New Jersey Shoppers: These Grocery Stores Are Cheaper Than Walmart, According to New Study

If you’re like me, you’ve probably noticed your grocery bill keeps going up. Every trip to the store feels a little more expensive than the last.

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That’s why a new price comparison study caught my attention, especially for those of us grocery shopping here in New Jersey.

A New Look at Grocery Prices

The report from Consumer Reports looked at grocery prices across several major retailers and compared them with Walmart, which many people assume is one of the cheapest places to shop. But the results showed that a few other stores are actually beating Walmart on price.

Warehouse Clubs Lead the Savings

At the top of the list was Costco Wholesale. According to the study, Costco’s prices were about 21.4% lower than Walmart’s overall.

Warehouse Clubs Offer the Biggest Savings

Right behind Costco was BJ's Wholesale Club, which had prices averaging around 21% lower than Walmart.

Both of these retailers operate on a membership model, and many of their products are sold in larger quantities. For families or people who like to stock up, that can lead to some pretty big savings over time.

Discount Grocery Stores Also Ranked Well

Warehouse clubs weren’t the only places where shoppers could save money.

Discount Grocers Also Beat Walmart

The discount grocery chain Lidl ranked third in the study, with prices averaging 8.5% less than Walmart. Not far behind was Aldi, which came in at about 8.3% cheaper.

Both stores have become increasingly popular in New Jersey thanks to their smaller stores, private label products, and lower overall prices.

Stores Ranked From Cheapest to Higher Prices

The study listed several grocery chains from lowest to higher prices compared to Walmart:

• Costco Wholesale

• BJ's Wholesale Club

• Lidl

• Aldi

Walmart comes after Aldi and Lidl with lowest prices to highest.

Is a Warehouse Membership Worth It?

This is where I always hesitate a little. Stores like Costco and BJ’s definitely offer lower prices, but many items are sold in bulk.

Personally, I don’t always need large quantities of groceries. The only things I really buy in bulk are paper products like paper towels or toilet paper, and maybe some cleaning supplies.

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Still, when you see potential savings of around 20 percent, it definitely makes you stop and think. For many New Jersey households, especially larger families, a warehouse membership could easily pay for itself over the course of a year.

It might be something worth considering the next time your grocery receipt gives you a little sticker shock.