If it's rare ingredients and gourmet goods you're after, these are the best places to buy specialty items online. For budget basics and staples at affordable prices, look below for the full breakdown of Walmart, Target and Amazon Fresh to find the absolute cheapest groceries online.

Walmart is well-known for having some of the lowest prices of any national retail chain. In this analysis of the cheapest online grocery delivery operations, its budget-friendly reputation held up.

Many of Walmart's cheapest items come courtesy of its in-house brand, Great Value. To find the cost of buying groceries online at these three retailers, I first generated a list of 37 popular grocery items -- some name brands, some generic -- on the same day and in every grocery category including bread, snacks, dairy, produce, meat, fish, beverages and pantry staples.

I mostly avoided specialty items and organic ingredients for this exercise. For each product, I chose the cheapest available option from all three retailers: Amazon Fresh, Target and Walmart.

If an item wasn't available at one retailer, I selected the next closest thing, since that's what a shopper would likely do. In some cases, a product was only available in a larger or smaller size.

In those instances, I prorated the amount and price to ensure it was an even cost comparison. While there are other places to order groceries online , Amazon Fresh, Target via Shipt and Walmart are three of the most popular US grocers with a national presence and the option for online delivery.

You'll also get Amazon Prime Video and a few other perks. As of Feb. All three offer free in-store pickup in some form, although Amazon has fewer locations than Walmart and Target.

Target-owned Shipt will send groceries to your door in a matter of hours but there are some staples, including meat, not available for delivery.

While I tried to use only items that were available for delivery, it wasn't always possible. Target and its national shipping partner Shipt don't have every grocery staple available for shipping, particularly fresh meats and some produce.

Since spices are generally sold in 1- or 2-ounce bottles, I divided the cost by 20 since each bottle of spices contains roughly 20 servings. The same goes for ingredients like sour cream and soy sauce which are also sold in larger quantities. I divided the total cost by roughly how much you'd need to execute each recipe.

I used the costlier two-person plan to compare with the cost of buying your own groceries. Below is a breakdown of what two EveryPlate recipes would cost if you bought the groceries yourself.

These prices were calculated from FreshDirect in April I didn't include the delivery fees for a grocery service or the cost of gas required to get yourself to and from the store.

It's also worth noting that the grocery prices listed below are significantly lower than what I find at my local markets in Brooklyn. EveryPlate offers roughly 15 meal kit recipes per week ranging from comfort classics to lean and healthy. I liked all the meals I tried when I tested EveryPlate, but the hoisin meatloaf was my favorite of the bunch.

So, it's pretty much a wash. At the end of the day, it's the convenience you're paying a little extra for. But if you choose a budget-friendly service such as EveryPlate or Dinnerly, that little extra turns out to be barely anything at all. There's no doubt that meal kit services use more plastic than if you buy your own groceries.

That said, the cheaper services have found ways to cut costs. In many cases, that means using less packaging. EveryPlate, for instance, is one of the most eco-friendly services I've tried. The company puts all its produce and other ingredients in a single cardboard box, whereas others individually package each ingredient, creating more waste.

Most of the packaging, including the cooler box and ice packs are curbside recyclable. On the flip side, since meal kits generally give you exactly what you need for each meal and no more, you're less likely to have food waste. Who hasn't thrown out those last few ounces from a tub of sour cream or a couple of scallions you couldn't find a use for before they wilted away?

EveryPlate is the cheapest meal kit service, along with Dinnerly. It turns out that these stores differ in the items they stock, not just the prices at checkout. And, depending on the item, Aldi might not always offer the cheapest option. Take a popular cereal brand, for example. Currently, Aldi sells a Dunnhumby ranked each grocer by its average checkout price, not just how individual items overall compared.

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I like to keep it on hand for making soup. I generally find that a big bag of Russet potatoes is the cheapest option. Check the ad for your local store to see what fresh produce is on sale! I often see sales for green peppers, asparagus, and more.

Cooking a whole chicken and deboning it is a bit of extra work but it will save you money on your groceries! I like to cook whole chickens in my crockpot. Chicken breasts are not the cheapest cut of chicken but if you stretch them ie: one chicken breast cut up with tons of veggies for stir fry they can be quite cost effective.

