Schnucks vs Dierbergs: Who is Cheaper?
Schnucks is a small grocery store chain with 111 stores in 4 states in the Midwest. Dierbergs is a regional grocery store only in Missouri with about 26 stores.
To determine if Schnucks or Dierbergs is cheaper for groceries, we will do a side-by-side price comparison of a week’s worth of groceries. Scroll to the end to see the final verdict!
Is Schnucks cheaper than Dierbergs?
For this price comparison, I have made a meal plan for a family of 4 using “25 Cheap food that fills you up when you are broke!” as a guide. Our plan is to get groceries for a week that are healthy and cheap!
Here is our meal plan:
Breakfasts
- Mini Muffins with Extra Banana
- Cottage Cheese with Canned Peaches
- Eggies in a Basket with strawberries
- Rice Krispie Cereal with milk and Bananas
Lunches
- Bacon Turkey Sandwiches with Tortilla Chips
- Caesar Pasta Salad with leftover Parmesan Chicken
- Ham and Egg Salad sandwiches with Carrot Sticks
- Dinner Leftovers
Dinners
- Potato Soup with Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, and Broccoli
- Smothered Chicken and Rice with Side Salad
- Ham, Cheese & Spinach Pasta with Garlic Bread
- Garlic Butter Shrimp over Rice with Sauteed Carrots
- Chicken Fajita Bake with Corn & Black Beans
- Caesar Chicken with Potato Wedges and Green Beans
Snacks
- Carrot and Caesar Dressing
- Hard Boiled Eggs or Deviled Eggs
- Chips and Salsa
- Turkey and Cheese Rollups
Sweet Treat
- Rice Krispie Treats
For this price comparison, I am using prices available in Florissant, Missouri. I will be selecting items for our meal plan that are the absolute cheapest.
This means mostly generic store brand options and the smallest size needed. This may not be the best value, but we are going for the cheapest option.
We are assuming that we already have kitchen basics like cooking oil, seasonings, salt/pepper, and baking powder at home. Everything else needed for the meal plan will need to be purchased.
For a more in depth break down on how I would make this meal plan work, check out “Healthy Grocery List for Family of 4 on a Budget #9.”
Produce Section
This is all the fresh vegetables and fruits we need for the week.
| Item | Schnucks Price | Dierbergs Price |
| Banana x 5 | $0.21 each= $1.05 | $0.39 each= $1.95 |
| Strawberries | 1lb container= $3.89 | 1 lb container= $4.49 |
| Tomato (x1) | Hydroponic= $1.07 each | Beefsteak= $1.29 each |
| Lettuce | 1 head Iceberg= $1.99 | 1 head iceberg= $2.29 |
| Lemon (x1) | $1.64 each | $0.79 each |
| Potatoes | 5lb bag of Russets= $3.99 | 5lb bag of Russets= $4.59 |
| Fresh Garlic | Bag of 3= $2.69 | $0.79 each |
| Carrots | 1lb bag= $0.99 | 1lb bag= $1.19 |
| Bell Pepper x1 | Green= $0.84 each | Green= $0.89 each |
| Total: (9 items) | $18.15 | $18.27 |
In the produce section, Schnucks came out cheaper with a total of $18.15. This was $0.12 cheaper than Dierbergs total of $18.27.
Deli/Meats
This is all the meats that we will need from the deli and meat counter.
| Item | Schnucks Price | Dierbergs Price |
| Bacon | Farmland 16oz pack= $3.99 *on sale* | Smithfield 12oz pack= $6.89 |
| Turkey Lunchmeat | Buddig 9oz pack= $3.99 | Oscar Mayer 16oz pack= $4.59 |
| Chicken Breasts (need 6) | Schnuck’s Skinless Breasts $3.59 a lb (5.54 lbs)= $19.89 | Bell & Evans Split Breast $5.69 a lb (5lbs) = $28.45 |
| Ham Steaks | Hatfield 8oz pack= $3.89 | Field K L 8oz pack= $3.89 |
| Shrimp | 1lb Shrimp Cooked from seafood counter= $6.74 *on sale* | 12 oz frozen Salad Shrimp= $11.99 |
| Total: (5 items) | $38.50 | $55.81 |
In the meat section, Schnucks came out cheaper with a total of $38.50. This was $17.31 cheaper than Dierberg’s total of $55.81.
