Trader Joe's offers significantly lower prices (15-30% cheaper on average) with a curated, limited selection, while Whole Foods provides greater product variety and premium organic options at premium prices. Trader Joe's average basket is $35-45 versus Whole Foods' $65-85 for comparable items.
Trader Joe's vs Whole Foods — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Specialty grocery chain with 565 stores featuring curated organic, natural, and private-label products at premium prices with exceptional customer service.
Premium organic-focused grocery chain offering high-end natural products, prepared foods, and customer experience.
Average Basket Price. Number of SKUs (Products). Organic Certification %. Store Count (US). Private Label Products. Average Customer Satisfaction. Prime Member Discounts
Choose Trader Joe's if you prioritize affordability, enjoy discovery shopping, and want the best overall value with a focused selection of quality products. Choose Whole Foods if you need maximum product variety, premium organic options, shop with Amazon Prime benefits, or require specialty/dietary items that may not be available at Trader Joe's.
Trader Joe's: 565 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 11,000 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 80% | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 5,000 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: $45.00 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 0% | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 84 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 12.5 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: Higher | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: Upper-middle class ($75k+) | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: Incremental growth | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: Growing (specialty grocer segment) | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: Existing market concentration | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: Higher than Aldi | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 85-90 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 25-30% | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 545+ | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 80%+ | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 10,000-12,000 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 100+ | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: $45-55 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: Limited hot case | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: Unspecified | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: High (specialty, curated, branded) | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: $38 | Whole Foods Market: $72
Trader Joe's: ~30% | Whole Foods Market: 80%+
Trader Joe's: 85-90% | Whole Foods Market: 25-30%
Trader Joe's: Frozen meals, limited deli items (0-2 stations) | Whole Foods Market: Hot bar, pizza, salads, sushi, prepared meals (8-12 stations)
Trader Joe's: Free (no membership) | Whole Foods Market: $139 (Prime required for 10% discounts)
Trader Joe's: 11,000 | Whole Foods Market: 40,000
Trader Joe's: ~4,000 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: $68.40 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 600 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 1 country (USA only) | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 70% of inventory | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 4.6 stars (78,000 reviews) | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 4-6 minutes | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: $16.5 billion | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: $75 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 545 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 4,000 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 40% | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 86 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: $18.00 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: $4.25 average | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 630 locations | Whole Foods Market: 510
Trader Joe's: 4,000 SKUs | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 600+ items | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 40% private label | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 100+ ready-to-eat meals | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 82/100 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 18-22 minutes | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: +5 to +10% premium | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 10,500 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 25% | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: 575+ | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: $35-45 | Whole Foods Market: $85-95
Trader Joe's: 86/100 | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Average Price Premium vs Market Baseline
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: +30%
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 95%+
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 520
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 10%
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: N/A
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 3-4 (groceries, bulk, supplements, prepared foods)
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 4.2
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 2017 (Amazon acquisition)
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: ~85%
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 365 Brand: 1,200 SKUs
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: +20-30%
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: ~15-20 weekly deals
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 100% (all locations)
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 520+
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: $4.20
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 75%
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 2 brands
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: $100
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 85%
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: No separate program
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: Whole Foods Market (main), Whole Foods 365 (budget format)
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: $0.99
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 8+ (salad bar, rotisserie, café)
Average Weekly Grocery Bill (Family of 4)
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: $380-420
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 5-8
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 500+
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: 4.4
Trader Joe's: N/A | Whole Foods Market: $139 (Prime membership)
How to choose between Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market
Compare Trader Joe's vs Whole Foods Market
Trader Joe's vs Whole Foods — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Trader Joe's vs Whole Foods. Contains 91 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Trader Joe's vs Whole Foods — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Trader Joe's vs Whole Foods.
How much can I save shopping at Trader Joe's vs Whole Foods?
On average, Trader Joe's baskets cost $38 compared to Whole Foods' $72 for comparable items—approximately 47% cheaper. A family of 4 spending $200/week at Whole Foods could save roughly $100/week by shopping at Trader Joe's, equating to $5,200 annually in savings.
Does Trader Joe's have organic products like Whole Foods?
Trader Joe's carries some organic products (approximately 25% of inventory), but Whole Foods specializes in organic with about 60% certified organic products. However, Trader Joe's organic items are typically 30-40% cheaper than Whole Foods' organic equivalents due to their efficient supply chain and private-label model.
Is Whole Foods worth it with Amazon Prime membership?
For Prime members, Whole Foods offers 10-20% discounts on rotating weekly deals, free 2-hour delivery on orders over $100, and exclusive pricing on select items. This can reduce the price gap with Trader Joe's by 20-30%, making it worthwhile if you value convenience, variety, and organic options. However, Trader Joe's remains cheaper even with Prime discounts.
Which store has better selection for dietary restrictions?
Whole Foods is superior for dietary restrictions with 50,000+ SKUs including extensive vegan, gluten-free, keto, paleo, and allergen-free sections. Trader Joe's carries quality products for most common diets but with more limited options in specialty categories. For niche dietary needs, Whole Foods provides better availability.
Can I find Trader Joe's and Whole Foods products in the same area?
Yes, both chains have significant overlap in coverage with 570 Trader Joe's and 520 Whole Foods locations across the US. However, geographic availability varies—Trader Joe's has stronger presence in California and the Northeast, while Whole Foods has broader national distribution. Many urban areas have both stores within a reasonable distance.
How to Choose Between Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market
Average Basket Price: Trader Joe's has $38, while Whole Foods Market has $72.
Number of SKUs (Products): Trader Joe's has ~4,000, while Whole Foods Market has ~50,000.
Organic Certification %: Trader Joe's has ~25%, while Whole Foods Market has ~60%.
Store Count (US): Trader Joe's has 570, while Whole Foods Market has 520.
Private Label Products: Trader Joe's has ~85%, while Whole Foods Market has ~40%.
Average Customer Satisfaction: Trader Joe's has 4.7/5, while Whole Foods Market has 4.2/5.
Prime Member Discounts: Trader Joe's has None, while Whole Foods Market has 10-20% on select items.