Most, least expensive grocery stores revealed: new study

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When it comes to grocery shopping, your choice of store could significantly impact how much you spend on food.

A recent analysis by Consumer Reports has revealed the most and least expensive supermarkets in the United States. The study found that upscale giant Whole Foods Market topped the list of priciest stores, with prices nearly 40% higher than Walmart, which served as the baseline for comparison.

Following closely behind Whole Foods was the New England chain Shaw’s, where prices were about 32% higher than Walmart’s.

Whole Foods was named the most expensive grocer in the Consumer Reports examination. Christopher Sadowski

Surprisingly, Trader Joe’s, often considered a budget-friendly option, also made it to the list of most expensive grocery chains in the U.S., landing in the top 10 priciest.

Prices at Trader Joe’s were nearly 25% higher than Walmart’s, with even greater disparities in some metro areas like Denver (30% higher) and Dallas-Fort Worth (33% higher).

On the other end of the spectrum, Costco Wholesale emerged as the most affordable option for groceries, with prices 21.4% lower than Walmart. BJ’s Wholesale Club followed closely behind with prices 21% lower.

The study revealed that the price difference between the most and least expensive stores was over 33%, and this gap widened even further when including warehouse stores like Costco and specialty grocers such as Whole Foods.

These findings come at a time when many consumers are feeling the pinch of rising grocery prices. A poll conducted in August 2025 found that a majority of U.S. adults are concerned about the increasing cost of groceries.