The 22 Best (and Worst) Grocery Stores in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Ranked by Price and Value (2026)

Minneapolis-St. Paul is the only major US metro where the dominant grocery chain (Target at 19% market share) is also headquartered downtown — on Nicollet Mall in the 33-story Target Plaza South tower — and where the hometown discount-grocer (Cub Foods, started in Minnesota in 1968 as one of the first discount grocery stores in the United States) still commands 14.7% of metro grocery sales nearly six decades later. Add the densest natural-foods cooperative scene of any US metro (Mississippi Market Co-op, Seward Community Co-op, Wedge Community Co-op, Eastside Food Co-op, plus Linden Hills, Lakewinds, and more), United Noodles' 15,000 sq ft Pan-Asian institution in Seward Minneapolis (family-owned since 1972), the Hmong specialty markets of St. Paul (the largest urban Hmong population in the United States lives here), El Burrito Mercado's Latino anchor in St. Paul, premium-local Lunds & Byerlys (27 metro stores, Edina HQ) and Kowalski's Markets, and the standard footprint of ALDI, Costco, Sam's Club, Walmart, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods, and the Twin Cities deliver one of the most distinctively local grocery markets in America.

We ranked all 22 of Minneapolis-St. Paul's major grocery options from best to worst on price and value — covering the discount champion (ALDI), the Minnesota mainstream giants (Cub Foods, Hy-Vee), the hometown chain (Target, with its actual Minneapolis flagship), the warehouse club giants (Costco, Sam's Club), the Twin Cities Asian and Latino specialty anchors (United Noodles, Hmong Village, El Burrito Mercado), the strong co-op network (Mississippi Market, Seward, Wedge, Eastside Food), the local premium chains (Lunds & Byerlys, Kowalski's, Coborn's), and the national premium options (Whole Foods). This is the LA tier list, San Francisco tier list, San Diego tier list, Chicago tier list, Houston tier list, Atlanta tier list, Seattle tier list, Phoenix tier list, Miami tier list, and Boston tier list we shipped earlier, applied to Minneapolis-St. Paul's distinctly Upper Midwest chain mix.

For live, day-of price data behind this ranking, GroceryChop's compare tool pulls current prices across all of these chains by Twin Cities ZIP. Most prices are less than 24 hours old.

The one-minute verdict

• #1 — ALDI. The German princess. Strong Twin Cities metro density, cheapest defaults-everything store.
• #2 — Cub Foods. Minnesota-rooted since 1968, one of the first US discount grocery stores. 14.7% Twin Cities market share. Strong staples pricing with loyalty mechanics.
• #3 — Walmart. Boring answer, correct answer. 17.2% Twin Cities market share — surprisingly dominant.
• #4 — Costco. Best per-unit prices on bulk. Multiple Twin Cities-area warehouses, 10.8% market share.
• #5 — Sam's Club. Costco's cheaper-membership cousin. Solid Twin Cities density.
• #6 — Hy-Vee. Iowa-based, employee-owned, expanding aggressively in Twin Cities. 8% cheaper than Cub on Consumers' Checkbook surveys, 56% rated "superior" overall.
• #7 — Target. The hometown chain — Target Corporation is HQ'd on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. 19% Twin Cities market share. Good & Gather slaps.
• #8 — Trader Joe's. The cult is right. Strong Twin Cities-metro presence.
• #9 — United Noodles. Family-owned 15,000 sq ft Pan-Asian institution in Seward Minneapolis since 1972. Products from 16+ countries.
• #10 — Hmong Village Shopping Center. St. Paul's Hmong specialty grocery and food court complex. Twin Cities has the largest urban Hmong population in the US.
• #11 — El Burrito Mercado. St. Paul Latino specialty grocery and restaurant complex. Cuban-Caribbean-Mexican selection at competitive pricing.
• #12 — Fresh Thyme Market. Midwest's Sprouts-equivalent, HQ'd in Downers Grove IL. Strong Twin Cities suburb presence.
• #13 — Coborn's. Minnesota family-owned grocery chain. Strong outer-metro and Greater Minnesota presence.
• #14 — Amazon (Fresh + Whole Foods + Subscribe & Save). Sneaky competitive on packaged + household.
• #15 — Mississippi Market Co-op. St. Paul natural foods cooperative since 1979. Strong organic produce and bulk-bins.
• #16 — Seward Community Co-op. Minneapolis natural foods cooperative since 1972. Sister institution to Mississippi Market.
• #17 — Lunds & Byerlys. Premium Twin Cities chain. 27 metro stores, Edina HQ. 7.3% market share at premium pricing.
• #18 — Wedge Community Co-op. Minneapolis natural foods co-op (Whittier/Uptown).
• #19 — Whole Foods. Whole Paycheck is still mostly Whole Paycheck.
• #20 — Kowalski's Markets. Twin Cities premium specialty chain. Highest pricing in the metro per Consumers' Checkbook (19% above average).
• #21 — Eastside Food Co-op. Northeast Minneapolis natural foods co-op.
• #22 — 7-Eleven. Convenience tax in every category. Respectfully, no.

The Twin Cities grocery tier table

How we ranked them

The 22 stores were ranked using a four-axis methodology drawn from GroceryChop's live Twin Cities price data, basket comparisons across the metro, published industry analysis (Star Tribune's Twin Cities supermarket market-share reports; Twin Cities Consumers' Checkbook supermarket ratings; Racket Twin Cities pricing comparison studies; Grocery Dive's Hy-Vee Twin Cities expansion coverage), and the real Minneapolis-St. Paul-specific trade-offs that show up when you try to do a weekly grocery run across the metro's twin-city geography.

