Grocery Prices Comparison Across Major Stores in Atlanta
ATLANTA — The past few years have been hard on family food budgets, and while inflation has leveled off in the last 12 months, grocery prices remain high. For Atlanta resident Marsheia Smith, a run to get groceries these days is all about strategy. “I literally had to stop buying in bulk so much, like I literally have to purchase stuff week by week,” Smith shared.
Jon Horn, meanwhile, notes the price situation seems to be stabilizing though he continues to adjust how he shops. “I always look for deals,” Horn said. “Things closer to the expiration date if we knew we were going to use it soon.”
Grocery Store Price Comparison
As families continue to feel the pinch, our team set out to determine which store offers the best prices to help you get the most for your money. We took the same shopping list of eight basic items to four major chains in metro Atlanta, including Walmart, Publix, Kroger, and Ingles.
Our shopping list included:
- A standard loaf of white bread
- One gallon of 2% milk
- A pound of bananas
- A dozen white eggs
- A 40-ounce jar of peanut butter
- A pound of 80/20 ground beef
- A cheese pizza
- A box of macaroni and cheese
The store brand was purchased wherever possible. Here’s what we found:
- Walmart: $21.53 (before tax)
- Kroger: $25.12
- Ingles: $27.84
- Publix: $29.93
While the majority of items were the least expensive at Walmart, there was an advantage to shopping at different stores for certain items. For instance, Kroger ground beef happened to be on sale the day we shopped, and a cheese pizza at Kroger cost less than at the other chains.
Shoppers like Smith echoed that shopping around can indeed potentially pay off. “It’s kind of crazy,” she said. “I never had to do that before, but you have to watch what you’re spending because it will get costly.”
Ways to Save on Groceries
While we conducted our shopping without special coupons or store apps, we followed up with the stores to find their recommended ways to save. Here’s what they shared:
- Walmart: “Walmart is committed to offering everyday low prices and our rollback program. In FY2025 Q2, we rolled back prices on 7,200 items, including a 35% increase in food rollbacks, keeping our grocery prices consistent despite a Consumer Price Index increase. We’re also investing in private brands like Bettergoods, offering over 300 items with 70% priced at $5 or less, ensuring affordability and quality,” the company said.
- Kroger: Utilize digital coupons and special deals available on their website for additional savings.
- Publix: Their website offers recipes and digital coupons that can help in planning and saving.
The data shows that while grocery prices remain high, careful planning and taking advantage of store sales and digital tools can help Atlanta residents stretch their food budgets further. With these insights, shoppers can better navigate their weekly grocery trips and find opportunities to save.