Dry Goods
This is all the dry goods and shelf stable items that we need for our meal plan.
| Item | Schnucks Price | Dierbergs Price |
| Muffin Mix | Martha White Blueberry 7oz bag= $1.25 *on sale* | Jiffy Blueberry 7oz box= $1.39 |
| Canned peaches | Schnuck’s 14.5oz can= $1.89 | Libby’s 14.5oz can= $2.29 |
| Sandwich bread | Schnuck’s 20oz white bread= $1.24 | Essential Everyday 20oz white bread= $1.69 |
| Rice Krispie Cereal | Schnuck’s 12oz box= $2.79 | Essential Everyday 12oz box= $3.19 |
| Marshmallows | Schnuck’s 10.5oz bag= $1.39 | Essential Everyday 10oz bag= $1.89 |
| Caesar Dressing | Schnuck’s 16oz bottle= $2.59 | Ken’s 16oz bottle= $4.59 |
| French Bread Loaf | 15oz loaf= $1.74 | 1 loaf= $3.09 |
| Mayonnaise | Kraft 15oz jar= $2.69 | Kraft 15oz jar= $2.89 |
| Canned green beans | Schnuck’s 14.5oz can= $0.79 | Dierbergs 14.5oz can= $1.09 |
| White Rice | Schnuck’s 1lb bag= $1.24 | Essential Everyday 1lb bag= $1.39 |
| Cream of Chicken Soup | Schnuck’s 10.5oz can= $0.94 | Essential Everyday 10.5oz can= $1.69 |
| Canned Corn | Schnuck’s 15.25 oz can= $0.79 | Dierbergs 15.25 oz can= $1.09 |
| Canned Black Beans | Schnuck’s 15.25oz can= $0.89 | Essential Everyday 15.25oz can= $1.19 |
| Salsa | Schnuck’s 16oz jar= $2.09 | Garden Fresh 16oz container= $2.89 |
| Taco Seasoning | Schnuck’s 1.25oz pack= $0.89 | Taco Bell 1oz pack= $0.99 |
| Tortilla Chips | Schnuck’s 13oz bag= $1.99 | Santitas 11oz bag= $2.29 |
| Pasta | Racconto 16oz Penne = $1.29 *on sale* | Creamette 16oz penne= $1.49 |
| Total: (17 items) | $26.49 | $35.13 |
In the dry goods section, Schnucks came out cheaper with a total of $26.49. This was $8.64 cheaper than Dierbergs total of $35.13.
Frozen Foods
These are the frozen items needed for this week’s meal plan.
| Item | Schnucks Price | Dierbergs Price |
| Frozen Broccoli | Schnuck’s 10oz bag= $1.24 | Essential Everyday 12oz bag= $2.99 |
| Frozen Spinach | Green Giant 9oz box= $1.84 | Bird’s Eye 10oz box= $2.29 |
| Total: (2 items) | $3.08 | $5.28 |
In the frozen section, Schnucks came out cheaper with a total of $3.08. This was $2.20 cheaper than Dierbergs total of $5.28.
Dairy Section
These are all the dairy items needed like milk and cheeses.
| Item | Schnucks Price | Dierbergs Price |
| Cottage Cheese | Schnuck’s 16oz container= $2.49 | Prairie Farms 16oz container= $3.09 |
| Eggs | Schnuck’s 12ct white= $3.79 | Dierbergs 12ct white= $4.49 |
| Milk | Schnuck’s gallon= $3.79 | Dierberg’s gallon= $3.89 |
| Butter | Schnuck’s 1lb= $4.59 | Dierbergs 1lb= $4.59 |
| Parmesan cheese | Schnuck’s 6oz bag= $2.79 | Borden 5oz bag= $3.79 |
| Cheddar Cheese (16oz) | Schnuck’s 16oz bag= $4.99 | Kraft 8oz bag x2= $6.00 *on sale* |
| Cream Cheese | Schnuck’s 8oz= $2.39 | Philadelphia 8oz= $3.00 |
| Total: (7 items) | $24.83 | $28.85 |
In the dairy section, Schnucks came out cheaper with a total of $24.83. This was $4.02 cheaper than Dierbergs total of $28.85.
Is Dierbergs or Schnucks more expensive?
Schnuck’s came out cheaper in every section of the store. Let’s look at the overall totals.
| Section | Schnucks Price | Dierbergs Price |
| Produce | $18.15 | $18.27 |
| Deli/Meats | $38.50 | $55.81 |
| Dry Goods | $26.49 | $35.13 |
| Frozen Foods | $3.08 | $5.28 |
| Dairy | $24.83 | $28.85 |
| Overall Total: (40 items) | $111.05 | $143.34 |
Overall Schnucks came out cheaper than Dierbergs with a total of $111.05. This is $32.29 (about 22%) cheaper than Dierberg’s total of $143.34.
Schnuck’s pretty much blew Dierbergs out of the water. Their sales prices were better and so was their regular prices.
To save more at Schnuck’s I would focus on their weekly sales ads to make my meal plan. I would also stock up on good priced deals like the bacon and shrimp so we have it later on.
For more grocery store price comparisons, check out “Shaw’s vs Stop & Shop: Who is Cheaper?” and “Hy-Vee vs Cub Foods: Who is Cheaper?“