Chicken thighs or chicken drumsticks are usually pretty inexpensive and are very flavorful. Change Your Life Chicken is a fabulous recipe for chicken thighs! Who else grew up eating tuna fish sandwiches? I like it mixed with a bit of mayo and chopped tomatoes and served with crackers.

I like to wait for a good sale and then stock up! Smoked sausage is a great meat to keep on hand for quick meals. A little can go a long way in dishes like a breakfast casserole for example, making it very cost effective, especially if you purchase it on sale.

Hotdogs could also be used in similar ways! Eggs can be a great cheap source of protein. I say can because lately in my area the price of eggs has more than doubled. So, take this one with a grain of salt and be sure to check your local prices for eggs.

Brown rice is a great alternative to white rice with a lot of health benefits and is still a great cheap food. I cook my brown rice with this method and it turns out perfectly every time! I use them often for oatmeal, baked oatmeal , granola , cookies, muffins, and even in meatloaf!

While the very cheapest bread is not going to have the most nutritional value, watch for markdowns on nicer loaves made with whole grains. Check the different stores around you to see which ones have a markdown cart in their bakery section — many of them do! Store-brand tortillas are typically pretty inexpensive and you can use them for all sorts of meals.

At a dollar or less a box in my area pasta is a great way to add something filling to your meal without spending a lot of money. I always like to have a few jars of pasta sauce in my pantry.

Peanut butter is an absolute staple in our home. Again, buy the store-brand or use coupons for the more expensive stuff. Canned tomatoes are definitely an important pantry staple. I use them the most often for recipes like Taco Soup. Nothing like a bowl of cereal when you need a quick meal, am I right?

And it beats ramen noodles in my opinion! Not all cereal is cheap of course, but if you look for the store-brand you can always find some varieties that are very inexpensive.

Store-brand pretzels are relatively cheap sometimes just a dollar for a bag and make a great snack option, especially if you have kids. A well-stocked pantry should always include some basic baking goods like:. Make those inexpensive chicken thighs taste extra good by using some basic, inexpensive spices like chili powder, garlic powder, etc.

And a hanging spice rack like this is great for storing them! Now what? You may also be interested in: How to Meal Plan on a Tight Budget. Note: Grocery prices are constantly changing, so some of the prices in the articles below have already changed. However, all of these meal plans are very frugal, even with rising prices.

Want to get better at meal planning regularly? Check out my Meal Planner and Recipe Binder. And remember: The cheapest groceries are not always the most nutritious; consider spending slightly more for foods that are filling and nutrient-dense.

For tips and recommendations for a more economical shopping experience, see below for advice from the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab.

Fruit and vegetables are among the groceries with the largest price jumps lately , but you can still find affordable produce by buying seasonally. Purchasing when produce is abundant helps lower the cost and will all but assure the best taste and highest levels of nutrition. Seasonal Fruits.

Seasonal Vegetables. Another way to save money on produce is to opt for fruit and vegetables that have a longer shelf-life. For example, to help extend your grocery dollars, choose apples over berries or carrots or celery over leafy greens.

Generally, some of the cheapest fruit and vegetables year-round tend to be bananas, apples, oranges, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and sweet potatoes. Meat can be the most expensive category for most food budgets, and can account for a large portion of the overall grocery bill.

To save money, opt for the ground variety of your favorite protein. Ground beef, chicken or turkey are super versatile, easily frozen and can be used in many different recipes. Larger cuts of meat will usually cost less per pound, but they may require marinating, braising and slow cooking to bring out the tenderness.

If you do prefer to include cheaper cuts of meat, consider including:. Buying a whole chicken instead of pre-portioned cuts can also save money and the leftovers, including the bones, are great for making chicken soup or bone broth. Consider cutting costs even further by implementing Meatless Monday or meatless dinners a few nights a week.

Swap out meat for healthy plant-based meat alternatives such as tofu, tempeh, beans and legumes, as your protein source. The cost of fresh seafood may also vary seasonally. According to the Seafood Nutrition Partnership , fresh Alaskan salmon is less expensive during the summer when the fish are more abundant.

