What Is the Cheapest Grocery Store in the US? (2026)
No single US grocery store is cheapest for every basket in 2026. For online orders, the cheapest option is usually the store whose membership and delivery terms fit how you shop: Walmart+ costs $98 a year, Sam's Club $60 or $120, and Instacart+ $99. Compare the checkout total for the same cart and go through ShopBack US before you pay.
Published: 8 October 2026 · Author: Garry Shi, Cashback Expert, ShopBack
There is no single cheapest grocery store in the US for every basket in 2026; the cheapest is the one where your total checkout cost, including membership and delivery, comes out lowest. For online orders, the main numbers are: Walmart+ at $98 a year (according to Walmart), Sam's Club at $60 or $120 a year, and Instacart+ at $99 a year, each according to the company at the time of writing.
ShopBack US is a cashback site for shoppers in the United States. Before you pay for an online grocery order, open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out, so cash comes back on the same order. Sign up for ShopBack in a couple of minutes if you are new.
How we put this together. Membership prices and benefits come from Sam's Club's membership page, Instacart's Instacart+ page and Walmart's own news releases (September 2025 and May 2026). Store prices for individual items change daily and vary by ZIP code, so this guide compares the fixed costs you can check, not item prices.
What is the cheapest grocery store in the US?
No one store wins on every item, so the useful question is which store gives you the lowest total for your usual cart. Walmart builds its pricing around what it calls Every Day Low Prices, warehouse clubs like Sam's Club sell bulk sizes to members, and Instacart lets you order from many local stores in one app.
Three things decide which is cheapest for you:
- Item prices for your actual cart. Put the same 10 to 15 items you buy every week into each store's cart and compare.
- Membership cost. Spread over a year, Walmart+ works out to about $8.17 a month, Sam's Club Club to $5 and Plus to $10, and Instacart+ to $8.25.
- Delivery and service fees. These depend on your membership and order size, and are where online grocery costs differ the most.
| Option | Yearly cost (at the time of writing) | Free delivery or pickup terms |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart+ | $98, according to Walmart (September 2025) | Free same-day delivery on grocery and pharmacy orders; free shipping with no order minimum |
| Sam's Club Club | $60 | Free curbside pickup |
| Sam's Club Plus | $120 | Free curbside pickup; free delivery from the club and free shipping on orders over $50 |
| Instacart+ | $99 after a 14-day free trial | $0 grocery delivery fee on orders of $10 or more; service fees apply |
Order groceries online: how the main options work
When you order groceries online in the US, you choose between ordering from a store directly (Walmart, Sam's Club) and ordering through a marketplace app that shops many stores for you (Instacart). Each model has its own costs:
- Store direct, pickup: usually the lowest-cost online option. Sam's Club includes free curbside pickup with both membership tiers.
- Store direct, delivery: free or cheaper with the store's membership; Walmart+ and Sam's Club Plus both cover delivery on qualifying orders.
- Marketplace app delivery: Instacart+ removes the delivery fee on orders of $10 or more, but service fees still apply, according to Instacart.
A simple rule: if you order once a week or more, a delivery membership usually pays for itself faster than paying per order. If you order once a month, pickup is often cheaper.
Order groceries online in 2026: what changed
The big change in 2026 is speed. Walmart announced on May 28, 2026 that 30-minute-or-less delivery is now available across 33 US markets for groceries, pharmacy items and everyday essentials, for a $10 fee for Walmart+ members. Walmart also offers express delivery in one hour or less, on-demand delivery in as soon as three hours, and scheduled delivery windows, according to the same release.
Walmart said in September 2025 that Walmart+ has grown from 3 benefits at launch in 2020 to 12, still for $98 a year, including free same-day delivery on grocery and prescriptions and free shipping with no order minimum.
Faster delivery costs more, so for the cheapest order, pick a scheduled window or pickup unless you need it now.
Order groceries online: best deals in the US for 2026
The best online grocery deal comes from four steps in a set order.
- Compare the same cart. Build your usual cart at two stores and compare the final total, including fees and tips, not just item prices.
- Use the store's own savings. Sam's Club lists Instant Savings for both tiers and 2% Sam's Cash back for Plus members; Walmart lists member-only savings and early access to select deals for Walmart+ members.
