Updated Oct. 16, 2025: Every week, we will publish an updated list of prices for 11 essential grocery products to assist you in comparing options across various stores in the Triangle region.
The objective is to assist customers in monitoring price fluctuations over time and deciding where to shop each week.
What are the best offers available this week?
Aldi has taken back the honor of having the lowest grocery total for our 11 essential items this week. The items totaled $23.15 at Aldi this week and were just a bit higher ($23.15) at Walmart.
WRAL Smart Shopper utilizes the following criteria to locate the lowest prices on essential grocery items.
Which essential food items is WRAL's SmartShopper monitoring?
- Red potatoes, cost per pound (typically sold in a 5 to 10 lb bag)
- Baby-cut and peeled carrots, 1 lb. bag.
- Bananas, price per pound
- Iceberg lettuce, cost per individual head
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast, fresh (commonly available in bulk packages). We will provide the cost per pound.
- 80% lean ground beef (commonly available in bulk packages). We will indicate the cost per pound.
- Eggs, Extra Large, 1 dozen generic brand
- Milk, 2%, 1 gallon
- White sliced bread, 20-22 oz., typically a generic brand
- Peanut butter, 16 to 18 ounces, typically a store brand
- Grape Jam (or an alternative flavor if grape is unavailable), 18-20 ounces, typically a store brand
Which are the top grocery stores in the Triangle area?
- ALDI
- Food Lion
- Harris Teeter
- Lowes Foods
- Walmart
- Wegmans
What is the cost of basic grocery items this week?
The best method to view this information is through a web browser. Click for the full tablesto view costs based on items and across different periods.
To view the costs of each item at all stores, simply click on a product in the table below to get a list.
PRICES THIS WEEK: EXPAND TO COMPARE COSTS BETWEEN RETAILERS
Grocery prices are listed for stores in the Raleigh and Cary area as of October 16, 2025. ItemFood LionHarris TeeterLowes FoodsWegmansWalmartAldiAverage gallon 2% milk$2.29$2.99$2.19$2.89$2.22$2.59$2.53white sandwich bread$2.39$2.00$1.79$1.49$1.42$1.39 $1.75chicken breast (boneless, skinless, price per pound)$2.69$2.99$2.49$2.69$2.57$2.49$2.65ground beef (80% lean, price per pound)$6.49$5.99$4.99$4.99$6.64$5.49$5.77dozen eggs$2.39$3.19$2.39$2.79$2.34$2.59$2.62potatoes (per lb in 5-10 lb bag)$0.40$1.30$0.80$0.70$0.75$0.33$0.71baby carrots (price per 1 pound bag)$1.49$1.67$1.79$1.19$1.17$0.89$1.37peanut butter (16-18 oz jar )$2.18$2.00$2.99$2.29$1.94$2.15$2.26grape jelly (18-20 oz jar)$2.39$2.50$1.99$2.79$1.98$2.75$2.40bananas (price per pound)$0.54$0.59$0.69$0.69$0.54$0.53$0.60iceberg lettuce$1.69$2.50$1.99$2.09$1.97$1.95$2.03All items, total $24.94$27.72$24.10$24.60$23.54$23.15$24.68Average Total Price Per Week
Analyzing changes in grocery prices over time for essential items available at grocery stores in the Raleigh and Cary region June 192025 $24.27 $2.83 $1.66 $2.67 $4.99 $3.01 $0.88 $1.26 $2.14 $2.32 $0.60 $1.92 June 26 2025 $23.80 $2.91 $1.53 $2.64 $5.05 $2.99 $0.83 $1.26 $1.99 $2.22 $0.57 $1.81 July 3 2025 $23.28 $2.89 $1.66 $2.52 $4.61 $2.99 $0.78 $1.24 $1.99 $2.22 $0.57 $1.81 July 10 2025 $24.06 $2.93 $1.66 $2.35 $5.01 $2.98 $0.80 $1.36 $2.03 $2.31 $0.57 $2.07 July 18 2025 $24.88 $3.01 $1.66 $2.70 $5.12 $3.06 $0.76 $1.30 $2.16 $2.40 $0.60 $2.10 