Other popular choices that may be worth buying seasonally include Albacore tuna in season July-October and halibut in season March-November. Other ways to save money on seafood:.

Whether you prefer dairy or non-dairy, you can find competitive prices due to the sheer number of products on the market. While non-dairy milks may be more expensive than dairy, some non-dairy brands offer shelf stable options that can be bought in bulk when they're on sale. Just note that many dairy and non- dairy milks and yogurts contain added sugars and sometimes saturated fats.

The prices here are a bit higher than the three retailers I analyzed above, but the grocery selection and customer service are both excellent. Hungryroot is a quirky grocery delivery operation that functions differently than the others.

With a subscription, you'll get weekly deliveries of curated groceries based on your preferences and eating habits.

Hungryroot also populates recipe ideas when ordering and will send you the ingredients to make them if you so choose. Thrive Market is yet another members-only grocery service. Thrive has lots of high-quality and organic meats but no produce or dairy products.

com is a good place to find dry goods, pantry items and paper products at low prices but it's not a full substitute for a grocery store since it lacks the fresh foods you would typically buy at a market. If you don't mind getting your various groceries from different vendors, we've tested to find the best produce delivery services , best meat delivery services and even the best online fish and seafood markets for Why You Can Trust CNET.

We Crunched the Numbers and This Is the Cheapest Place to Buy Groceries Online Want fast grocery delivery without busting your budget? David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips.

Since earning a BA in English from Northeastern in Boston, he's toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. Right now, he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or researching the best way to make bacon.

Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week. Expertise Kitchen tools, appliances, food science, subscriptions and meal kits. See full bio. David Watsky. Best Grocery Delivery Services for See at Cnet.

The key to locating cheap groceries is to create a system for shopping, and that begins before you even grab a cart. Start by identifying the closest supermarkets to you hello, high gas prices!

and cross check the cost of your favorite items online before you shop. Think about what you spend the most on and prioritize finding the best price for those items.

The next step is to follow that quintessential shopping advice: Don't go to the grocery store hungry. You're much more likely to make impulse and unhealthy purchases if you do, so shop after a meal or grab a healthy snack before heading to the store. And remember: The cheapest groceries are not always the most nutritious; consider spending slightly more for foods that are filling and nutrient-dense.

For tips and recommendations for a more economical shopping experience, see below for advice from the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab. Fruit and vegetables are among the groceries with the largest price jumps lately , but you can still find affordable produce by buying seasonally.

Purchasing when produce is abundant helps lower the cost and will all but assure the best taste and highest levels of nutrition.

Seasonal Fruits. Seasonal Vegetables. Another way to save money on produce is to opt for fruit and vegetables that have a longer shelf-life.

For example, to help extend your grocery dollars, choose apples over berries or carrots or celery over leafy greens. Generally, some of the cheapest fruit and vegetables year-round tend to be bananas, apples, oranges, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and sweet potatoes.

Meat can be the most expensive category for most food budgets, and can account for a large portion of the overall grocery bill. To save money, opt for the ground variety of your favorite protein. Ground beef, chicken or turkey are super versatile, easily frozen and can be used in many different recipes.

Larger cuts of meat will usually cost less per pound, but they may require marinating, braising and slow cooking to bring out the tenderness. If you do prefer to include cheaper cuts of meat, consider including:. Buying a whole chicken instead of pre-portioned cuts can also save money and the leftovers, including the bones, are great for making chicken soup or bone broth.

Consider cutting costs even further by implementing Meatless Monday or meatless dinners a few nights a week. Swap out meat for healthy plant-based meat alternatives such as tofu, tempeh, beans and legumes, as your protein source.

The cost of fresh seafood may also vary seasonally. According to the Seafood Nutrition Partnership , fresh Alaskan salmon is less expensive during the summer when the fish are more abundant. Other popular choices that may be worth buying seasonally include Albacore tuna in season July-October and halibut in season March-November.

Other ways to save money on seafood:. Whether you prefer dairy or non-dairy, you can find competitive prices due to the sheer number of products on the market.

While non-dairy milks may be more expensive than dairy, some non-dairy brands offer shelf stable options that can be bought in bulk when they're on sale.

