Ranked: Cheapest stores to shop for burger ingredients in Charlotte
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If you're planning to grill a burger for the Fourth of July this year, it will likely cost you more.
Why it matters: High beef prices have a number of people considering cheaper proteins from chicken, pork and turkey, Axios' Kelly Tyko reports. Higher prices also extend to traditional toppings like tomatoes.
State of play: Our team visited seven stores in Charlotte on June 29. Each of us shopped for the same seven ingredients to craft a classic burger. These prices are not based on store specials or loyalty program prices.
Caveat: Some items — from the size of ketchup and mustard bottles to the number of cheese slices — varied depending on the grocer. Overall, we tried to keep this as uniform as possible (with the exception of Kraft cheese slices, everything is private label).
Flashback: The last time our team tracked the cost of a burger, it was for Labor Day in 2024. Lidl had the cheapest offerings at $16.74. Nearly two years later, the low-cost German grocer is still the cheapest option, but the cost of a burger has risen to $20.39.
From most to least expensive:
Publix: $28.66
- 80% Ground beef chuck: $7.33/lb
- American cheese slices, 16-count: $5.26
- Hamburger buns, 8-count: $2.34
- Head of iceberg lettuce: $2.17
- Beefsteak tomatoes: $2.99/lb
- Ketchup, 32 oz: $2.99
- Yellow mustard, 14 oz: $2.79
- Bread and butter pickle chips, 16 oz: $2.79
Harris Teeter: $25.22
- 80% Ground beef chuck: $7.49/lb
- American cheese slices, 16-count: $4.99
- Hamburger buns, 8-count: $2.49
- Head of iceberg lettuce: $1.29
- Beefsteak tomatoes: $2.49/lb
- Ketchup, 24 oz: $1.89
- Yellow mustard, 20 oz: $1.99
- Bread and butter pickle chips, 16 oz: $2.59
Walmart: $25.03
- 80% Ground beef chuck: $7.23 for one pound
- Kraft American cheese slices, 24-count: $4.68
- Hamburger buns, 8-count: $1.48
- Head of iceberg lettuce: $2.28
- Beefsteak tomatoes, 2-pack: $3.97
- Ketchup, 24 oz: $1.47
- Yellow mustard, 20 oz: $1
- Hamburger dill chips pickles, 32 oz: $2.92
Trader Joe's: $24.52
- 80% Ground beef chuck: $6.49/lb
- American cheese slices, 12-count: $3.49
- Hamburger buns, 8-count: $2.99
- Head of iceberg lettuce: $1.99
- Beefsteak tomatoes: $1.29 each
- Ketchup, 20 oz: $2.49
- Yellow mustard, 20 oz: $1.79
- Bread and butter pickle chips, 24 oz: $3.99
Food Lion: $22.52
- Ground beef chuck: $5.99/lb
- Kraft American cheese slices, 24-count: $4.69
- Hamburger buns, 8-count: $2.29
- Head of iceberg lettuce: $0.99
- Beefsteak tomatoes, 4-pack: $3.49
- Ketchup, 20 oz: $1.59
- Yellow mustard, 20 oz: $0.99
- Bread and butter pickle chips: $2.49
Aldi: $21.19
- 80% Ground beef chuck: $5.79/lb
- Kraft American cheese slices, 24-count: $4.68
- Hamburger buns, 8-count: $1.19
- Head of iceberg lettuce: $2.55
- Beefsteak tomatoes: $1.95 for bag of two
- Ketchup, 20 oz: $1.79
- Yellow mustard, 20 oz: $0.95
- Bread and butter pickle chips, 24oz: $2.29
Lidl: $20.39
- Ground beef chuck, 1 lb: $7.99
- American cheese slices, 16-count: $1.75
- Hamburger buns, 8-count: $1.19
- Head of iceberg lettuce: $2.29
- Beefsteak tomatoes: $2.15
- Ketchup, 20 oz: $1.49
- Yellow mustard, 20 oz: $0.98
- Bread and butter pickle chips:$2.55
