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Whole Foods vs. Trader Joe's: Where Do You Really Get The Most For Your Money?

There's a clear winner.

By Amy Graff
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Find out just how different the prices at these two popular grocery stores.

From: SF Gate

1

Milk

Product, Liquid, Bottle, Ingredient, Plastic bottle, Condiment, Sauces, Bottle cap, Raw milk, Dairy,
Amy Graff

Organic whole milk sells for $6.49 at Whole Foods and $5.99 at Trader Joe's.

2

Orange juice

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Amy Graff

A carton of 100% Florida goes for $2.99 at both Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.

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3

Nuts

Food, Ingredient, Produce, Nuts & seeds, Flowering plant, Nut, Cashew family, Seed, Legume, Food grain,
Amy Graff

A bag of roasted and unsalted cashews sell for $7.99 at Whole Foods and $6.99 at Trader Joe's.

4

Yogurt

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Amy Graff

A six-ounce cup of Wallaby organic yogurt costs $1.29 at Whole Foods and a similar product goes for $1.19 at Trader Joe's.

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5

Spreads

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Amy Graff

The popular Earth Balance costs $4.39 at Whole Foods and $3.99 at Trader Joe's.

6

Bananas

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Amy Graff

You'll pay 99 cents a pound for organic bananas at Whole Foods and 29 cents per fruit at Trader Joe's. The average banana weighs about a quarter pound so the TJ's bananas could be a few cents more expensive depending on the size of the fruit.

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7

Apple sauce

Ingredient, Food, Vegan nutrition, Preserved food, Food storage containers, Mason jar, Whole food, Food storage, Produce, Natural foods,
Amy Graff

Organic unsweetened sells for $2.99 at Whole Foods, while a similar product goes for $2.79 at Trader Joe's.

8

Frozen vegetables

Produce, Ingredient, Food, Whole food, Vegetable, Vegan nutrition, Natural foods, Local food, Leaf vegetable, Food group,
Amy Graff

A 16-ounce bag of organic peas costs $1.99 at Whole Foods and slightly more at Trader Joe's at $2.29.

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9

Carrots

Root vegetable, Food, Ingredient, Carrot, Produce, Local food, Orange, Whole food, Arthropod, Vegetable,
Amy Graff

A one-pound bag of organic carrots costs $1.99 at Whole Foods and $1.49 at Trader Joe's.

10

Chicken

Ingredient, Label, Packaging and labeling, Household supply, Grocery store, Wool,
Amy Graff

$2.49 a pound at Whole Foods and $1.49 at Trader Joe's. With Whole Foods you are getting a higher-quality product as the chickens are Non-GMO Project verified, free of antibiotics, and come from farms rated for animal welfare by the GAP 5-Step program.

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11

Lunch meat

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Amy Graff

Applegate turkey breast costs $5.99 at Whole Foods and $4.49 at Trader Joe's. Whole Foods carries a wide variety of Applegate products that come with a GAP animal welfare rating, while Trader Joe's mainly stocks the roasted turkey breast.

12

Bread

Ingredient, Food, Condiment, Vegan nutrition, Preserved food, Label, Whole food, Natural foods, Food storage, Packaging and labeling,
Amy Graff

All of the different types of Alvarado Street loaves go for $4.49 at Whole Foods and $3.29 at Trader Joe's.

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13

Boxed macaroni and cheese

Cuisine, Ingredient, Food, Dish, Pasta, Recipe, Publication, Comfort food, Advertising, Book cover,
Amy Graff

The kid favorite is $1.69 at Whole Foods and $1.49 at Trader Joe's.

14

Cereal

Cuisine, Ingredient, Food, Recipe, Dish, Breakfast, Breakfast cereal, Meal, Convenience food, Comfort food,
Amy Graff

You'll pay $3.99 for a box of organic Morning O's at Whole Foods and $1.99 for non-organic Joe's O's at Trader Joe's. An organic version isn't available at TJ's.

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15

Flour

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$2.99 at both Whole Foods and Trader's Joes.

16

Crackers

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Amy Graff

Water crackers cost $2.19 at Whole Foods and are a steal at Trader Joe's at $1.39.

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17

Almond butter

Ingredient, Food, Condiment, Service, Label, Whole food, Vegan nutrition, Natural foods, Food storage containers, Pantry,
Amy Graff

A 16-ounce plastic jar is the same price at both Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.

18

Peanut butter

Food, Ingredient, Logo, Condiment, Tan, Khaki, Shelf, Gluten, Pantry, Food storage,
Amy Graff

A 16-ounce jar of organic creamy is priced at $4.99 at Whole Foods and a similar product sells for $3.49 at Trader Joe's.

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19

Canned beans

Logo, Ingredient, Produce, Label, Collection, Packaging and labeling, Hemp family, Natural foods,
Amy Graff

Organic black beans cost $1.29 at Whole Foods and $1.19 at Trader Joe's. The Whole Foods beans carry non-GMO Project verification.

20

Canned tomatoes

Natural foods, Produce, Local food, Ingredient, Whole food, Vegan nutrition, Logo, Condiment, Sauces, Fruit,
Amy Graff

Organic diced tomatoes cost $1.69 at Whole Foods and $1.49 at Trader Joe's.

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