Twenty dollars doesn’t feel like much of a grocery budget anymore, but exactly how far it stretches depends heavily on what you buy—and where you buy it. Aldi and Walmart are two of the first places budget shoppers often consider, with Aldi emphasizing private-label products and a smaller assortment while Walmart competes through Great Value staples, Rollbacks and enormous selection. Instead of simply comparing a few cherry-picked prices, we gave ourselves the same challenge at both stores: build a useful grocery basket without spending more than $20. Prices vary by location and can differ online versus in stores, but the results show just how much food a carefully planned $20 can still buy.