Just note that many dairy and non- dairy milks and yogurts contain added sugars and sometimes saturated fats. Always check the label before purchasing. More ways to save:. When it comes to cheap groceries, pantry staples are the big winners.

This category includes dry and canned goods such as flour, oatmeal, chicken stock, nuts, nut butters and seeds.

Among the cheapest staples are dried and canned beans — they're also easy to prepare and provide a great source of plant-based protein and fiber, two very important nutrients that are often only available in more costly foods.

Grains like brown rice and oatmeal also score high in cost-effectiveness and nutrition. Change Your Life Chicken is a fabulous recipe for chicken thighs! Who else grew up eating tuna fish sandwiches?

I like it mixed with a bit of mayo and chopped tomatoes and served with crackers. I like to wait for a good sale and then stock up! Smoked sausage is a great meat to keep on hand for quick meals. A little can go a long way in dishes like a breakfast casserole for example, making it very cost effective, especially if you purchase it on sale.

Hotdogs could also be used in similar ways! Eggs can be a great cheap source of protein. I say can because lately in my area the price of eggs has more than doubled.

So, take this one with a grain of salt and be sure to check your local prices for eggs. Brown rice is a great alternative to white rice with a lot of health benefits and is still a great cheap food.

I cook my brown rice with this method and it turns out perfectly every time! I use them often for oatmeal, baked oatmeal , granola , cookies, muffins, and even in meatloaf! While the very cheapest bread is not going to have the most nutritional value, watch for markdowns on nicer loaves made with whole grains.

Check the different stores around you to see which ones have a markdown cart in their bakery section — many of them do!

Store-brand tortillas are typically pretty inexpensive and you can use them for all sorts of meals. At a dollar or less a box in my area pasta is a great way to add something filling to your meal without spending a lot of money.

I always like to have a few jars of pasta sauce in my pantry. Peanut butter is an absolute staple in our home. Again, buy the store-brand or use coupons for the more expensive stuff. Canned tomatoes are definitely an important pantry staple. I use them the most often for recipes like Taco Soup. Nothing like a bowl of cereal when you need a quick meal, am I right?

And it beats ramen noodles in my opinion! Not all cereal is cheap of course, but if you look for the store-brand you can always find some varieties that are very inexpensive. Store-brand pretzels are relatively cheap sometimes just a dollar for a bag and make a great snack option, especially if you have kids.

A well-stocked pantry should always include some basic baking goods like:. Make those inexpensive chicken thighs taste extra good by using some basic, inexpensive spices like chili powder, garlic powder, etc.

And a hanging spice rack like this is great for storing them! Now what? You may also be interested in: How to Meal Plan on a Tight Budget. Note: Grocery prices are constantly changing, so some of the prices in the articles below have already changed.

However, all of these meal plans are very frugal, even with rising prices. Want to get better at meal planning regularly? Check out my Meal Planner and Recipe Binder.

What are some of your favorite cheap foods to buy on a budget? Any favorite recipes? Please share in the comments! Looking for more ways to save at the grocery store? Check out this post for 15 ways to save money on groceries! This is a great post! I am a big fan of understanding the sales cycles at the grocery store.

However, I love that you could follow your guide here without really needing to worry about the sales. Great tips! These are all excellent ideas! This week we were low on grocery shopping funds and I am doing a few BRINNERS breakfast for dinner. Stuff like pancakes and eggs. That type of stuff is affordable.

I agree buying a whole chicken is cheaper, I also like to use the meat for chicken pot pie, fajitas, enchilads, quesadillas, soup, chili. There are so many great ways to use chicken meat by just taking the time to cook a whole bird. Even using your crockpot can be a huge time saver.

Good list here. We use a lot of beans and lentils and these really help the grocery budget stretch. You basically wrote out my typical grocery list! Great post, cuz! Great list! Feeding boys is expensive 😉. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sign me up for your emails! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Apples Apples are one of the cheaper fruit options and are one of the staple favorite foods in our home. Bananas Bananas are another inexpensive fruit option. Frozen Vegetables Frozen green beans, peas, etc. Carrots Carrots are a staple around here.