July 24 2025 $23.85 $2.93 $1.51 $2.64 $4.69 $2.93 $0.80 $1.38 $2.11 $2.24 $0.57 $2.05 July 312025 $25.33 $3.03 $1.68 $2.70 $5.49 $3.10 $0.85 $1.41 $2.16 $2.31 $0.60 $2.01 Aug. 7 2025 $24.46 $2.93 $1.65 $2.55 $5.16 $3.05 $0.78 $1.38 $2.03 $2.39 $0.57 $1.98 Aug. 14 2025 $24.36 $2.80 $1.50 $2.44 $5.65 $3.10 $0.76 $1.38 $2.03 $2.24 $0.57 $1.91 Aug. 21 2025 $24.23 $2.78 $1.50 $2.44 $5.18 $3.37 $0.83 $1.38 $1.99 $2.17 $0.57 $2.01 Aug. 28 2025 $23.73 $2.72 $1.61 $2.32 $5.12 $2.94 $0.81 $1.38 $2.03 $2.17 $0.57 $2.08 Sept. 4 2025 $24.68 $2.63 $1.58 $2.44 $6.06 $2.99 $0.76 $1.20 $2.11 $2.31 $0.57 $2.05 Sept. 11 2025 $23.96 $2.52 $1.54 $2.44 $5.40 $3.02 $0.79 $1.38 $2.03 $2.24 $0.57 $2.05 Sept. 18 2025 $25.03 $2.52 $1.58 $2.44 $6.53 $3.01 $0.85 $1.29 $2.03 $2.31 $0.57 $1.92 Sept. 25 2025 $24.52 $2.67 $1.56 $2.50 $5.65 $2.93 $0.86 $1.31 $2.08 $2.40 $0.60 $1.97 Oct. 2 2025 $24.75 $2.68 $1.73 $2.37 $5.59 $2.87 $0.86 $1.45 $2.12 $2.48 $0.60 $2.00 Oct. 9 2025 $24.71 $2.49 $1.65 $2.92 $5.72 $2.78 $0.83 $1.41 $2.07 $2.31 $0.57 $1.95 Oct. 16 2025 $24.68 $2.53 $1.75 $2.65 $5.77 $2.62 $0.71 $1.37 $2.26 $2.40 $0.60 $2.03Tracking methodology
Every week, we will monitor the prices at the stores listed above through their official websites, online shopping platforms, or mobile applications. The prices will pertain to retailers located in either Raleigh or Cary.
These rates apply exclusively to the Triangle area locations that were reviewed during that week, and prices can differ between stores, even within the same chain in the same town. To check the price at your location, visit the website or use the app.
This is how we determine the prices every week:
ALDI's prices were determined by shopping online and choosing the Wake Forest Road location in Raleigh for pickup.
Food Lion's pricing information was obtained from the Food Lion website for the store located on Jones Franklin Road in Raleigh. Several of the prices are associated with the Food Lion brand or the "cha-ching" brand.
Prices at Harris Teeter were identified on the Harris Teeter website for the Raleigh location at North Hills.
Prices at Lowes Foods were accessed through the Lowes Foods website's online shopping section for the Brier Creek store in Raleigh, using the Pickup service.
Walmart prices were identified on the Walmart website for the Raleigh location at 4431 New Bern Ave. for curbside pickup.
Prices at Wegmans were listed on the Wegmans website for the Raleigh location at Wake Towne Drive for in-store purchases.
Additional considerations:
The prices in the tracker typically represent store-brand products. The only instance a non-store brand product was chosen was when a store-brand item wasn't available or when a name-brand item offered a lower price than the store brand. In such cases, the most affordable option was selected.
Numerous supermarkets provide special offers when you sign up for their rewards or loyalty schemes. To obtain the most favorable price every week at the stores you frequent, remember to scan your reward card or enter your phone number associated with your reward card during checkout.
Remember that certain supermarkets offer fuel reward programs, enabling you to save on gasoline at their stations when purchasing groceries, which can further reduce your total living costs.
If the supermarket you frequent provides fuel rewards, make sure to utilize the extra savings.