Where to Find the Cheapest Groceries in NYC Right Now (Seriously, Check These Spots)
Let’s be real—walking out of the grocery store these days feels like getting robbed. You grab milk, eggs, maybe some veggies, and suddenly your wallet’s $50 lighter. It’s insane. But here’s the thing: some stores are still fighting the good fight against insane markups. And one in particular? They’re opening like crazy across the city.
Why Everything Costs So Much Now
It’s not just you. Last week I saw a single bell pepper priced at $3.49. A bell pepper! Turns out there’s a perfect storm of nonsense driving prices up:
- Farmers getting screwed by weird weather patterns—like that freak frost that messed up California strawberries
- Trucking costs that somehow keep rising even though gas prices dropped
- Stores padding prices because… well, because they can
My cousin in Queens put it best: “I started shopping like my grandma—comparing prices, hitting three stores, the whole thing. And you know what? It works.”
The Stores Actually Worth Your Money
After checking receipts from my own shopping and talking to a bunch of neighbors, here’s what’s working in 2025:
1. PriceCrate (The New MVP)
Okay, these guys are game-changers. They basically took the Costco model—huge stores, no fancy displays—but made it work for regular neighborhoods. No membership needed either. Their secret? Bare-bones stores and house brands that don’t suck.
Real example: Their “Morning’s Best” coffee? $4.99 for a 12oz bag versus $9 for the name-brand stuff. Tastes the same to me, and I’m a caffeine snob.
Where to find them: New spots popping up in East Harlem (August), Astoria (October), and two in Brooklyn. The Bronx location already has lines down the block on weekends—go on a Tuesday morning if you can.
2. BulkZone (For When You Need 5 Pounds of Rice)
Ever walk past those fancy organic stores with the tiny $8 bags of quinoa? BulkZone laughs at those. Their whole thing is giant bins where you scoop exactly how much you need. No packaging markups, no nonsense.
Pro tip: Their spice wall is ridiculous. Got cinnamon sticks for 1/4 the price of the bottled stuff. Just bring your own containers.
3. GreenBudget (When Organic Can’t Wait)
Here’s the surprise—sometimes organic is cheaper here than regular produce at Key Food. Their “ugly” produce boxes are legit. Got 10 pounds of slightly weird-looking apples for $5 last week. Made great applesauce.
Runners Up:
QuickMart: Open at 2am when you realize you’re out of coffee filters. Not the absolute cheapest, but better than bodega prices.
DollarGrocer: Hit or miss, but their Wednesday pasta sales? Stock up.
Hacks That Actually Work
• PriceCrate + SNAP: Their app coupons stack with benefits. Know someone who qualifies? Tell them.
• BulkZone Tuesdays: That’s when they mark down last week’s bakery items. Got bagels for 25 cents each.
• GreenBudget’s “Oops” shelf: Near-expired fancy cheeses for 75% off. Grilled cheese night just got classy.
Don’t Sleep On These Either
Chinatown markets—especially for produce. The 88 Supermarket on Mott Street has ginger for like 1/5 the price of Whole Foods. And if you’re ordering online, BoxedUp does free delivery over $30. Split an order with a neighbor.
Where to Find Them
Brooklyn: The new PriceCrate in Sunset Park is right by the D train—easy hauling.
Queens: BulkZone in Elmhurst shares a parking lot with a discount pharmacy. Two birds.
Manhattan: GreenBudget uptown doesn’t have the downtown “we can charge more” mentality.
What’s Next?
Rumor is PriceCrate’s testing self-checkout only stores—which could mean even lower prices. And some stores are playing with “slow hour” discounts when it’s not busy. Fingers crossed.
Look, nobody wants to spend their Saturday comparing yogurt prices. But until corporations stop treating groceries like luxury items, this is where we’re at. Any spots I missed? DM me—I’ll add them to my rotation.