1.29 per pound
• Aldi: $1.69 per pound

• WINNER! Costco: $3.99 for six ($0.665 each)
• Whole Foods: $2.69 for three ($0.896 each)
• Trader Joe’s: $2.49 for three ($0.83 each)
• Aldi: Did not have

• Costco: $3.99 per pound
• Whole Foods: $4.99 per pound
• WINNER! Trader Joe’s $2.29 for 12 ounces ($3.05 per pound)
• Aldi: $1.99 for five ounces ($6.368 per pound)

• Costco: $3.99 per pound
• Whole Foods: $4.99 per pound
• Trader Joe’s: $1.99 for five ounces (about $6.37 per pound)
• WINNER! Aldi: $3.79 per pound

• Costco: $6.49 for eight ($0.811 each)
• Whole Foods: $5.99 for four ($1.49 each)
• Trader Joe’s $3.99 for four ($0.99 each)
• WINNER! Aldi: $0.99 for four ($0.248 each)

• WINNER! Costco: $4.99 for three pounds ($1.663 per pound)
• Whole Foods: $2.49 for 12 ounces ($3.32 per pound)
• Trader Joe’s (organic): $2.79 for 12 ounces ($3.72 per pound)
• Aldi: $1.69 for 14 ounces ($1.931 per pound)

• WINNER! Costco: $3.99 for two pounds ($1.995 per pound)
• Whole Foods: $2.49 per pound
• Trader Joe’s $2.29 for 12 ounces ($3.05 per pound)
• Aldi: $2.29 per pound

Aldi’s non-organic sweet potatoes are way cheaper than other options. If you want organic, though, Trader Joe’s is the winner.

• Costco (organic): $8.79 for 6.5 pounds ($1.352 per pound)
• Whole Foods (organic): $1.99 per pound
• Trader Joe’s (organic): $3.99 for three pounds ($1.33 per pound)
• WINNER! Aldi: $1.69 for three pounds ($0.563 per pound)

• WINNER! Costco: $6.99 for 15 pounds ($0.46 per pound)
• Whole Foods (organic): $4.99 for five pounds ($0.99 per pound)
• Trader Joe’s (organic): $3.99 for five pounds ($0.79 per pound)
• Aldi: $2.89 for five pounds ($0.578 per pound)

Where do you find the best deals on fruits and vegetables? One of these four stores or somewhere else? Tell us in the comments below!