This State Has the Most Affordable Walmart Groceries in the Nation

In 2024, Walmart cleared $648 billion in revenue. That’s an enormous but unsurprising number when you learn there are more than 4,600 Walmart locations across the United State. Thanks to its high number of stores, it’s also America’s largest grocery store chain — by a longshot. According to FoodIndustry.com, the closest grocery store behind it is Kroger’s, which operates 2,750 stores — a paltry number by comparison. However, according to new research by online lender CashNetUSA, not all Walmarts are equal across the nation. 

In February, the website shared new research showcasing which states have the cheapest and most expensive Walmart stores in the country. According to the report, it determined its rankings by compiling two lists of 12 food and drink items purchased by a “typical grocery and vegan grocery list,” including eggs, breakfast cereal, boneless chicken breast, milk, and bread. It recorded the prices of all the items in each state’s biggest city via Walmart’s website. Then, it compared the total cost for each state’s list against the national average to “calculate the price premium for groceries and vegan groceries by state.” It calculated the affordability of the lists in every state compared to the local average wage, and finally compared price premiums in 2024 against those in its Walmart prices data from 2023.

Here’s what it found.

Texas is home to the least expensive Walmarts

After all that research, the team named Texas as the least expensive destination for Walmart groceries. The findings noted that the groceries in Texas cost 4.77% less than the national average. It’s joined by Maryland in second, followed by Wisconsin, New Mexico, and New York as the least expensive states. 

But Massachusetts is the most affordable all around 

However, the team also broke out the “most affordable” list by comparing the average cost of the 12-item cart to the average wage in each state. By looking at that metric, the team found that Massachusetts has the most affordable groceries, taking an average of 59 minutes of work to afford the cart. It was followed by New York at one hour, Washington at one hour and one minute, Maryland at one hour and four minutes, and Connecticut and California tied for fifth at one hour and five minutes. 

“In terms of affordability, our analysis found that California, New York, and New Jersey were among the most affordable states for both types of groceries in 2024, even though they have a higher cost of living,” Matt Pelkey, the content strategy manager at CashNetUSA, shared with Food & Wine. “This might suggest that higher wages offset grocery expenses, making food more affordable relative to income. On the other hand, Southern and rural states dominate the least affordable lists, highlighting how lower average wages can make grocery costs more challenging.” 

Some states have higher prices due to grocery taxes

As Pelkey noted, “Grocery taxes do contribute to higher prices in some states. Among the 11 states that paid the most for typical Walmart groceries in 2024, we can see that four — Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, and Tennessee — impose a grocery tax, adding to shoppers’ expenses.” Another factor, Pelkey said, is distribution and shipping costs. “In Hawaii and Alaska, where shoppers pay the most for both vegan and non-vegan goods, groceries have to be shipped across long distances, which raises the prices.” 

You can still save even if you live in an expensive Walmart state

“By understanding how prices vary by state, shoppers can plan ahead and budget effectively, especially if they are relocating or traveling for an extended period,” Pelkey shared. “In areas where groceries are more expensive, people might adjust their shopping habits by choosing more affordable store-brand alternatives or using coupons to help balance out high grocery costs.” 

However, Pelkey noted those living on a state border may be in luck. “If shoppers live near a state border,” he said, “they can compare prices at Walmarts in neighboring states to see if cross-border shopping might be worth it.”