Ever walk into Trader Joe’s and wonder how the food prices compare to Walmart or Costco? Me too, so I did some digging.
While there are some instances where Trader Joe’s wins on price, other times, you’re better off going to Costco or Walmart.
The results were mixed; sometimes Trader Joe’s items win on price and other times Costco or Walmart wins.
To that end, here are 7 items you should buy at Trader Joe’s, followed by 7 items you most certainly should never buy there. And be sure to find out what every shopper should know about Trader Joe’s.
Here’s what you should buy:
1. Save 48% on organic frozen broccoli at Trader Joe’s.
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It surprised me to find Trader Joe’s organic frozen broccoli at a lower price than Walmart’s Great Value brand, but numbers don’t lie.
- Trader Joe’s: $0.12/oz.
- Walmart: $0.23/oz.
2. Buy organic milk at Trader Joe’s and save almost $0.50 per half gallon.
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Since there aren’t many coupons for milk — especially organic milk— I take milk savings wherever I can get them.
Plus you can learn a lot about your milk when you read about what milk manufacturers don’t want you to know.
- Trader Joe’s: $3.49/half gallon
- Walmart: $3.92/half gallon
3. Pocket a couple cents per banana when you buy at Trader Joe’s.
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- Trader Joe’s: $0.19 each
- Walmart: $0.21 each
4. Save 33% on unsalted peanut butter at Trader Joe’s.
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- Trader Joe’s: $0.12/oz.
- Walmart: $0.18/oz.
5. Buy coconut milk at Trader Joe’s and you’ll pay less and get organic.
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Not only is it cheaper, but it’s organic. It’s pretty uncommon to find organic items for less money than their non-organic counterparts.
- Trader Joe’s (organic): $0.10/oz.
- Walmart: $0.13/oz.
6. Pay less for wine at Trader Joe’s than you would at Costco.
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This is for “two-buck chuck” at Trader Joe’s, which, even after its recent price increase to $2.99, is still cheaper than Kirkland Signature wine..
- Trader Joe’s: $0.12/oz.
- Costco: $0.15/oz.
7. Buy organic chicken stock at Trader Joe’s and skip the sugar.
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While the numbers say this is a tie, I’m going with Trader Joe’s because it has no added sugar.
- Trader Joe’s: $0.07/oz.
- Costco: $0.07/oz.
Here’s what you should not buy:
1. Don’t buy avocados at Trader Joe’s — Walmart sells them for almost a dollar cheaper.
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- Trader Joe’s: $1.69 each
- Walmart: $0.98 each
2. Pay less than half the Trader Joe’s price for turkey bacon by buying at Walmart instead.
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- Trader Joe’s: $0.44/oz.
- Walmart: $0.18/oz.
3. Stick to Costco for maple syrup — they still have the best price.
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Years ago we found out that Costco’s prices on pure maple syrup cannot be beat. It’s still true.
- Trader Joe’s: $0.50/oz.
- Costco: $0.39/oz.
4. Don’t buy pink Himalayan salt at Trader Joe’s; buy it in bulk at Costco and save.
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Bulk pricing isn’t always the best option, but then again, sometimes it is.
- Trader Joe’s: $0.44/oz.
- Costco: $0.31/oz.
5. Save a few cents per ounce when you buy frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts at Walmart instead of Trader Joe’s.
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Costco also has great prices on frozen chicken breasts. Basically, get them anywhere but Trader Joe’s.
- Trader Joe’s: $0.17/oz.
- Walmart: $0.13/lb.
6. Get your organic yogurt at Walmart and save a couple cents per ounce.
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- Trader Joe’s: $0.12/oz.
- Walmart: $0.10/oz.
7. Don’t buy store-brand K-Cups at Trader Joe’s; buy them at Costco and save at least $5 per month.
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This gets even better if you’re a coffee addict.
You’ll save at least $5 per month if you’re drinking two cups a day. Drink more than that? You can do the math, but it’ll only make Costco a better deal for you.
- Trader Joe’s: $0.42
- Costco: $0.36 each
UP NEXT: 10 Things You Shouldn’t Buy at Costco (and Where to Buy Them Instead)
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