The four axes:

1. Basket cost. A standardized basket of 50 common Twin Cities household items (milk, eggs, ground beef, chicken thighs, bread, rice, beans, cereal, frozen vegetables, paper goods, common produce, etc.) priced across the metro. Lower basket cost = higher rank.
2. Per-category strength. No store wins every category. Costco wins meat per-pound. United Noodles wins Pan-Asian pantry. Hmong Village wins Hmong specialty. Mississippi Market wins bulk natural. Trader Joe's wins frozen private label. ALDI wins overall staples. Stores with more category wins ranked higher.
3. Twin Cities-real friction. Membership costs (Costco, Sam's Club), required loyalty cards (Cub Foods digital coupons; Hy-Vee Fuel Saver), pack-size constraints, store density per neighborhood (Uptown vs Northeast vs Downtown vs Highland Park vs Frogtown vs Eagan vs Edina vs Burnsville), Minneapolis-St. Paul winter walkability, parking and bridge-crossing logistics between cities. A store you can hit on the Green Line / Blue Line or via a quick drive is worth a meaningful premium over one in a far suburb.
4. Honest premium-vs-value positioning. Lunds & Byerlys, Kowalski's, Whole Foods, and the boutique specialty grocers are not "bad stores." They are premium stores that, for the explicit purpose of saving money on a weekly grocery run, score low. They get ranked accordingly.

The ranking is opinionated but data-grounded. We covered the underlying methodology in How Grocery Price Comparison Actually Works — that's the pillar guide for the same approach applied nationally.

Why Minneapolis-St. Paul grocery is different from every other US metro

Three structural facts shape every Twin Cities grocery decision:

1. Target is genuinely a Minneapolis company, and the Nicollet Mall headquarters is downtown. Target Corporation has its headquarters on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, near the site of the original 1902 Goodfellow Dry Goods store. Target Plaza South — the 33-story skyscraper completed in 2001 — serves as the corporate HQ. The chain itself was co-founded in 1962 by John Geisse and Douglas Dayton at the Dayton's department-store-affiliate concept in Roseville, MN (right in the Twin Cities metro). Dayton's became Target Corporation in 2000. For Twin Cities residents, Target is the hometown chain in a way it isn't for any other US metro — and Target commands 19% of Twin Cities grocery market share, the highest of any chain in the metro per Chain Store Guide data.

2. Cub Foods is genuinely a Minnesota institution and one of the first US discount grocery stores. Cub Foods was started in 1968 in Stillwater, Minnesota by two brothers, a friend, and a brother-in-law — and was one of the first discount grocery stores in the United States, predating most national discount-grocer competitors by years. The chain remains rooted in Minnesota nearly six decades later, with around a dozen Twin Cities metro stores commanding 14.7% market share — the third-largest behind Target and Walmart. Cub's Minnesota identity is so strong that the chain is still referred to as "Cub" by locals as if it's its own category of grocery store, distinct from any national chain.

3. The Twin Cities have the densest natural-foods cooperative scene of any US metro. Mississippi Market Co-op (St. Paul, founded 1979), Seward Community Co-op (Minneapolis Seward neighborhood, founded 1972), Wedge Community Co-op (Minneapolis Whittier/Uptown), Eastside Food Co-op (Northeast Minneapolis), plus Linden Hills Co-op, Lakewinds, Valley Natural Foods, and more — the Twin Cities have more consumer-owned food cooperatives per capita than any other US metro. The co-op model produces a different store culture than corporate chains: members own shares, profits return to members and the broader community, and the natural-foods focus runs deep. Many Twin Cities residents anchor their natural-foods shopping at a co-op the way other US cities default to Whole Foods.

These three facts together mean Twin Cities grocery shopping looks different from other US metros. The winning move is a 2-3 store stack centered on ALDI or Cub for staples, a co-op or Hy-Vee for produce and natural, and Costco for bulk. Target fills the gap for households who want hometown-brand convenience plus Good & Gather quality.

#1 — ALDI — The German Princess

ALDI's Twin Cities expansion has been steady — multiple Minneapolis-St. Paul metro and surrounding suburb locations with continued expansion as part of the chain's national push to 3,200 stores by 2028. The everyday low-price model is structurally cheaper than every conventional supermarket in the Twin Cities, including Cub Foods.

Why it wins: ALDI's private-label staples (flour, sugar, pasta, canned goods, dairy basics, frozen vegetables) typically run 30-50% below the equivalent name brand at Cub or Lunds & Byerlys, with quality that's genuinely competitive — independent taste tests have rated ALDI staples at or above national brands across most categories. We did the head-to-head against Walmart at ALDI vs Walmart and against Trader Joe's at Trader Joe's vs ALDI.

Where it loses: Smaller selection than Cub or Hy-Vee. No major national brands in most categories. No manufacturer coupons accepted, no loyalty program.

Who it's for: Anyone willing to swap brand familiarity for 20-30% off the weekly bill.

The one-liner: the German princess running on $1.99 olive oil. cheapest mainstream basket across the Twin Cities.

#2 — Cub Foods — Minnesota Since 1968

Cub Foods is the Minnesota-rooted discount grocery chain founded in Stillwater in 1968 — one of the first discount grocery stores in the United States, predating most national discount-grocer competitors by years. The chain has around a dozen Twin Cities metro stores and commands 14.7% Twin Cities market share, the third-largest behind Target and Walmart. The format has evolved from the original no-frills warehouse-style to a more polished modern-supermarket presentation, but the discount-grocery DNA remains.

Why it wins: Hometown brand recognition is real. Strong digital coupon program (My Cub Rewards). Decent fresh meat and produce programs. Pricing is competitive with Hy-Vee and well below Lunds & Byerlys or Kowalski's. Density across the metro means most Twin Cities neighborhoods have a Cub within reasonable distance.

Where it loses: Per Twin Cities Consumers' Checkbook surveys, Hy-Vee's prices averaged about 8% lower than Cub's, and only 38% of Cub customers rated it "superior" (vs Hy-Vee's 56%). The store experience varies by location — some stores are excellent, some are dated.

Who it's for: Minnesota-loyal shoppers who value supporting a hometown chain, anyone whose closest grocery is a Cub. Pair with ALDI for the cheaper-staples gap.

The one-liner: Minnesota since '68. one of the first US discount grocery stores. hometown loyalty is real.

#3 — Walmart — Cheap Where You Can Reach It

Walmart's Twin Cities presence is suburban-heavy — Walmart Supercenters cluster across Twin Cities suburbs (Brooklyn Park, Eagan, Burnsville, Bloomington, Maple Grove, Apple Valley, Lakeville, and more). Walmart commands 17.2% Twin Cities market share, the second-largest behind only Target. We covered the broader Walmart pricing story in Walmart vs Target Groceries and the Kroger comparison at Is Kroger Cheaper Than Walmart?.

