I Compared Walmart's Fall Aisle vs. Aldi's - Here's Who Was the Clear Winner

Autumn is in the air, and fall has officially landed in every store. That's why I scoured the seasonal aisles at two of my favorite retailers: Walmart and Aldi. From tasty limited-edition treats to accents and other interior decor, I found a bounty of bargains that I couldn't ignore.

Even though both chains have deals galore, only one has the best prices. And with the rising cost of just about everything, finding budget-friendly buys is my top priority — especially for items I may only use for a few weeks a year.

Which of these stores makes it easier to keep more cash in your wallet? I tallied up my totals and crowned one the winner. Keep reading to see where I saved the most on fall finds.

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

Coffee

Winner: Aldi

A Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte costs over $6 at my local Starbucks cafe. And while I'll cop to indulging in a PSL every once in a while, I prefer to brew my own at home.

Walmart's generic Great Value line features a limited-time Pumpkin Spice selection with a subtle flavor I savor. And bonus, the 12-ounce bag of ground coffee is priced just right ($4.82). Aldi also sells a 12-ounce bag from its exclusive store brand (Barissimo). But the Pumpkin Spice option is over $1 more ($5.89) than what I paid at the superstore.

Both retailers also sell pods at prices significantly more affordable than what I would pay for brand-name K-Cups. Walmart's Pumpkin Spice 12-pack from Great Value is only $4.47. Aldi beat the superstore for this item. Barissimo's Pumpkin Spice 12-count K-Cup copycat costs $4.29.

To break the tie, I priced seasonal creamer. Walmart's 32-ounce bottle of Great Value Pumpkin Pie Coffee Creamer sells for $2.78. The same size bottle of Barissimo's Cinnamon Roll Coffee Creamer costs $2.69, making Aldi the winner.

Seasonal snacks

Winner: Aldi

The superstore's oversized array of autumn snacks features a bounty of tasty treats. But I didn't find many generic options. If you're wondering how the brand names compare to Aldi's private-label fall collection, I've broken down the prices for you.

Walmart sells a 4.1-ounce bag of Ghirardelli's gourmet chocolate jack-o'-lanterns for $6.78. Aldi's 4.23-ounce box of Choceur Fall Chocolate Pumpkins costs $4.69.

While Walmart's Halloween and fall candy aisle is larger than Aldi's, I found more specialty snacks at the smaller store. My top picks are Choceur's Pumpkin Pie Fall Clusters ($3.29), Clancy's Pumpkin Spice Covered Pretzels ($2.99), Southern Grove's Fall Flavored Butter Toffee Cashews ($4.29), and Clancy's Fall Drizzled Pumpkin Spice Kettle Corn ($2.29).

Bakery items

Winner: Aldi

Forget about fancy bakeries. Both of these retailers have goodies galore in stock right now. I spotted a six-count of Walmart's Marketside Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Cookies for $5.97. Aldi's version, Specially Selected's White Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies (also a half-dozen pack), only costs $4.49.

Like the white chocolate pumpkin cookies, Aldi also had a better price on Bake Shop frosted sugar cookies. I found a 10-pack for $4.35 at my local store. Walmart's Freshness Guaranteed Pumpkin Frosted Cookies (also a 10-count) sells for $4.94.

Even though Aldi had a decent selection and better deals than the superstore, Walmart had a better variety of bakery buys, including cupcakes, pies, mini donuts, and so much more.

Fall baking products

Winner: Walmart

I prefer ready-made sweet treats. But occasionally I like to start from scratch. Or at least, almost from scratch. That's why I added items like boxed baking mixes to my list this fall.

Both of these chains sell Pillsbury's Perfectly Pumpkin Cake Mix. Aldi charges $1.86, while Walmart is slightly pricier ($1.88). But when I checked the prices on store-brand pumpkin quick bread and muffin mix, Walmart won ($2.42 for 15 ounces versus $2.49 for 14 ounces).

Pumpkin pie-ready graham crust was my baking basics tie-breaker. And Walmart took this category. The big box store's nine-inch Great Value Pie Crust was only $1.48. Aldi charges $1.65 for a similar selection from Baker's Corner.

Interior decor

Winner: Aldi

Fall foods aren't the only items I found at these stores. I also browsed Walmart's home decor section and the Aldi "finds" aisle for seasonal styles. Walmart's My Texas House Autumn Embroidered Decorative Pillows cost $14.98 each. While the price is better than what you might find at a specialty store, it wasn't as low as Aldi's deal. Kirkton House's Harvest Decor Pillow was almost $2 less ($12.99).

If you're like me and prefer to pass on plastic pumpkins, Walmart has a can't-miss deal for $9.97. The superstore's My Texas House Ceramic Pumpkin with Vine Accents ($9.97) is almost identical to Aldi's The Halloween Collection Embossed Ceramic Pumpkin ($9.99).

To break this tie, I shopped for cozy fall throws. Aldi won this match-up with the store's Kirkton House 50-by-60-inch Plush Blanket ($4.99). Walmart charges $6.97 for the same size fall throw from Mainstays.

Kitchen items

Winner: Walmart

Cute kitchen items don't have to break the bank. Aldi sells a Crofton fall ceramic pumpkin cocotte with lid for $7.99. This time, Walmart had the deeper discount on home deals. I found an almost identical autumn item from Better Homes & Gardens for $5.97.

Walmart has a supersized selection of fall towels online for affordable prices. But I wanted to shop for this item at my local store. What did I find? Beautiful by Drew Barrymore's four-pack of autumn-hued 20-by-20-inch kitchen cloths cost $13.78. Aldi sells a less expensive two-count from Crofton for $2.99.

I added one more item to this area of my fall shopping list. Every kitchen needs a bottle of hand soap for the chef. I spotted an 8.75-ounce bottle of Lacura Fall Foaming Hand Soap in Maple for $1.99 at Aldi. A slightly smaller 7.5-ounce bottle of Softsoap Limited Edition Pumpkin Scent Liquid Hand Soap cost $1.24 at Walmart. In a price-per-ounce battle, Walmart wins at $0.17 versus $0.23.

Bottom line

There you have it, Aldi is the winner of the autumn aisle showdown. Even though Aldi took the top spot, both of these retailers have an amazing assortment of affordable fall sweets, treats, decor, and more.

Keep in mind that while the superstore has a larger selection and deals on bulk buys, Aldi has a better selection of specialized seasonal swag. That's why I split my shopping trips between the two stores.

Here's one more cost-cutting tip for your next fall shopping trip: Stack your savings. Use the best cash back credit cards to earn perks and rewards on eligible purchases at both Walmart and Aldi.

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