Which SLO County grocery store has the cheapest Thanksgiving food? We compared 5 shops
How much will you spend on Thanksgiving dinner this year?
People stocking up for the holiday feast should see a small dip in their grocery store spending, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The federation’s annual Thanksgiving survey found an average 10-person gathering costs $58.08 in 2024, or just under $6 per person. That’s a 5% drop from 2023.
This is the second year in a row that prices have declined for grocery shoppers in the United States.
However, experts say prices are nearly 20% higher than five years ago.
How much you spend on groceries also depends on where you shop in San Luis Obispo County.
To help you get get the most bang for your buck, The Tribune visited several local grocery stores to find the best deals. Here’s what we found:
What’s on your Thanksgiving shopping list?
The Tribune visited five different local grocery stores across SLO County — Smart & Final, Food 4 Less, Walmart, Trader Joe’s and Vons — and compared the prices for 10 Thanksgiving staples to discover where the cheapest goods are located.
This includes ingredients to make classic holiday dishes including mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie and, of course, roast turkey.
All total sales were calculated before sales tax.
Here’s what was on our shopping list:
Butterball turkey (per pound)
Russet potatoes (per pound)
Sweet potatoes (per pound)
Del Monte whole green beans (14.5-ounce can)
Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce (14-ounce can)
Stove Top turkey stuffing (6-ounce box)
Libby’s pumpkin puree (15-ounce can)
McCormick turkey gravy mix (1 packet)
Kings Hawaiian rolls (12-pack)
Barilla elbow macaroni pasta (16-ounce box)
Which SLO County grocery stores have the cheapest prices?
If you’re attempting to pinch pennies this holiday season, you may want to consider shopping somewhere other than your usual spot.
Out of all the local supermarkets we surveyed, Food 4 Less had the most affordable prices. All 10 items on our list could be purchased for $20.69, provided you only bought a pound each of turkey, potatoes and sweet potatoes.
The next cheapest option was Walmart, where a 10-item grocery list totaled $20.70.
You may not be able to find a whole turkey at the store, though. As of Friday, Nov. 15, Walmart only sold a three-pound Butterball turkey breast.
The most expensive local supermarket was Vons, where the same 10 items cost $28.92.
However, Vons club members may be eligible for some deals and discounted prices that could help bring down the cost.
The second-least affordable store was Trader Joe’s at $27.46 for 10 items.
How expensive is it to buy a turkey in SLO County?
Turkeys were available for purchase at all five stores as of Friday, Nov. 15.
On average at the local stores, turkey cost $2.83 per pound, setting you back around $45 for a 16-pound bird.
The SLO County store with the most affordable bird, according to The Tribune’s analysis, was Food 4 Less, where Butterball turkey cost $1.68 a pound.
The next least-expensive turkey per pound was at Smart & Final. The store was selling a Butterball turkey for $2.19 per pound.
The most expensive turkey was at Walmart, where a pound of turkey breast cost $4.32.
What do classic Thanksgiving side dishes cost?
Planning to whip up some mashed potatoes and gravy? What about a sweet potato casserole?
Out of the five stores, Walmart had the cheapest russet potatoes by a wide margin. Per pound, russets cost $0.51.
The next most budget-friendly spot was Trader Joe’s, which sold russet potatoes for $0.70 per pound.
Trader Joe’s also had the cheapest sweet potatoes at $1.15 per pound.
Looking for an easy way to make gravy?
Walmart had the most affordable McCormick gravy mix at $1.22 per packet. Food 4 Less was the next least expensive at $1.58 a pop.
Those looking for pre-made stuffing mix or cranberry jelly should be aware that prices can definitely vary from store to store.
Two stores tied for the title of most inexpensive stuffing. Walmart and Food 4 Less both sold a box of Stove Top stuffing mix for $2.08.
The place with the highest stuffing price tag was Trader Joe’s at $4.99 — more than twice the cost of its competitors.
The popular grocery chain, which doesn’t carry outside brands, was selling its own specialty cornbread stuffing mix to customers.
Walmart and Food 4 Less had the same affordable price for a can of Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce: $1.98 per can.
Vons had the least budget-friendly option at $3.99 a can, more than double the price of its most affordable competitors.
How much will dessert set you back in SLO County?
If you’re craving something sweet at the end of your big meal, we’ve got you covered.
The Tribune investigated the price of Libby’s pure pumpkin puree for people making pumpkin pies from scratch at home.
Walmart had a slight edge when it came to affordability at just $2.44 per can.
Food 4 Less and Trader Joe’s weren’t too far behind at $2.48 and $2.49 a can, respectively.
In last price for penny pinchers was Vons.
A can of Libby’s pumpkin puree at the grocery store cost $4.49.