Why it wins: Cheap basket pricing across most categories. Walmart does not mark up shelf prices for pickup or delivery (Walmart+ at $98/year covers free same-day on $35+). Great Value private label is competitive.

Where it loses: Limited central-Minneapolis and St. Paul density. The Twin Cities pricing surveys consistently show ALDI and Walmart at or near the cheapest mainstream basket, but Walmart's suburban-only footprint limits accessibility.

Who it's for: Suburban Twin Cities households whose weekly shop skews packaged goods, household, and paper.

The one-liner: boring answer, correct answer. 17% market share for a reason.

#4 — Costco — The Bulk Move

Costco's Twin Cities footprint includes Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, Burnsville, Maplewood, St. Louis Park, and more across the metro. 10.8% Twin Cities market share. The membership math ($65/year Gold Star, $130/year Executive) is the entry fee for unbeatable per-unit prices on bulk basics. We did the family-of-4 math at Is Costco Worth It for a Family of 4, the head-to-head against Sam's at Costco vs Sam's Club, and the three-way at BJ's vs Costco vs Sam's Club.

Why it wins: Kirkland Signature private label is exceptional. Meat counter is excellent. Rotisserie chicken at $4.99. Gas at Costco fuel stations runs 20-40 cents per gallon below Twin Cities metro average. Best per-unit pricing in the metro across most bulk categories.

Where it loses: Membership. Pack sizes. Winter parking lots in February.

Locations in Twin Cities: Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, Burnsville, Maplewood, St. Louis Park, and more.

Who it's for: Families of 4+ with freezer and pantry space.

The one-liner: best per-unit prices PERIOD, gas pumps save the membership fee alone.

#5 — Sam's Club — Costco's Cheaper-Membership Cousin

Sam's Club's Twin Cities-metro footprint is solid — multiple suburban locations with Walmart-ecosystem integration. The chain is competitive on pricing. Member's Mark private label is solid, Plus membership ($120/year) unlocks Scan & Go checkout. Note: Sam's Club raised its membership prices effective May 1, 2026 — Club is now $60/year (up from $50), Plus is $120/year (up from $110).

Why it wins: Cheaper membership than Costco. Scan & Go (in-app checkout) is the best UX feature in the warehouse category. Pricing on basics is competitive with Costco.

Where it loses: Member's Mark, while solid, is not Kirkland Signature. Sam's Club does not price match competitors. See our grocery store price matching policies breakdown.

Who it's for: Walmart-loyal Twin Cities households who want a warehouse-club add-on.

The one-liner: Costco's cheaper-membership cousin. Scan & Go is the move.

#6 — Hy-Vee — The Iowa-Born Employee-Owned Challenger

Hy-Vee is the Iowa-based, employee-owned grocery chain expanding aggressively in the Twin Cities. Per Twin Cities Consumers' Checkbook surveys, Hy-Vee's prices averaged about 8% lower than Cub's, and 56% of surveyed customers rated it "superior" overall (vs only 38% for Cub). The chain's "Helpful Smile in Every Aisle" service culture is genuine — employee ownership shows up in how stores are run. Hy-Vee has expanded its Twin Cities footprint over the last decade and continues to add locations.

Why it wins: Cheaper than Cub by ~8% on a basket comparison. Higher customer satisfaction. Strong prepared-foods and bakery programs. Fuel Saver loyalty program produces real fuel savings. Employee ownership ethos translates to better store experiences.

Where it loses: Smaller Twin Cities footprint than Cub or Walmart. Not as cheap as ALDI or Walmart on the lowest end.

Who it's for: Twin Cities households who want better-than-Cub pricing with better-than-Cub service. Pair with Costco for bulk.

The one-liner: Iowa-born, employee-owned, 8% cheaper than Cub. 56% rated "superior".

#7 — Target — The Hometown Chain

Target Corporation is headquartered on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis — Target Plaza South, the 33-story skyscraper completed in 2001, is the corporate HQ. The chain itself was co-founded in 1962 by John Geisse and Douglas Dayton at the Dayton's department-store-affiliate concept in Roseville, MN. Target commands 19% Twin Cities grocery market share, the highest of any chain in the metro. Twin Cities has dozens of Target locations including the iconic Nicollet Mall flagship plus dense suburban Supercenters.

Why it wins: Hometown brand identity. Good & Gather private label is genuinely solid, Target Circle deals do real work, Drive Up pickup is functional. RedCard 5% discount. Twin Cities residents get extra reason to support the hometown chain (Target Foundation invests heavily in Minneapolis-St. Paul).

Where it loses: Basket-by-basket, Target generally lands above ALDI, Walmart, and Cub on most items. Target's price-matching policy stopped matching Amazon and Walmart in July 2025 — see grocery store price matching policies.

Who it's for: Households whose weekly trip includes household items, beauty, and baby alongside groceries. The Quarry Target (Northeast Minneapolis) was named among the most affordable Target groceries in the Twin Cities per recent Racket pricing surveys.

The one-liner: the hometown chain. HQ'd on Nicollet Mall, 19% market share, Good & Gather actually slaps.

#8 — Trader Joe's — Cult-Approved

Trader Joe's has strong Twin Cities-metro presence — St. Paul, Minneapolis, Edina, Maple Grove, Woodbury, Roseville, Eden Prairie, and more across the metro. The cult is right about private-label value; the cult is also right that you cannot do a full weekly grocery shop here.

Why it wins: Private-label snacks, frozen meals, frozen vegetables, dairy, wine, and pantry items are some of the best values per-dollar in the Twin Cities. Cult products carry the brand.

Where it loses: Fresh produce is hit or miss. The meat selection is limited. No loyalty program.

Locations in Twin Cities: Many. The St. Paul Highland Park, Minneapolis Lyndale, and Edina stores are particularly busy.

Who it's for: Households that supplement a primary shop at ALDI, Cub, Hy-Vee, or Costco with a Trader Joe's run for snacks, frozen, wine, and specialty pantry.

The one-liner: the cult is right. private-label royalty. just can't do a full shop there.

#9 — United Noodles — Twin Cities Pan-Asian Institution

United Noodles is the 15,000 sq ft Pan-Asian grocery store in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis, just off Minnehaha Avenue. Family-owned and operated for more than 40 years (founded in 1972), United Noodles is genuinely an Upper Midwest grocery institution. The store opened a second location in Woodbury, Minnesota in June 2019. United Noodles carries products from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Hawaii, and more — 16+ countries represented under one roof.

