Walmart vs Dollar General 2026: Prices & Selection
Walmart is a full-service supermarket with grocery, apparel, and electronics across 4,700+ U.S. locations, while Dollar General operates 16,000+ smaller discount stores focused on essentials, snacks, and household items. Walmart offers lower everyday prices and broader selection; Dollar General prioritizes convenience with smaller footprints and proximity to rural communities.
Walmart Inc.
World's largest retailer with 4,700+ U.S. stores, everyday low prices, and dominant grocery business.
Families doing weekly grocery shopping, budget-conscious shoppers seeking variety, those needing fresh produce and meat
Dollar General Corporation
Discount retailer operating 16,000+ small-format stores with packaged goods, snacks, and household essentials.
Rural residents, convenience-focused shoppers, those needing quick trips for snacks and household items
Quick Answer
AI SummaryWalmart is a full-service supermarket with grocery, apparel, and electronics across 4,700+ U.S. locations, while Dollar General operates 16,000+ smaller discount stores focused on essentials, snacks, and household items. Walmart offers lower everyday prices and broader selection; Dollar General prioritizes convenience with smaller footprints and proximity to rural communities.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Walmart if you need comprehensive grocery shopping, household goods, apparel, electronics, and competitive pricing all in one trip with quality fresh products. Choose Dollar General if you prioritize quick convenience shopping, live in a rural area underserved by larger retailers, or need to grab snacks and basics with minimal shopping time.
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Choose Walmart Inc. if
Families doing weekly grocery shopping, budget-conscious shoppers seeking variety, those needing fresh produce and meat
Choose Dollar General Corporation if
Rural residents, convenience-focused shoppers, those needing quick trips for snacks and household items
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Number of U.S. Locations:✓ Dollar General Corporation wins(16,000+ vs 4,700+)
- Average Store Size:✓ Walmart Inc. wins(180,000 sq ft vs 6,500 sq ft)
- Grocery/Food Selection:✓ Walmart Inc. wins(Full supermarket with fresh produce, deli, meat counter vs Limited packaged foods and snacks only)
Key Facts & Figures
22 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Walmart Inc. | Dollar General Corporation | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Store Count(stores) | 4,700+ | — | — |
| US Store Count(stores) | 2,800+ | — | — |
| Average Price on Basket (100 items)(USD) | $95-100 | — | — |
| Loyalty Program Cost(USD per year) | $98 (Walmart+) | — | — |
| Private Label Customer Satisfaction(rating out of 5) | Great Value: 3.2/5 | — | — |
| Fresh Produce SKU Variety(SKU count) | 60-80 SKUs average | — | — |
| Fuel Rewards per $1 Spent(points/dollar) | Limited (with Walmart+ only) | — | — |
| U.S. Store Locations(stores) | 4,700+ | — | — |
| Average Transaction Value(USD) | $18.00 | — | — |
| Operating Profit Margin(%) | 5.3% | — | — |
| Grocery & Food Sales (% of Revenue)(%) | 28-32% | — | — |
| Private Label Penetration(percent of SKUs) | 24% | — | — |
| E-commerce Growth Rate (2023-2024)(%) | 9.8% | — | — |
| Median Customer Household Income(USD) | $48,000 | — | — |
| Annual Revenue (FY 2024)(USD billions) | $648.1B | — | — |
| Total U.S. Store Locations(stores) | 16,000 | 16,000 | |
| Average Store Size(sq ft) | 6,500 | 6,500 | |
| 2024 Annual Revenue(USD billions) | $39.2B | $39.2B | |
| Average Transaction Time(minutes) | 8-12 | 8-12 | |
| Price Index on Basket of 50 Common Items(USD) | $94.30 | $94.30 | |
| Store Categories Offered(categories) | 4-5 (packaged foods, snacks, household basics, limited apparel) | 4-5 (packaged foods, snacks, household basics, limited apparel) | |
| Employees Worldwide(thousands) | 0.15M | 0.15M |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- 4,700+Number of U.S. Locations16,000+(winner)
- 180,000 sq ft(winner)Average Store Size6,500 sq ft
- Full supermarket with fresh produce, deli, meat counter(winner)Grocery/Food SelectionLimited packaged foods and snacks only
- 25-30 minutesAverage Transaction Time8-12 minutes(winner)
- $611.3 billion(winner)2024 Annual Revenue$39.2 billion
- All income levels, suburban and urbanTarget MarketLow-income and rural communities
- Lowest prices through scale and supplier relationships(winner)Price Competitiveness on Everyday ItemsHigher unit prices, convenience-based pricing
- Number of U.S. Locations
Walmart Inc.
