• I took my $40 weekly shopping budget which I usually stop by Aldi at Piggly Wiggly to compare chains.

• Some products, such as frozen vegetables and coffee were the same price.

• But others, notably grapes and chocolate, were much more expensive to Piggly Wiggly.

My fiancée and I are very loyal to our local Aldi for our grocery needs.

It is one of the fastest growing sectors grocery chains in the United Statesand its selection of affordable products usually keeps our weekly bill at $40 or less.

As part of a series in which I take my standard grocery list to different local stores, I decided to see how far my budget would go at Piggly Wiggly, a regional grocery chain that is very popular where I live in Wisconsin.

Here’s how to compare costs.

Penne rigates: $2.09

I love having a can of penne on hand for quick dinners, whether I drown it in tomato sauce or pretend to be a gourmet chef with olive oil and garlic.

A box of pasta at Piggly Wiggly cost me $2.09, which is over $1 more than the same size box I usually get at Aldi for $0.98.

Mesclun: $3.50

Throughout the week, I launch organic mixed greens in salads or mix them into my smoothies for an extra boost of nutrients.

I found a container at Piggly Wiggly for $3.50. The same size usually costs me $2.89 at Aldi.

Grated cheese: $2.79

The Mexican mix grated cheese at Piggly Wiggly costs $2.79. I use shredded cheese on just about everything – tacos, sandwiches, eggs – so I like to have a bag in the fridge.

Unfortunately, this bag was $0.60 more and 3 ounces less than the $2.19 bag. cheese I get at Aldi.

Flour tortillas: $4.49

Flour tortillas are perfect for my simple black bean tacos with melted cheese and hot sauce, and Piggly Wiggly had a pack of 20 for $4.49.

This is one of the biggest price differences I found on my shopping spree – Aldi usually sells a 20-pack of flour tortillas for just $1.99.

Frozen vegetables: $2.79

I grabbed a mix of frozen vegetables to throw in our Asian-inspired stir-fries. We usually pan-fry the vegetables with ginger, garlic and soy sauce and serve them with cooked rice.

The bag at Piggly Wiggly cost me $2.79. I’ve found it for $2.10 at Aldi in the past, but sometimes it’s $2.79 there as well.

The Piggly Wiggly package was also slightly larger – 16 ounces compared to Aldi’s 12.

Ground turkey: $4.99 per pound

I found a pound of ground turkey for $4.99. There was a discounted Piggly Wiggly quick sale instant coupon on the pack for $3 off, but I forgot to have my cashier scan it, so I didn’t get the deal.

The sale price would have been incredible – I don’t see meat for less than $2 a pound very often. But I can get a frozen tube of this product at Aldi for $2.75 a pound without a coupon.

It’s a versatile protein ideal for tacos or burgers.

Black beans: $2.98 for two cans

Canned black beans are a must-have in my kitchen. It’s a cheap and easy protein to use for meals or snacks, so I bought two cans for $2.98.

Aldi has a much better deal on beans. I usually get two cans there for $1.62.

Coffee: $3.99

Cafe Bustelo is my favorite espresso. It brews well in my regular moka pot or percolator, and I think it’s rich enough to drink black.

Luckily, Piggly Wiggly had the brand in stock for $3.99. That’s not terribly more than the $3.85 I paid for the same size at Aldi.

Whole milk: $2.49

Half a gallon of whole milk is $2.49 at Piggly Wiggly.

I actually prefer to drink 2%, but whole milk is versatile for guests adding cream to their coffee or for stirring into oatmeal. I also use it for baking and cereals.

A half gallon at Aldi usually costs me $1.67, almost $1 less.

Eggs: $3.29 per dozen

Piggly Wiggly Medium Grade A Eggs cost $3.29, which is still a better price than most of my friends who live outside the Midwest pay.

But a comparable carton of a dozen eggs at Aldi cost me $1.54 on my last visit.

Clementines: $2.99

Piggly Wiggly clementines cost $2.99 ​​per bag.

I eat them (or tangerines) religiously as a snack, so I was happy to see them listed at a low price.

Aldi usually offers packs for around the same price, but I’ve seen a bag cost as much as $3.59 at a budget grocery store.

Green grapes: $7.33

The most shocking price comparison was for my shopping bag. green grapes.

This is already one of the most expensive items I get at Aldi (usually $3-$4 a bag), but they cost me a whopping $7.33 at Piggly Wiggly.

Dark chocolate: $3.89

The most similar bar of dark chocolate I was able to find a 3.5 ounce Lindt at Piggly Wiggly for $3.89.

It’s a great end to any meal, especially with a glass of wine. But I usually get a 4.4 ounce bar at Aldi for $1.99, so that was another pretty stark difference.

Bread: $2.99

I bought the cheapest generic bread wheat bread I was able to find it at Piggly Wiggly, but it was still $2.29.

I usually get the basic item for $1.25 at Aldi.

Peanut butter: $2.79

I will broadcast peanut butter on toast or just eat it straight from the pot – no judgment here.

I found a generic jar for $2.79 at Piggly Wiggly, which is $1 more than I usually pay for the same size jar at Aldi.

Bananas: $1.70

I always take a bunch of bananas every week.

A bunch cost me $1.70 at Piggly Wiggly, which isn’t far off from the $1.40 I pay at Aldi.

Quick oatmeal: $3.29

An 18-ounce box of oats at Piggly Wiggly costs $3.29. Lately, my 42-ounce boxes at Aldi have been going for $3.95, which would make Piggly Wiggly’s price an interesting development if Aldi’s box wasn’t more than twice as big.

I love eating them for breakfast, but my fiancée also uses them for baking recipes.

It’s nice to know I can get everything I need at Piggly Wiggly, but I wouldn’t want to shop there again.

My total at Piggly Wiggly came to $57.89 with tax, almost $18 more than my budget.

I think the Pig, as the locals call it, has a lot of charm and variety, but the items I regularly search for were more expensive than Aldi overall.

If I could have found comparable generic products for everything on the list, things might have been different (at least closer). But I ended up with a lot of branded items in my cart.

Although Aldi offers branded products, it has a long list of in-house brands. I can usually find cheaper generic versions of whatever I want.

When I’m in a hurry and it’s the closest store, I always go to Piggly Wiggly for last minute items. But Aldi is the way to go when I want to save money.

Read the original article on Business Insider