Why it wins: Selection. Pan-Asian + South Asian + Pacific Islander selection unmatched in the Upper Midwest. Strong fresh seafood, Asian produce, fresh tofu, sauces, noodles, rice in bulk, frozen items, and prepared foods. The marketplace format includes a small food court and connected restaurants. Family-owned ethos shows in store culture.

Where it loses: Selection skews Asian — won't have the breadth of Western groceries. The Seward location is on the southern edge of central Minneapolis; the Woodbury location serves eastern suburbs.

Locations: Minneapolis (Seward, the 15,000 sq ft flagship) and Woodbury (the eastern-suburb second location).

Who it's for: Anyone cooking Asian cuisines regularly, anyone in Seward / Minnehaha / South Minneapolis or eastern suburbs. Pairs cleanly with Cub or ALDI for non-Asian staples.

The one-liner: 15,000 sq ft of Pan-Asian since '72. Seward institution, family-owned, 16+ countries.

#10 — Hmong Village Shopping Center — St. Paul's Hmong Anchor

Hmong Village Shopping Center in St. Paul (1001 Johnson Pkwy) is the Twin Cities' anchor for Hmong specialty grocery and food. The Twin Cities have the largest urban Hmong population in the United States — roughly 70,000 Hmong residents — and Hmong Village serves as the cultural and commercial center for this community. The format combines a Hmong specialty grocery store with a food court (the largest Hmong food court in the US), specialty shops, and an Asian-cuisine destination.

Why it wins: Hmong specialty pantry, fresh produce (Hmong-cuisine specialty herbs and vegetables — lemongrass, Thai basil, water spinach, bitter melon, Hmong-favored cabbages), fresh meat counter, Hmong specialty proteins, and prepared Hmong foods. The food court is genuinely a destination — Hmong sausages, papaya salad, pho, larb, and many specialty Lao-Hmong dishes. Pricing on Hmong and broader Southeast Asian specialty items is unmatched.

Where it loses: Selection skews Hmong and Southeast Asian. Smaller format than United Noodles on broader Pan-Asian.

Locations: St. Paul (Eastside, Johnson Parkway).

Who it's for: St. Paul residents, anyone cooking Hmong / Lao / Thai / Southeast Asian cuisine, anyone who values the cultural anchor experience. Pairs cleanly with Cub or ALDI for non-Asian staples.

The one-liner: St. Paul's Hmong anchor. largest Hmong food court in the US. cultural institution.

#11 — El Burrito Mercado — St. Paul's Latino Anchor

El Burrito Mercado at 175 Cesar Chavez Street in St. Paul is the Twin Cities' Latino grocery and food anchor — a Mercado, restaurant, panaderia (bakery), and tortilleria under one roof. The family-owned operation has served the Twin Cities Latino community for decades. The format combines a Mexican-Latin grocery store with a restaurant featuring Mexican-Latin specialties, a bakery, and the in-house tortilla operation.

Why it wins: Mexican produce (cilantro, jalapeños, tomatillos, limes, papayas, cactus paddles, fresh chiles) at fractions of mainstream-grocer pricing, often 30-50% cheaper. Fresh hand-made tortillas (the in-house tortilleria is part of the operation). Carnicería with traditional Mexican cuts. Mexican pantry items. The restaurant is a St. Paul institution.

Where it loses: Selection skews Mexican-Latin.

Locations: St. Paul (Cesar Chavez Street, West Side).

Who it's for: Anyone cooking Mexican-Latin cuisine, anyone in St. Paul West Side, Westside, or surrounding Latino-community neighborhoods.

The one-liner: St. Paul's Latino anchor. mercado + restaurant + tortilleria under one roof.

#12 — Fresh Thyme Market — The Midwest's Sprouts

Fresh Thyme Market is the Midwest-headquartered (Downers Grove, Illinois) organic-and-natural-foods grocery chain — essentially the Midwest's homegrown Sprouts equivalent. The Twin Cities footprint includes suburban locations across the metro (Plymouth, Roseville, Apple Valley, Edina, Burnsville, and more). The brand emphasizes farmers-market-style presentation, local sourcing, and produce-anchored selection.

Why it wins: Strong produce program, especially on seasonal and organic items. Solid bulk-bins section. Decent private-label cereals, snacks, and prepared foods. Local-product partnerships through programs like Naturally Twin Cities.

Where it loses: Outside of produce, Fresh Thyme's basket cost runs 20-40% above ALDI on equivalent items. The "natural foods" positioning is real but priced accordingly.

Who it's for: Shoppers who use Fresh Thyme as a produce-and-bulk-bins anchor and do the rest of the weekly shop elsewhere. Pairs especially well with ALDI, Costco, or Cub.

The one-liner: the Midwest's Sprouts. HQ'd in Downers Grove. produce game on point.

#13 — Coborn's — Minnesota Family-Owned

Coborn's is the Minnesota family-owned grocery chain founded in 1921 in Sauk Rapids, MN. The chain has strong outer-Twin-Cities-metro and Greater Minnesota presence — suburban Twin Cities locations include Otsego, Big Lake, Princeton, and several other outer-ring metro communities, plus dense coverage across central and southern Minnesota. Family-owned ethos shows up in store culture and community ties.

Why it wins: Family-owned character. Strong fresh meat and produce programs at suburban locations. Pricing is competitive with Cub on mainstream-grocery items. Cash Wise (Coborn's discount banner) provides cheaper alternative for outer-metro communities.

Where it loses: Limited central Twin Cities density. Selection on premium and natural items is thinner than at Cub or Hy-Vee.

Locations in Twin Cities metro: Outer ring (Otsego, Big Lake, Princeton, etc.) and Greater Minnesota.

Who it's for: Outer Twin Cities suburbs and Greater Minnesota residents who value supporting a Minnesota family-owned chain.

The one-liner: Minnesota family-owned since 1921. outer-metro anchor.

#14 — Amazon (Fresh + Whole Foods + Subscribe & Save)

Amazon's grocery presence in the Twin Cities is fragmented across Amazon Fresh delivery, Whole Foods (Minneapolis and St. Paul locations), and Subscribe & Save on shelf-stable packaged and household items via Amazon.com. The composite pricing is more competitive than most Twin Cities shoppers realize.

