What are California’s cheapest grocery stores? What to know as prices rise
California is one of the most expensive places to live in the country.
From soaring housing costs to rising gas prices, the income needed to comfortably cover basic expenses in the Golden State has continued to climb in 2026 — and more increases could be on the way.
The recent rise in oil prices tied to conflict in the Middle East could push costs even higher, especially for groceries.
According to PBS, higher fuel prices can drive up food costs because goods rely on diesel-powered transportation.
“Food gets to the grocery store on diesel, whether it’s on a truck or on a boat,” David Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University, told PBS.
On top of rising oil prices, new trade policies are already adding costs to consumers across California.
The Federal Register — the federal government’s official journal — reported that a 10% import surcharge on nearly all goods means imported ingredients, food products and equipment are now more expensive for businesses.
Those added costs are being passed on to shoppers.
Some grocery items are now up to 12% more expensive due to tariffs, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Which grocery stores are the most affordable — and which have the highest food costs?
Here’s what to know:
How to save money on groceries
Saving money at the grocery store often comes down to where you shop, according to Consumer Reports.
Even as prices rise in other areas, such as gasoline, Consumer Reports said, shoppers can still cut costs without sacrificing quality.
“One effective strategy is simply shopping at the right stores,” Consumer Reports said in a Feb. 20 study.
Most shoppers buy food “from at least two retailers each week,” the study said, so where you shop can make a big difference.
In a comparison of common grocery items across major chains in several cities across the country, prices varied by more than 33% between the cheapest and most expensive stores.
“When the comparison included the warehouse clubs like Costco and specialty grocers like Whole Foods, the price differences were even more significant,” Consumer Reports said.
Which grocery stores are the least expensive?
Consumer Reports compared major grocery chains across the country — including warehouse clubs and specialty stores — to see which offer the lowest prices.
Stores were ranked from least to most expensive using Walmart as the baseline, since it’s the largest and most widely available grocery retailer.
“The comparisons were based on the total price of grocery baskets that included packaged goods, produce and meat, but differed in size depending on which items were available in each store,” Consumer Reports said.
According to Consumer Reports, these are the least expensive grocery stores in California:
- Costco
- WinCo
- Aldi
- Walmart
Which grocery stores are the most expensive?
Consumer Reports said these are the most expensive grocery stores in California:
- Whole Foods
- Vons
- Albertsons
- Ralphs
- Trader Joe’s
- Stater Bros.
- Food 4 Less
- Target
How did Consumer Reports come up with its findings?
Price data for Consumer Reports’ grocery comparison was collected in 2025 within a 48-hour period, including sale prices and store loyalty discounts — but excluding manufacturer coupons or app-only deals.
Since it was ranked the most expensive, Whole Foods said the analysis “did not account for other factors that could be important to shoppers, such as ingredient standards and sourcing.”
“In the last 18 months, Whole Foods Market has reduced prices on 25 percent of items in our stores, including private label items, without compromising our industry-leading quality standards,” Whole Foods told Consumer Reports.
