I compared prices of Trader Joe's items to those of Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value - here's what I found

Kathleen Elkins/Business Insider

Whole Foods is notoriously expensive, and Trader Joe's has a reputation for being pretty cheap. But just how big is the price discrepancy?

I scoured the aisles and compared the prices of 24 items at Trader Joe's to Whole Foods' private label, 365 Everyday Value, which aims to offer value prices every day of the year. Expecting the Whole Foods prices to be really high, I was pleasantly surprised at how comparable some items were. And it turns out that the specialty grocer has a few hidden deals.

Of course in general you'll get the most bang for your buck at Trader Joe's, but check out the price breakdown yourself. Keep in mind that some of the Whole Foods 365 items are offered only in organic form, while Trader Joe's typically offers both an organic and regular option. I chose to highlight the cheapest option I could find at both chains: