Trader Joe's vs. Aldi: Where Do You Save More?

Trader Joe’s and Aldi both offer great shopping experiences, especially if you’re trying to save money on groceries.

But which store can save you more? We compared the prices of 10 products at random to give you a sense of which supermarket offers the better deals.

Following is an item-by-item breakdown that can help reveal where you should shop the next time you need groceries.

Dijon mustard is perfect for making egg salad or mashed potatoes. Both Trader Joe’s Dijon Mustard and Burman’s Dijon Mustard from Aldi are made with white wine.

Trader Joe's: 15 cents per ounce
Aldi: 11 cents per ounce

Winner: Aldi

Start off a great barbecue with some ketchup for everyone’s hot dogs and hamburgers.  Both supermarkets offer organic ketchup: Trader Joe’s Organic Ketchup and Aldi’s Simply Nature Organic Ketchup.

Trader Joe’s: 8 cents per ounce
Aldi: 10 cents per ounce

Winner: Trader Joe’s

Both Trader Joe’s and Aldi offer bananas, and shoppers can buy them at a per-banana cost.

Bonus: If you want a cool dessert, check out Trader Joe’s Gone Bananas. The fan-favorite features sliced bananas dipped in dark chocolate.

Trader Joe’s: 19 cents each
Aldi: 19 cents each

Winner: Go “bananas” at either store.

If you love pasta, Aldi carries Reggano Traditional Pasta Sauce while Trader Joe’s has a Spicy Chunky Tomato & Pepper Pasta Sauce. Both come in a 24-ounce jar.

Trader Joe’s: 16 cents per ounce
Aldi: 7 cents per ounce

Winner: Aldi, but only if you are OK with a basic traditional sauce. Trader Joe’s tends to offer a selection of unique sauce flavors.

Frozen pizza can be a great choice when you don’t have the time to prepare a meal. Trader Joe’s Pizza Parlanno comes in an 18.2-ounce crust with sausage, pepperoni, peppers, and onions. 

The Mama Cozzi’s Pizza Kitchen Frozen Thin Crust Supreme at Aldi includes the same ingredients on a 15.8-ounce pizza.

Trader Joe’s: 27 cents per ounce
Aldi: 24 cents per ounce

Winner: Aldi, but you’re getting less pizza overall compared to what Trader Joe’s offers.

Provolone cheese is used in everything from sandwiches to baked pasta dishes. Trader Joe’s Sliced Provolone Cheese comes in a 12-ounce package, while Aldi’s Happy Farms Deli-Sliced Provolone Cheese is available in an eight-ounce pack.

Trader Joe’s: 42 cents per ounce
Aldi: 26 cents per ounce

Winner: Aldi

We all scream for ice cream, especially the mint chocolate chip version. Trader Joe’s Mint Chip Ice Cream comes in a quart while Aldi’s Sundae Shoppe Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream comes in 1.5 quarts.

Trader Joe’s: $3.99 per quart
Aldi: $1.83 per quart

Winner: Aldi. Plus, you get more ice cream.

If you love breakfast cereal, both Aldi and Trader Joe’s have your back. Trader Joe’s Crispy Rice Cereal and Aldi's Millville Crispy Rice cereal both come in 12-ounce boxes.

Trader Joe’s: 25 cents per ounce
Aldi: 17 cents per ounce

Winner: Aldi

A glass of OJ can be the perfect way to start the day. Trader Joe’s 100% Orange Juice No Pulp and Aldi’s Fit & Active Orange Juice both come in 52-ounce containers with no pulp.

Trader Joe’s: 8 cents per fluid ounce
Aldi: 7 cents per fluid ounce

Winner: Aldi

Bakers can stock their pantries with either Trader Joe’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips or Aldi’s Baker’s Corner Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels. Both come in a 12-ounce bag.

Trader Joe’s: 25 cents per ounce
Aldi: 17 cents per ounce

Winner: Aldi

Trader Joe’s and Aldi both offer some great deals on groceries. However, as this list shows, Aldi is often the clear winner in a head-to-head matchup.

In the end, though, the items you tend to purchase regularly can help determine which of these chains makes more sense for you.

Regardless of where you decide to shop, remember that using the right credit card can help you earn cash back on your grocery trips.