I Brought the Same Grocery List to Aldi & Dollar Tree - Here's Who Was the Clear Winner

Every penny counts, and that's why I split my regular shopping list between stores. This week I scoured Aldi and Dollar Tree, looking for the best way to save money on groceries and everyday essentials.

While Dollar Tree doesn't carry fresh produce and has a more limited selection of frozen foods, meat/poultry, or prepared meals, the chain's "grocery" section offers competitive pricing in many of the same categories you'll find at Aldi. That's why I put these two retailers in a head-to-head best-of-the-best bargains battle.

Which one came out on top? Keep reading to see whether I spent less at Aldi or Dollar Tree.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Pantry staples

Winner: Aldi

Both retailers sell a variety of shelf-stable staples that always end up on my shopping list. To start my comparison, I checked the prices of olive oil and flour at both stores. Aldi sells a 16.9-ounce bottle of Priano Extra Virgin Olive Oil for $6.55.

I was surprised to find Bertolli's EVOO (8.45-ounce size) at Dollar Tree for $3.75. Even though the dollar store's brand-name bottle costs less, it's $0.06 more expensive per ounce.

Likewise, Dollar Tree had what looked like the better price for all-purpose flour — $1.50 for a two-pound bag from Nancy Jane versus $2.15 for a five-pound bag from Aldi's Baker's Corner line. But when I calculated the per-pound cost, Aldi won.

Snacks

Winner: Aldi

Popcorn, pretzels, and chips always seem to end up in my shopping cart. Which store had the best deals on salty snacks? Aldi sells a 12-bag box of Clancy's Movie Theater Butter Microwave Popcorn for $4.95. Dollar Tree charges $1.25 for a three-bag pack from Pop Secret. In a price-per-piece comparison, Aldi barely wins by a fraction of a cent.

I also checked the price of pretzels. Clancy's Mini Twists (16-ounce size) cost $2.45. A 12-ounce bag of Pennysticks Mini Pretzels sells for $1.25 at Dollar Tree. At those prices, I paid $0.15 per ounce at Aldi and $0.10 at the dollar store.

To break the tie, I compared the cost of chips. Ten ounces of Aldi's Clancy's Original Potato Chips sell for $1.99 ($0.20 per ounce). A five-ounce bag of Home Style Original Potato Chips costs $1.25 at Dollar Tree ($0.25 per ounce).

Sweet treats

Winner: Aldi

Indulgences are affordable at both of these stores. But Aldi has a significantly larger selection and a bakery aisle with freshly made finds. That said, I can still find plenty of delicious desserts to try at Dollar Tree. Which retailer sells sweet treats for less?

A 13-ounce pack of Aldi's store-brand Benton's Chocolate Chip Cookies costs $2.99. Dollar Tree charges $1.25 for 12 ounces of Lil' Dutch Maid Chocolate Chip Cookies. While the dollar store was the better value, Aldi won when I compared brownie mix. An 18.3-ounce box from Baker's Corner costs $1.75 ($0.10 per ounce). Dollar Tree sells a 10.25-ounce pack from Betty Crocker for $1.50 ($0.15 per ounce).

I chose ice cream as my dessert tie-breaker. Sundae Shoppe's 48-ounce tub of Cookies and Cream flavor costs $3.25 ($0.07 per ounce) at Aldi, while 14 ounces from Founders Street sells for $1.50 ($0.11 per ounce) at Dollar Tree.

Paper products

Winner: Aldi

Aldi and Dollar Tree both sell more than just food. Even though Aldi doesn't have the extensive organization item section, a complete housewares aisle, or viral bargain-priced beauty dupes, the retailer does stock plenty of paper products.

One hundred 8.5-inch Boulder Heavy Duty Everyday Paper Plates cost $5.79 at Aldi. In comparison, Dollar Tree sells 30 Dixie Ultra Microwavable 8.5-inch disposables for $4. At those prices, you'll pay $0.06 per plate at Aldi and $0.13 at the dollar store.

A bulk-buy 250-count of napkins from Aldi's Boulder line costs $2.49. Dollar Tree's 150-pack of the store's one-ply generic sells for $1.50, making it almost equivalent to the other retailer's price.

Frozen foods

Winner: Aldi

Dollar Tree doesn't have an entire frozen food aisle like the one you'll find at Aldi. But the discount retailer does have a frozen food case stocked with pizzas, apps, desserts, and a few sides.

Both stores sell frozen pizzas. Aldi had a better selection, but the price per pie was higher. I spotted a 27.9-ounce Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Four Cheese Rising Crust Frozen Pizza for $5.05.

A 5.2-ounce Supreme Frozen Pizza from Michelina's costs $1.25 at Dollar Tree. Even though the total was more, Aldi's pizza was only $0.18 per ounce. Dollar Tree's frozen pie cost $0.24 per ounce.

Bottom line

And the winner is Aldi. Even though I saved more at Aldi, Dollar Tree still has bargains galore. Instead of choosing one store based on a few categories, I prefer to shop both retailers. Yes, it takes more time. But in the end, I get the best prices possible. Over the course of a year, that can add up to tens or even hundreds of dollars in savings.

While Dollar Tree doesn't carry the extensive foodie finds you'll get at Aldi, the store delivers on cleaning products, interior accents, and seasonal selections.

How do I make the most out of each shopping haul? Here's an easy tip that could score you valuable perks: Put your purchases to work by using the best cash back credit cards to earn points or rewards on eligible items.

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