Why it wins: Subscribe & Save on Amazon for packaged goods, household, paper, baby formula, pet food, and personal care frequently matches or beats Costco. Whole Foods orders of $100+ get free 2-hour delivery for Prime members. See our broader breakdown in The Best Same-Day Grocery Delivery Apps in 2026.

Where it loses: Fresh produce and meat pricing via Whole Foods is still Whole Foods pricing. Twin Cities winter weather can complicate delivery scheduling.

Who it's for: Prime-member Twin Cities households.

The one-liner: Amazon owns Whole Foods, no they're not the same price. Subscribe & Save is sneaky good.

#15 — Mississippi Market Co-op — St. Paul's Natural Foods Co-op

Mississippi Market Co-op is the St. Paul natural foods cooperative founded in 1979. The co-op operates three St. Paul locations (West 7th, Selby, and East Side) and follows the consumer-owned cooperative model — members own shares, profits return to members and the community, and the natural-foods focus runs deep. Mississippi Market is one of the largest food co-ops in the Twin Cities by sales and member count.

Why it wins: Quality. Strong organic produce, exceptional bulk-bins section (rice, grains, nuts, dried fruit, oats, herbs, oils), strong supplements and natural-aisle pantry, decent prepared foods. The co-op model produces a different store culture than corporate chains. Member-rewards mechanic returns real annual rebates for engaged shoppers.

Where it loses: Pricing is premium-tier — runs 20-40% above ALDI on equivalent items. Selection on national brands is meaningfully narrower than Cub or Hy-Vee.

Locations: St. Paul (West 7th, Selby, East Side).

Who it's for: St. Paul households who value the co-op model and natural-foods focus.

The one-liner: St. Paul's natural foods co-op since '79. 3 locations, member-owned, the bulk bins are the move.

#16 — Seward Community Co-op — Minneapolis's Sister Co-op

Seward Community Co-op is the Minneapolis natural foods cooperative founded in 1972 — sister institution to Mississippi Market in the broader Twin Cities co-op network. The co-op operates two Minneapolis locations (the original Franklin store and the Friendship store on Riverside) and shares the consumer-owned cooperative model and natural-foods focus.

Why it wins: Quality. Strong organic produce, exceptional bulk-bins section, strong supplements and natural-aisle pantry, decent prepared foods. The co-op model and member-rewards mechanic match Mississippi Market's structure on the Minneapolis side.

Where it loses: Pricing is premium-tier. Selection on national brands is narrower than mainstream chains.

Locations: Minneapolis (Franklin, Friendship/Riverside).

Who it's for: Minneapolis households who value the co-op model. Pairs cleanly with Cub or ALDI for cheaper mainstream staples.

The one-liner: Minneapolis's natural foods co-op since '72. sister to Mississippi Market across the river.

#17 — Lunds & Byerlys — Twin Cities Premium Local

Lunds & Byerlys is the premium-tier Twin Cities grocery chain — 27 Minneapolis-St. Paul metro locations with the most recent Apple Valley store opening in 2023. Headquartered in Edina. Lunds & Byerlys commands 7.3% Twin Cities market share at premium pricing — per Consumers' Checkbook, Lunds & Byerlys' prices were about 11% higher than the all-store average. Beautiful stores, exceptional prepared foods, strong fresh meat and seafood, and a polished shopping experience.

Why it wins: Quality. The prepared-foods program is genuinely outstanding. Strong cheese counter, wine selection, fresh meat counter, and organic produce. Twin Cities residents who value the "premium grocery experience" default to Lunds & Byerlys before considering Whole Foods. 27 metro locations provide good density.

Where it loses: Pricing. The premium tier is real — 11% above average pricing per Consumers' Checkbook. Not a weekly value-shop for most households.

Locations in Twin Cities: 27 stores across Minneapolis, St. Paul, Edina, and surrounding suburbs.

Who it's for: Premium-neighborhood Twin Cities households for whom shopping experience matters as much as price.

The one-liner: 27 stores, Edina HQ, premium done locally. the prepared-foods program is the move.

#18 — Wedge Community Co-op — Minneapolis Uptown / Whittier

Wedge Community Co-op (the Linden Hills Co-op organization operates the Wedge as part of its broader Twin Cities co-op family) is the Minneapolis Whittier / Uptown natural foods cooperative. Strong on organic produce, bulk bins, and natural-aisle pantry.

Why it wins: Walking-distance density for Uptown / Whittier / Lyndale residents. The co-op model and natural-foods focus match the broader Twin Cities co-op culture.

Where it loses: Premium-tier pricing. Smaller format than mainstream chains.

Locations: Minneapolis (Whittier, Linden Hills).

Who it's for: Uptown / Whittier / Lyndale Minneapolis residents who value walkable co-op grocery shopping.

The one-liner: Minneapolis Uptown's natural foods anchor. walking-distance co-op done right.

#19 — Whole Foods — Whole Paycheck (Still)

Whole Foods Market has Twin Cities locations (Minneapolis Calhoun, Minneapolis Hennepin, St. Paul Galtier Plaza, Edina, Maple Grove, and more). Even after Amazon's price-cut initiatives, Whole Foods is still meaningfully more expensive than any conventional grocery store. We covered the comparison at Trader Joe's vs Whole Foods.

Why it wins: Quality. The produce, meat, seafood, prepared foods, and specialty selection at Whole Foods is genuinely better than any conventional Twin Cities chain. 365 private label is solid. Prime member 10% off and weekly deals close some of the gap.

Where it loses: Even with Prime discounts, Whole Foods baseline pricing runs 30-50% above ALDI on equivalent products. Twin Cities residents have strong local-coop and local-premium alternatives (Mississippi Market, Seward, Wedge, Lunds & Byerlys, Kowalski's) that some prefer over Whole Foods.

Who it's for: Prime-member households who can absorb the Whole Foods premium.

The one-liner: Whole Paycheck is still mostly Whole Paycheck. prime deals help a lil.