4,700+
Dollar General Corporation
16,000+(winner)
- Average Store Size
Walmart Inc.
180,000 sq ft(winner)
Dollar General Corporation
6,500 sq ft
- Grocery/Food Selection
Walmart Inc.
Full supermarket with fresh produce, deli, meat counter(winner)
Dollar General Corporation
Limited packaged foods and snacks only
- Average Transaction Time
Walmart Inc.
25-30 minutes
Dollar General Corporation
8-12 minutes(winner)
- 2024 Annual Revenue
Walmart Inc.
$611.3 billion(winner)
Dollar General Corporation
$39.2 billion
- Target Market
Walmart Inc.
All income levels, suburban and urban
Dollar General Corporation
Low-income and rural communities
- Price Competitiveness on Everyday Items
Walmart Inc.
Lowest prices through scale and supplier relationships(winner)
Dollar General Corporation
Higher unit prices, convenience-based pricing
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Walmart Inc. | Dollar General Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Total Store Count(stores) | 4,700+ | — |
| US Store Count(stores) | 2,800+ | — |
| Average Price on Basket (100 items)(USD) | $95-100 | — |
| Price Index on Basket of 50 Common Items(USD) | $94.30 | — |
| Loyalty Program Cost(USD per year) | $98 (Walmart+) | — |
| Private Label Customer Satisfaction(rating out of 5) | Great Value: 3.2/5 | — |
| Fresh Produce SKU Variety(SKU count) | 60-80 SKUs average | — |
| Fresh Produce Availability | Not available (packaged goods only) | — |
| Fuel Rewards per $1 Spent(points/dollar) | Limited (with Walmart+ only) | — |
| 2-Hour Delivery Service(availability) | Walmart+ members only ($98/year) | — |
| U.S. Store Locations(stores) | 4,700+ | — |
| Average Transaction Value(USD) | $18.00 | — |
| Operating Profit Margin(%) | 5.3% | — |
| 2024 Annual Revenue(USD billions) | $39.2B | — |
| Grocery & Food Sales (% of Revenue)(%) | 28-32% | — |
| Private Label Penetration(percent of SKUs) | 24% | — |
| E-commerce Growth Rate (2023-2024)(%) | 9.8% | — |
| Median Customer Household Income(USD) | $48,000 | — |
| Annual Revenue (FY 2024)(USD billions) | $648.1B | — |
| Total U.S. Store Locations(stores) | 16,000 | — |
| Average Store Size(sq ft) | 6,500 | — |
| Average Transaction Time(minutes) | 8-12 | — |
| Store Categories Offered(categories) | 4-5 (packaged foods, snacks, household basics, limited apparel) | — |
| Employees Worldwide(thousands) | 0.15M | — |
Walmart Inc.Dollar General CorporationPros & Cons
10 pros·4 cons across both
Walmart Inc.
Pros
- Lowest everyday prices across 180,000 sq ft supercenters with full grocery departments
- Fresh produce, deli, bakery, and meat counters with quality standards
- Comprehensive selection: apparel, electronics, home goods, pharmacy all under one roof
- Strong private label brands (Great Value) saving customers 20-30% vs national brands
- Price match guarantee on most items ensures competitive pricing
Cons
- Long checkout lines during peak hours (25-30 minute average transaction)
- Larger stores require more travel time and planning, less convenient for quick trips
Dollar General Corporation
Pros
- 16,000+ locations provide unmatched convenience and accessibility in rural and underserved areas
- Quick shopping experience: 6,500 sq ft stores enable 8-12 minute average transactions
- Lower operating costs reflect in prices competitive for packaged goods and basics
- Growing Fresh program adds limited refrigerated items in select locations
- Extensive reach: operates in rural communities where Walmart has no presence
Cons
- No fresh produce, deli, or meat counters; limited food selection restricts one-stop shopping
- Higher unit prices on most items compared to Walmart due to smaller volume purchasing power
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
No. Walmart typically offers lower unit prices on most items. A basket of 50 common grocery and household items costs approximately $78.50 at Walmart vs $94.30 at Dollar General (20% more expensive). Walmart's scale allows deeper supplier discounts. Dollar General's pricing advantage is perceived convenience rather than actual cost savings.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Wikipedia
- W
Walmart Inc. on Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
World's largest retailer with 4,700+ U.S. stores, everyday low prices, and dominant grocery business.
- W
Dollar General Corporation on Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
Discount retailer operating 16,000+ small-format stores with packaged goods, snacks, and household essentials.
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