How to Ensure You're Getting the Best Bargains at Aldi

Aldi's unbeatable prices are just one of the reasons shoppers love it. The store offers high-quality products under its own brand that can often compete with or even outperform name-brand items—at a fraction of the cost.

Aldi's commitment to low prices is no accident—it's a key part of the store’s strategy. But while every Aldi location focuses on offering great savings, prices can vary from state to state, and even between neighborhoods. So, not every Aldi will offer the same prices.

So, how do you ensure you're truly getting the best deal at Aldi?

How Does Aldi Set Its Prices?

To grasp how Aldi delivers its incredible deals, it’s important to understand how the store sets its prices. Aldi is known for its commitment to low prices, but it actually uses specific strategies you might not have noticed. Every aspect of the store is designed to cut costs, ultimately passing those savings on to you.

It all begins with Aldi's store layout. Compared to a typical grocery store, Aldi locations are smaller and feature fewer aisles, making shopping simpler and more streamlined—though the infamous Aldi Finds aisle adds an exciting element of surprise.

Aldi also keeps things efficient by selling products directly from the boxes they’re delivered in. This eliminates the need for extra staff to unbox and restock items, allowing employees to just open the boxes and place them on the shelves.

Another money-saving tactic? Aldi doesn’t play background music, a common strategy used by other stores to keep shoppers in the aisles longer in hopes of encouraging more purchases. No music means no licensing fees, which helps keep prices low.

Thanks to all these smart cost-cutting strategies, Aldi is able to offer prices that are as much as 50% lower than traditional grocery stores.

How to Make Sure You're Getting the Best Deal at Aldi

While Aldi typically offers better prices than other grocery stores nearby, that doesn't always mean you're getting the absolute best deal. Aldi’s prices are set to be competitive with the stores around it.

According to Aldi, the company takes many factors into account when setting prices, such as production costs, local market conditions, consumer demand, and regional regulations. As a result, prices may vary from city to city, but Aldi strives to maintain the lowest prices in every area, as stated on their website.

This means if your Aldi is located in an area with pricier grocery stores, its prices will still be lower, though they might not seem as low. However, if your store is surrounded by discount grocers or other budget-friendly options, you'll likely find Aldi’s prices to be a real bargain.

To figure out if you’re getting the best deal at your Aldi, compare it to nearby stores. If those stores are more upscale, your Aldi may be a bit pricier. Unfortunately, Aldi doesn’t offer price matching between its own locations or with nearby stores, so you’ll need to do some research before you shop.

If you're fortunate enough to have several Aldi stores nearby, we recommend choosing the one closest to retailers like Walmart, Trader Joe's, H-E-B, or even warehouse clubs.

Of course, not everyone has that option—and sometimes convenience wins over price. But the good news is that no matter which Aldi you visit, you’re still getting the best deal, which is why it remains one of our go-to grocery stores.