#20 — Kowalski's Markets — Twin Cities Highest-Priced Premium

Kowalski's Markets is the Twin Cities premium specialty grocery chain — multiple metro locations (Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina Grand Avenue, St. Paul Grand Avenue, Stillwater, White Bear Lake, Woodbury). Per Consumers' Checkbook, Kowalski's prices were the highest among Twin Cities stores surveyed — 19 percent higher than the all-store average. Beautiful stores, exceptional prepared foods, strong fresh meat counter, organic produce, and pricing that puts the everyday-shop conversation off the table.

Why it wins: Quality. The prepared-foods section is genuinely outstanding — closer to a specialty caterer than a grocery deli. Strong cheese counter, wine selection, fresh meat counter, and organic produce. The Kowalski's shopping experience is one of the Twin Cities' most polished.

Where it loses: Pricing. 19% above average per Consumers' Checkbook puts Kowalski's at the top of Twin Cities premium pricing.

Locations in Twin Cities: Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina Grand Avenue, St. Paul Grand Avenue, Stillwater, White Bear Lake, Woodbury.

Who it's for: Premium-neighborhood households for whom shopping experience matters more than price.

The one-liner: Twin Cities highest-priced premium. gorgeous, expensive, no notes — except the receipt.

#21 — Eastside Food Co-op — Northeast Minneapolis Natural Foods

Eastside Food Co-op is the Northeast Minneapolis natural foods cooperative serving the NE neighborhoods. Strong on organic produce, bulk bins, and natural-aisle pantry. The co-op completes the broader Twin Cities co-op network alongside Mississippi Market, Seward, Wedge, and the Linden Hills group.

Why it wins: Northeast Minneapolis residents have local natural-foods anchor. Co-op model and natural-foods focus consistent with broader Twin Cities co-op culture.

Where it loses: Premium-tier pricing. Smaller format than mainstream chains.

Locations: Northeast Minneapolis.

Who it's for: Northeast Minneapolis residents.

The one-liner: Northeast Minneapolis's natural foods anchor. co-op done locally.

#22 — 7-Eleven — Convenience Tax in Every Category

The single most expensive way to buy any grocery item in the Twin Cities is at a 7-Eleven. A gallon of milk that costs $3-4 at any grocer typically runs $5-7 here. Cereal, bread, snacks, beverages — every category carries a 50-150% convenience markup.

Why it sometimes wins: Hours (24/7 at most locations), density across the metro.

Where it loses: Everything else.

Who it's for: Emergency top-ups only.

The one-liner: respectfully, no. paying $5+ for one thing of milk is a personal choice.

The smart Twin Cities shopping strategy

If you took only one piece of advice from this guide, it should not be "shop at the cheapest store" — it should be "pair two or three stores intentionally, and one of them should be a Twin Cities specialty grocer (United Noodles, Hmong Village, El Burrito Mercado, or a co-op) if you want produce and meat at sharper prices."

The best-performing weekly grocery strategies in the Twin Cities:

Strategy 1 — The ALDI + Cub + Costco stack. ALDI for cheapest staples + Cub Foods for fill-in (with My Cub Rewards digital coupons) + Costco for bulk household. The most common Twin Cities multi-store stack.

Strategy 2 — The Hy-Vee-anchored stack. Hy-Vee (with Fuel Saver) + Trader Joe's + Costco. For households in Hy-Vee's expanding footprint who value the employee-owned superior-service experience.

Strategy 3 — The Seward / South Minneapolis Pan-Asian stack. United Noodles + ALDI + Costco. Maximum Pan-Asian cuisine quality plus cheap mainstream staples.

Strategy 4 — The St. Paul international stack. Hmong Village + El Burrito Mercado + ALDI + Costco. Maximum Hmong / Southeast Asian / Latino cuisine breadth plus warehouse bulk. Best for St. Paul Eastside, Westside, Frogtown residents.

Strategy 5 — The co-op-anchored stack. Mississippi Market or Seward or Wedge or Eastside + Cub Foods + Costco. Co-op for natural / produce / bulk, Cub for mainstream staples, Costco for bulk household.

Strategy 6 — The Edina / SW suburbs premium stack. Lunds & Byerlys + Trader Joe's + Costco. Premium-anchor stack with bulk amortization. Best for Edina, Wayzata, Minnetonka, and SW Twin Cities suburbs.

For optimizing this kind of multi-store strategy automatically, GroceryChop's list optimizer builds your weekly list, then runs three modes: Single Store, Best Per Item, or Split Trip. Think of it as a GasBuddy for groceries, but with multi-store optimization layered on.

Don't sleep on these Twin Cities-local options

A few stores didn't make the main 22 because they're hyperlocal or specialty, but they belong in any honest Twin Cities grocery conversation.

Hmongtown Marketplace (St. Paul Frogtown). The other anchor of St. Paul Hmong specialty grocery, alongside Hmong Village. The Hmongtown food court is also a destination.

Asian Foods (Frogtown / Eastside St. Paul). Smaller Asian specialty grocers serving St. Paul's Asian communities beyond Hmong.

Patel Brothers (Eagan, St. Louis Park). Indian grocery chain serving Twin Cities South Asian community. Strong spices, lentils, atta, basmati rice at unmatched pricing.

99 Ranch Market (Eden Prairie). Pan-Asian supermarket footprint at the Eden Prairie location. Worth the suburban drive for full Pan-Asian breadth.

H Mart (Burnsville). Korean grocery footprint at the Burnsville location.

Mercado Central (Minneapolis Lake Street). Multi-vendor Latino market at the Lake Street / Bloomington intersection. Strong fresh tortillas, Mexican produce, prepared foods.

Local farmers markets. Twin Cities have strong summer farmers-market culture. Midtown Farmers Market (Minneapolis), St. Paul Farmers Market (Lowertown, the oldest farmers market in the Twin Cities), Mill City Farmers Market (Minneapolis riverfront), Linden Hills Farmers Market, and the Saturday Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market are all worth knowing.

Lakewinds Food Co-op (Minnetonka, Chanhassen, Richfield). Additional Twin Cities co-op options serving the southwestern and southern suburbs.

Valley Natural Foods (Burnsville). Burnsville co-op anchor for southern suburbs.

Linden Hills Co-op. Southwest Minneapolis Linden Hills neighborhood co-op.

Hannam Chain (Eagan). Korean grocery option for Twin Cities Korean community.

Mexican Village Foods and other smaller Latino specialty. Various smaller Latino grocers across the Twin Cities.

