Many of us love Trader Joe’s, not only because their stores are cute, nicely decorated and always clean, but because they have fantastic and very particular products that are hard to find in other supermarkets. But, Trader Joe’s also offers general products that make it into the basic and more elementary diets.
What really alters (for the bad) the bill at the TJ’s cashier is when we add that half a block of Swiss cheese, or its exquisite tangerine chicken; or if you want to treat yourself with a fanci, organic California wine. But, if we compare the prices of the most basic products with their equivalents in other supermarkets, will it really be more expensive to buy at Trader Joe’s? The California’s own retail chain is famous and beloved, but here’s the math for you to decide where to shop.
Trader Joe’s vs. Stop & Shop
To create this list, we chose the Stop & Shop chain as a comparison point, which has 406 stores in the United States, but also has a commercial presence in the Netherlands, Belgium, Indonesia and other Central and Eastern European countries. Like Trader Joe’s, its business model is focused on quality and not quantity, unlike other chains such as Walmart, Lidl, or Costco.
Here are the prices of 20 items, as researched at Trader Joe’s and at Stop & Shop
| Whole bean coffee, 14oz* | $4.99 | $8.39 |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh herbs (variety), 1oz* | $1.69 | $2.29 |
| Head of cauliflower, each | $2.99 | $3.49 |
| Red bell pepper, each | $1.29 | $2.29 |
| Banana, each | $0.19 | $0.41 |
| Beefsteak tomato, each | $1.29 | $1.40 |
| Hass avocado, each | $1.49 | $1.99 |
| Italian extra virgin olive oil, 33.8oz* | $5.99 | $8.29 |
| Honey O’s, 13.5oz | $2.29 | $7.19 |
| Organic unsweetened soy beverage, 32 oz | $1.99 | $4.19 |
| Classic potato chips, 10oz* | $2.49 | $5.29 |
| Tortilla chips, 10oz^ | $2.49 | $3.39 |
| Roasted red pepper hummus, 10oz | $3.49 | $4.99 |
| Shredded mild cheddar cheese, 12oz* | $3.49 | $3.19 |
| Cream cheese, 8oz | $1.69 | $2.89 |
| Sliced Muenster cheese, 12oz* | $4.49 | $3.79 |
| Greek nonfat yogurt, 32oz | $5.49 | $5.79 |
| Organic 2% milk, half gallon | $3.79 | $5.69 |
| Half and half, 1 quart | $2.69 | $5.19 |
| Unsweetened applesauce, 24oz | $1.99 | $3.19 |
*Trader Joe’s item was of a larger size
^Stop & Shop item was of a larger size
Total at Trader Joe’s: $53.30
Total at Stop & Shop: $83.33
There’s a difference of $30.03, which makes Trader Joe’s cheaper than Stop & Shop.
In times like these, we are all feeling forced to compare prices before doing the monthly shopping. If you purchase at Costco or at Sam’s Club, we’ve also done comparisons between these two American retail chains. Surprisingly, some products are actually cheaper at Sam’s Club!
Wait, what?! Yes! Find out which ones are here and save in your next pantry provisioning.