Tom Thumb vs Pay Less

Tom Thumb vs Pay Less at a glance

• Pay Less is cheaper in all 8 aisles we compared.
• On the healthiest products (ingredient score A or AB), Pay Less is 18% cheaper.
• The same 15-product basket costs $50.49 at Pay Less and $63.75 at Tom Thumb.

How far apart Tom Thumb and Pay Less prices are

• Within 10%: 852 items
• 10% to 25% apart: 2,416 items
• More than 25% apart: 1,739 items
• Typical gap: 20% per item, where the prices differ

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  Biggest saving at Tom ThumbSelect Boneless Flat Cut Corned Beef Brisket$13.99 vs $22.37 at Pay Less — save $8.38

• 

  Biggest saving at Pay LessMccafe Premium Roast Medium Roast K-cup Coffee Pods$29.99 vs $41.99 at Tom Thumb — save $12.00

The same basket at Tom Thumb and Pay Less

The 15 products carried by the most stores we track — no more than two from any aisle — priced at Tom Thumb and Pay Less.

Pay Less is $13.26 cheaper on this basket.

Tom Thumb vs Pay Less prices by aisle

Average price of the matched products in each aisle, biggest difference first.

Tom Thumb vs Pay Less on cheap and pricier items

The same products grouped by what they cost — a store can win on everyday basics and lose on bigger-ticket items, or the other way round.

Healthier groceries: Tom Thumb vs Pay Less

Matched products grouped by their Labeled ingredient score, from A (cleanest ingredients) to C.

Ingredient score	Tom Thumb	Pay Less	CheaperGap
Score A756 items	$5.88	$4.87	Pay Less · 17%
Score AB1,289 items	$6.05	$4.94	Pay Less · 18%
Score B1,612 items	$5.62	$4.66	Pay Less · 17%
Score C1,694 items	$7.08	$5.77	Pay Less · 19%

Scores come from the Labeled app, which grades each product's ingredients against research from the FDA, EFSA, WHO and others.