Pair any of these with one of the main-list strategies above and the per-category math gets dramatically better.

How to use GroceryChop in Minneapolis-St. Paul

This ranking is based on patterns we see in the live data. The way to use GroceryChop for actual decision-making in the Twin Cities:

• Compare live prices across all of these chains — Search any product, enter your Twin Cities ZIP, see current prices at every nearby chain (ALDI, Cub Foods, Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, Hy-Vee, Target, Trader Joe's, United Noodles, Hmong Village, El Burrito Mercado, Fresh Thyme, Coborn's, Amazon Fresh/Whole Foods, Mississippi Market, Seward, Lunds & Byerlys, Wedge, Whole Foods, Kowalski's, Eastside Food, and more) ranked cheapest to most expensive. Products are matched by UPC barcode with fuzzy fallback. Unit pricing auto-calculated. Most prices less than 24 hours old.
• List optimizer for the multi-store strategies — Build your weekly list and let the optimizer figure out the cheapest single-store, best-per-item, or split-trip option for your Twin Cities ZIP. This is where the ALDI + Cub + Costco or United Noodles + Hmong Village + ALDI pairing math actually plays out.
• Live deals feed for Twin Cities — Current discounts across the Twin Cities chain mix, ranked by savings %, deal type, ZIP proximity, and product ratings. SNAP/EBT eligibility filter is enforced at the database level — see our SNAP/EBT eligibility guide for which Twin Cities stores accept benefits.
• ChopBot AI assistant — Ask "what's the cheapest store for my list near 55408" and get an answer backed by live data and 8 specialized tools.

For metro comparisons, see the Los Angeles tier list, San Francisco tier list, San Diego tier list, Chicago tier list, Houston tier list, Atlanta tier list, Seattle tier list, Phoenix tier list, Miami tier list, and Boston tier list.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest grocery store in Minneapolis-St. Paul in 2026?

ALDI is the cheapest mainstream grocery store across the Twin Cities metro in 2026, with Walmart and Cub Foods close behind. Per Twin Cities Consumers' Checkbook surveys, Hy-Vee's prices average about 8% lower than Cub's, making Hy-Vee the cheapest mainstream chain in its footprint behind only ALDI and Walmart. For specific Twin Cities specialty produce, Hmong Village (St. Paul), United Noodles (Seward Minneapolis), and El Burrito Mercado (St. Paul) beat every mainstream chain by 30-50% on Asian, Hmong, and Mexican produce respectively.

Why is Target so dominant in Minneapolis-St. Paul?

Target Corporation is headquartered on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis — Target Plaza South, the 33-story skyscraper completed in 2001, is the corporate HQ. The chain was co-founded in 1962 by John Geisse and Douglas Dayton in Roseville, MN. Target Corporation traces its origins to 1902 when George Draper Dayton incorporated Goodfellow Dry Goods (later Dayton's). The hometown brand recognition combined with dense Twin Cities-metro store coverage gives Target 19% Twin Cities grocery market share — the highest of any chain in the metro. Twin Cities residents have extra reason to support Target as the hometown chain.

What is Cub Foods and why is it special?

Cub Foods is the Minnesota-rooted discount grocery chain founded in 1968 in Stillwater, Minnesota by two brothers, a friend, and a brother-in-law. Cub was one of the first discount grocery stores in the United States, predating most national discount-grocer competitors by years. The chain remains rooted in Minnesota nearly six decades later, with around a dozen Twin Cities metro stores commanding 14.7% market share. Cub's Minnesota identity is so strong that the chain is still referred to as "Cub" by locals as if it's its own category.

Is Hy-Vee really cheaper and better than Cub Foods?

Per Twin Cities Consumers' Checkbook surveys, Hy-Vee's prices averaged about 8% lower than Cub's, and 56% of Hy-Vee customers rated it "superior" overall compared to only 38% for Cub. Hy-Vee is Iowa-based and employee-owned (founded 1930 in Beaconsfield, IA), and the chain has expanded its Twin Cities footprint substantially over the last decade with continued planned expansion. For households in Hy-Vee's footprint, the math and service quality both favor Hy-Vee over Cub.

What is United Noodles and why is it special?

United Noodles is the 15,000 sq ft Pan-Asian grocery store in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis, just off Minnehaha Avenue. Family-owned and operated for more than 40 years (founded in 1972), United Noodles is genuinely an Upper Midwest grocery institution. The store carries products from 16+ countries — China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Hawaii, and more. A second Woodbury location opened in June 2019. For Twin Cities Pan-Asian cooking households, United Noodles is the anchor.

Where can I find affordable Asian groceries in Minneapolis-St. Paul?

United Noodles (Seward Minneapolis, Woodbury) is the Pan-Asian anchor with the broadest selection. Hmong Village Shopping Center and Hmongtown Marketplace (both St. Paul) are the Hmong / Southeast Asian anchors — the Twin Cities have the largest urban Hmong population in the United States. For Indian specifically, Patel Brothers has Eagan and St. Louis Park locations. For Korean, H Mart in Burnsville and Hannam Chain in Eagan. For broader Pan-Asian, 99 Ranch Market in Eden Prairie. Pricing on Asian produce, fresh seafood, sauces, noodles, and rice in bulk is meaningfully better than mainstream chains at all of these.

Where can I find affordable Latino groceries in Minneapolis-St. Paul?

El Burrito Mercado on Cesar Chavez Street in St. Paul's West Side is the Twin Cities' Latino grocery and food anchor — a mercado, restaurant, panaderia, and tortilleria under one roof. Mercado Central on Minneapolis Lake Street is a multi-vendor Latino market with strong fresh tortillas, Mexican produce, and prepared foods. Smaller specialty Latino grocers serve neighborhoods across St. Paul's West Side and Eastside, Minneapolis Lake Street corridor, and surrounding Latino-community neighborhoods.

Are Twin Cities co-ops really worth shopping at?

Yes, especially for natural-foods focused shoppers. Mississippi Market Co-op (St. Paul, 3 locations since 1979), Seward Community Co-op (Minneapolis, 2 locations since 1972), Wedge Community Co-op (Minneapolis Whittier/Uptown, part of the Linden Hills group), Eastside Food Co-op (Northeast Minneapolis), Lakewinds Food Co-op (Minnetonka, Chanhassen, Richfield), and others form the densest US metro natural-foods co-op network. The co-op model (members own shares; profits return to members and community) produces a different store culture than corporate chains. Pricing is premium-tier — 20-40% above ALDI on equivalents — but the bulk-bins section is exceptional and the member-rewards mechanic returns annual rebates for engaged shoppers.

