The exterior of an Aldi in Cedar Park, a suburb north of Austin, Texas.
Cristela Jones/Cristela Jones/MySA
Grocery bills are reaching all-time highs, and for many of us Texans on a budget, we’re trying any means necessary to save money. Even if that means cheating on our local neighborhood grocery store, H-E-B.
While the Texas-born grocer is known for its low prices and fresh foods, Aldi has been rapidly growing its presence in Texas and prides itself in being one of the most affordable supermarket chains in the U.S. But how does the discount grocer truly compare to H-E-B and which store is actually cheaper to shop at?
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MySA visited the new Aldi in Cedar Park on Monday, July 20 to answer these questions and give you a rundown of everything you need to know before your next shopping trip. Here’s what to know about Aldi vs. H-E-B:
A grocery cart at Aldi, which requires a quarter to unlock and use
Kelsey Thompson/MySA
Shopping experience at Aldi’s
The first major difference between H-E-B and Aldi is the size of each store. The Cedar Park Aldi is about 23,000 square feet, whereas an average H-E-B is roughly 70,000 square feet, making the shopping experience in both stores very unique.
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Upon my arrival to the Aldi in Cedar Park, I noticed immediately that you have to walk up to the store to grab a cart instead of having the option to pick one from the parking lot spaces near your car like you would at H-E-B. At Aldi, I used a quarter to unlock a cart near the front door and off I went to pick up my essentials.
The meat section at the Aldi in Cedar Park, Texas.
Cristela Jones/Cristela Jones/MySA
What is the Aldi’s store layout like?
I think the best way to describe the Aldi store layout was like shopping in a smaller version of a neighborhood Walmart. Upon entering, I was greeted by the produce section on the right which had a wide range of fresh fruits, vegetables and pre-made meals like H-E-B. I picked up a bag of red grapes and Hawaiian chicken before walking straight forward to the pastry aisles stocked with shelves of muffins, breads and more.
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Of course, I chose a pack of cookies as a sweet treat, then made my way to the back left corner to the meat section, which was filled with a variety of pork chops, ground beef, steaks and chicken. I opted for a small pack of chicken thighs then turned the corner to the dairy section where I grabbed my last two items: lactose-free milk and eggs.
Milk priced at $2.80 on Monday, July 20 at the Aldi in Cedar Park, Texas.
Cristela Jones/Cristela Jones/MySA
Pricing at Aldi’s vs. H-E-B
For six items at Aldi, my total was $24.94. I’m going to compare each item I purchased at Aldi with the closest H-E-B item on its app for in-store purchases. A pack of red grapes weighing 2.4 pounds at Aldi was $4.07. At H-E-B, seedless red grapes weighing 2.15 pounds are priced at $3.63.
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A half-gallon of lactose-free skim milk at Aldi was $2.99. At H-E-B, a half gallon of Organics Lactose Free Milk is currently $4.88. At Aldi, a five-pack of bone-in chicken thighs were $5.17. H-E-B has a smaller, four-pack of bone-in natural chicken thighs are $4.28. At Aldi, a 12-pack of large eggs was $1.45 and at H-E-B the Hill Country Fare Grade A large eggs are prices at $1.84.
My grocery haul of items at Aldi in Cedar Park, Texas.
Cristela Jones/Cristela Jones/MySA
To compare to H-E-B’s Meal Simple pricing, I grabbed a pre-cooked, refrigerated Thai coconut chicken pack for $6.39. H-E-B has a Meal Simple grilled chicken breast for $8.49. Lastly, I picked up a box of Aldi’s signature chewy brookies from the bakery for $3.95. H-E-B sells four-count brookies for $5.98.
I bagged my own groceries after checking out at the Aldi in Cedar Park.
Cristela Jones/Cristela Jones/MySA
According to my grocery list on the H-E-B app, my estimated total for all six items I listed would be $29.10, which does not include taxes. This means that I would save $4.16 shopping at Aldi compared to H-E-B.
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The vibes at Aldi’s
The check-out process kind of reminded me of a Dollar Tree because at the time when I went, at 2 p.m. on a Monday, there was only one person working the register. However, as I was placing my items on the conveyor belt, one of the cashiers noticed the line behind me was getting long so she called for back-up.
Because I only purchased a few items, the check out process was pretty simple and fast. After paying, I walked straight to a table along the wall to bag my own groceries, which was different than H-E-B where either a cashier or a bagger helps load your cart up. But I didn’t mind the extra task given it wasn’t too much work.
Overall, I enjoyed my short and cheaper grocery trip to Aldi, but I don’t think I’m ready to fully stop shopping at H-E-B. After all, the Aldi Cedar Park is about an hour north of where I live in Austin and the reality is I live closer to more H-E-Bs than any other grocery store.
Now, if Aldi keeps expanding in Central Texas and builds a store near my home, that might be a different story. But for the sake of gas, and once again, saving money, I think H-E-B remains a better option for me (at least in the meantime) even if I have to pay a few more dollars. Would you ditch H-E-B for an Aldi near you?