- Pick the cheapest way to get it. Pickup usually costs less than delivery, and a scheduled window usually costs less than express.
- Go through ShopBack before you pay. Open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out. ShopBack lowers the effective price of online orders after you pay.
Walmart vs Sam's Club: online grocery price comparison for 2026
Walmart and Sam's Club are part of the same company and suit different shopping habits: Walmart+ for frequent, smaller orders and Sam's Club for bulk stock-ups. Here is how their online grocery costs line up, according to each at the time of writing:
| Walmart+ | Sam's Club Club | Sam's Club Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly fee | $98 | $60 | $120 |
| Monthly equivalent | About $8.17 | $5 | $10 |
| Pickup | Available | Free curbside pickup | Free curbside pickup |
| Delivery | Free same-day grocery delivery | Not included as a free benefit | Free delivery from the club on orders over $50 |
| Shipping | Free, no order minimum | Not included as a free benefit | Free on orders over $50 |
| Store rewards | Member savings and deals | Instant Savings | Instant Savings plus 2% Sam's Cash back |
Which costs less? If you place several small orders a month and want them delivered, Walmart+ covers delivery for $98 a year. If you buy in bulk and can collect the order, Sam's Club Club at $60 with free curbside pickup has the lowest fee here. If you want bulk sizes delivered, Sam's Club Plus at $120 covers delivery on orders over $50.
Walmart, Sam's Club and Instacart: ordering groceries online in the US
Walmart
Walmart+ costs $98 a year, according to Walmart, and includes free same-day delivery on grocery and pharmacy orders, free shipping with no order minimum, fuel discounts and a choice of Peacock or Paramount+ ad-supported streaming. Order minimums and delivery terms can apply, so check Walmart.com before you count on free delivery. Walmart's 30-minute-or-less delivery is available in 33 US markets for a $10 fee for members. Before you check out on Walmart.com, open the ShopBack Walmart page.
Sam's Club
Sam's Club lists two memberships at the time of writing: Club at $60 a year and Plus at $120 a year. Both include Instant Savings, member-only fuel prices, Scan & Go, two membership cards and free curbside pickup. Plus adds free shipping on orders over $50, free delivery from the club on orders over $50, 2% Sam's Cash back and early shopping hours. Before you order on SamsClub.com, open the ShopBack Sam's Club page.
Instacart
Instacart+ costs $99 a year after a 14-day free trial, according to Instacart, with $0 grocery delivery fees on orders of $10 or more, a $35 minimum for Costco orders, and $0 restaurant delivery fees on eligible orders of $25 or more. Service fees still apply. Members can add family members to share carts and benefits. Instacart's store list labels some retailers "No markups", so check that label, or compare a few item prices with the store's own site, before you treat Instacart as the cheapest route. Before you place an Instacart order, open the ShopBack Instacart page.
How ShopBack US lowers what you pay for groceries online
Open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out. You still order from Walmart, Sam's Club or Instacart at their prices and fees; ShopBack US then returns part of what you spent to your account as cash.
Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Here is how it looks on a weekly grocery order:
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Online grocery order | $150.00 |
| Cash back at an illustrative 2% | $3.00 |
| Effective price | $147.00 |
The 2% is only an example. Walmart works differently: ShopBack pays a fixed cash amount on eligible Walmart orders, so your effective price is what you pay at checkout minus that amount; the live amount is on Walmart's ShopBack page. Rates differ by store and can change, and some purchases may be excluded, so check the live rate and terms on the ShopBack page for Sam's Club or Instacart before you buy. Over a year of weekly orders, the cash returned adds up to a real cut in your grocery bill.
Other grocery and everyday stores on ShopBack US
Other grocery and everyday stores on ShopBack US include Target, Costco, CVS and Walgreens.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest grocery store in the US?
No single store is cheapest for every basket. Walmart builds its pricing around Every Day Low Prices, and warehouse clubs like Sam's Club sell in bulk to members. For online orders, the cheapest option is usually the one whose membership and delivery terms fit how you shop, so compare the checkout total for the same cart, then go through ShopBack US before you pay.
How much does Walmart+ cost?