Do Twin Cities grocery stores still price match?

Mostly no. As of 2026, almost no Twin Cities grocery chain runs an active competitor price-match program. Walmart matches only Walmart.com. Target stopped matching Amazon and Walmart in July 2025. Cub Foods, Hy-Vee, Lunds & Byerlys, Kowalski's, and most regional chains do not have formal programs. Costco matches its own 30-day internal price drops but does not match competitors. We covered the full breakdown in grocery store price matching policies. The practical replacement is live price comparison before you shop — GroceryChop does exactly this across the Twin Cities.

What's the best two-store combination for the cheapest Twin Cities weekly grocery run?

For most Twin Cities households: ALDI + Cub Foods + Costco. ALDI handles cheapest staples, Cub handles fill-in with My Cub Rewards loyalty mechanics, Costco handles bulk household.

For households in Hy-Vee's footprint: Hy-Vee (with Fuel Saver) + ALDI + Costco. The Hy-Vee 8%-cheaper-than-Cub advantage plus ALDI floor pricing.

For Seward / South Minneapolis Pan-Asian cooking households: United Noodles + ALDI + Costco. Maximum Pan-Asian quality plus cheap mainstream staples.

For St. Paul international cuisine households: Hmong Village + El Burrito Mercado + ALDI + Costco. Maximum Hmong / Latino cuisine breadth.

For Edina / SW suburbs premium households: Lunds & Byerlys + Trader Joe's + Costco. Premium-anchor stack with bulk amortization.

Does Minneapolis-St. Paul have any 24-hour grocery stores?

Most Twin Cities Walmart Supercenters in the suburbs operate 24 hours. Some Cub Foods locations are still 24-hour, though the network has shrunk post-pandemic. For overnight grocery emergencies, your options are suburban Walmart, a 24-hour Cub Foods (call first to verify), or a 7-Eleven (with the 7-Eleven tax applied).

Where can SNAP/EBT shoppers get the most value in Minneapolis-St. Paul?

Most major Twin Cities grocery chains accept SNAP/EBT, including ALDI, Cub Foods, Walmart, Costco (via Instacart for delivery), Sam's Club, Hy-Vee, Target, Trader Joe's, Fresh Thyme, Whole Foods, Mississippi Market, Seward, Wedge, Eastside Food, Lunds & Byerlys, United Noodles, Hmong Village, El Burrito Mercado, and most ethnic and family-owned grocers. For SNAP-eligibility filtering on live prices, GroceryChop's compare tool enforces SNAP eligibility at the database level. The strongest SNAP-stretching Twin Cities strategy: ALDI or Cub for staples + United Noodles or Hmong Village for Asian produce/meat or El Burrito Mercado for Latino + Costco (via Instacart) for bulk household. For the complete SNAP/EBT guide, see our what grocery stores accept SNAP/EBT in 2026 post.

Are Twin Cities grocery prices higher than the national average?

Roughly in line with or slightly above the national average — Twin Cities grocery prices on a standardized basket typically run within 3-7% of the US average. Minnesota has slightly above-average labor costs but lower real-estate costs than coastal markets, which keeps the floor competitive. The dense ALDI footprint plus aggressive Hy-Vee expansion provides meaningful price-floor anchors. Twin Cities shoppers using a deliberate multi-store strategy can beat the national-average grocery basket cost meaningfully.

How often do prices at these Twin Cities stores change?

Weekly for sale items, less often for regular shelf prices. Most chains update their weekly ad on Wednesday or Thursday — Cub My Cub Rewards refreshes weekly, Hy-Vee Fuel Saver deals refresh weekly, Target Circle deals refresh weekly, Costco rotates its monthly coupon book. For live, day-of pricing across all of these chains in the Twin Cities, GroceryChop's compare tool pulls fresh prices on every search — most prices are less than 24 hours old, and a 72-hour freshness gate excludes anything older.

The takeaway

Minneapolis-St. Paul is genuinely one of the most distinctively local grocery markets in America — the hometown Target Corporation HQ (19% Twin Cities market share, Nicollet Mall flagship downtown), the Minnesota-rooted Cub Foods (founded 1968 in Stillwater, one of the first US discount grocery stores), aggressive Hy-Vee expansion (Iowa-based, employee-owned, 8% cheaper than Cub per surveys), the densest US natural-foods co-op network (Mississippi Market, Seward, Wedge, Eastside Food, Lakewinds, and more), United Noodles' 15,000 sq ft Pan-Asian institution in Seward Minneapolis (family-owned since 1972), the Twin Cities' iconic Hmong specialty grocery (Hmong Village, Hmongtown Marketplace — the largest urban Hmong population in the US is in the Twin Cities), El Burrito Mercado's St. Paul Latino anchor, premium-local Lunds & Byerlys (27 stores, Edina HQ) and Kowalski's, and the standard footprint of ALDI, Costco, Sam's Club, Walmart, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods produce a grocery scene with genuine pricing competition AND exceptional local-institution depth.

The single biggest move for most Twin Cities households is to stop defaulting to whichever Cub Foods is closest and instead pair two or three stores intentionally — ALDI plus Cub plus Costco for most families, Hy-Vee plus ALDI plus Costco for households in Hy-Vee's expanding footprint, United Noodles plus ALDI plus Costco for Pan-Asian cooking households, Hmong Village plus El Burrito plus ALDI for St. Paul international cuisine households, a Twin Cities co-op plus Cub plus Costco for natural-foods-focused households. The multi-store strategy beats any single-store shop by 25-40% on basket cost.

Use GroceryChop for live prices, the list optimizer for the multi-store math, and the live deals feed to spot the weekly anchor items at each chain. For other metros and the broader local-rankings methodology, see our Los Angeles tier list, San Francisco tier list, San Diego tier list, Chicago tier list, Houston tier list, Atlanta tier list, Seattle tier list, Phoenix tier list, Miami tier list, and Boston tier list.

Compare Minneapolis-St. Paul grocery prices live across all 100+ chains →