Walmart said in September 2025 that Walmart+ costs $98 a year and includes free same-day delivery on grocery and pharmacy orders, free shipping with no order minimum and fuel discounts, among other benefits. Check Walmart.com for the current price and delivery terms.
How much is a Sam's Club membership?
At the time of writing, Sam's Club lists Club membership at $60 a year and Plus at $120 a year. Both include free curbside pickup and Instant Savings; Plus adds free shipping on orders over $50, free delivery from the club on orders over $50 and 2% Sam's Cash back, according to Sam's Club.
How much is Instacart+?
Instacart lists Instacart+ at $99 a year after a 14-day free trial, with $0 grocery delivery fees on orders of $10 or more (service fees apply) and a $35 minimum for Costco, according to Instacart at the time of writing.
Is it cheaper to order groceries online or shop in store?
It depends on fees. Pickup is often the cheapest online option because Sam's Club includes free curbside pickup with both membership tiers. Delivery adds fees unless you hold a membership that covers them, such as Walmart+, Sam's Club Plus on orders over $50 or Instacart+ on orders of $10 or more.
Walmart or Sam's Club: which is better for ordering groceries online?
They suit different households. Walmart+ at $98 a year covers same-day grocery delivery and free shipping with no order minimum, which suits frequent smaller orders. Sam's Club, at $60 or $120 a year, sells in bulk sizes and includes free curbside pickup, which suits larger stock-up orders.
Does Walmart deliver groceries in 30 minutes?
In some places. Walmart announced in May 2026 that 30-minute-or-less delivery is available in 33 US markets for groceries, pharmacy items and everyday essentials, for a $10 fee for Walmart+ members.
How does ShopBack lower the cost of an online grocery order?
Open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out as usual. Cash comes back to your ShopBack US account after you pay, so the effective price is lower. On a $150 grocery order at a store paying an illustrative 2%, $3 comes back, so the effective price is $147. ShopBack pays a fixed cash amount on eligible Walmart orders instead, so your effective price there is what you pay at checkout minus that amount. Check the live rate or amount on each store's ShopBack page.
Is cashback the same as membership rewards?
No. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Store rewards such as Sam's Cash are earned and spent under the store's own terms.
Which other grocery and everyday stores are on ShopBack US?
Besides Walmart, Sam's Club and Instacart, grocery and everyday stores on ShopBack US include Target, Costco, CVS and Walgreens. Check each store's ShopBack page for its live rate and terms.
Key takeaways
- No single US grocery store is cheapest for every cart; compare the checkout total for the same items, including fees.
- Walmart+ costs $98 a year (Walmart, September 2025), Sam's Club $60 or $120, and Instacart+ $99 after a 14-day trial, according to each company.
- Pickup is usually the cheapest way to order groceries online; Sam's Club includes free curbside pickup with both tiers.
- Walmart's 30-minute-or-less delivery reached 33 US markets in May 2026, for a $10 fee for Walmart+ members.
- Before you pay, open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out, so you pay less on the same order.
Related reads
Order groceries through ShopBack US: Walmart · Sam's Club · Instacart · Target · Costco
Disclaimer
The views in this article are those of the author. Membership prices and benefits are taken from Walmart, Sam's Club and Instacart pages and releases at the time of writing and can change without notice; item prices vary by store and ZIP code. Check each store's own site before you buy or join. Cashback rates and terms on ShopBack vary by store and campaign; check the current rate and terms on each ShopBack store page before you buy. This article is for general information only.
Related guides
Walmart Discounts and Deals
Where the real Walmart US savings come from: Rollbacks and Clearance, Walmart Deals sale events, Walmart+ member perks, and how to stack ShopBack cashback on top of any Walmart coupon or Walmart+ discount at checkout for groceries, electronics, home, and apparel.
Activate Cashback Before You Buy
Open ShopBack, search the store, click through, and complete checkout in the same session. That one click turns cashback on for the order.
Find Working Promo Codes
Get codes from the merchant's own newsletter, cashback platform, and current-only sources. Skip aggregator sites full of expired codes.
Stack Cashback with Codes & Cards
Click through ShopBack, apply the merchant code at checkout, and pay with a rewards card. Three discounts stack on the same purchase.
