For more than a year, one Portland, Oregon grocery tracker watched the same store win the price race again and again. Then September 2026 arrived and the winner changed. Creator @stumptownsavings says that for the first 13 months of his tracking, WinCo Foods was the cheapest grocery store he follows in Portland, every single month. Last month, WinCo lost its crown by 21 cents.
How the Tracking Works
According to the creator, each month he records the lowest price on the same 20 groceries at 20 different stores around Portland. He then adds up each store’s basket to see who comes out on top. Because he uses the same list every time, the results show how prices move from month to month, and which store stays cheapest.
The Surprise Winner
In September, he says, the Hollywood Grocery Outlet came in at $52.12 for the entire basket. WinCo’s total was $52.33. That is the first time any store has beaten WinCo in his tracker.
He is careful to add some context. Grocery Outlet is a close out store, which means its products and prices change often, and each location is independently operated. He cautions that not every Portland Grocery Outlet would have beaten WinCo. In other words, the win belongs to that one store in that one month, not to the whole chain.
Other Price Moves in September
- Ground beef: The bad news. He says ground beef hit a record in his tracker at an average of $7.99 a pound.
- Butter: Better news. He says it is the cheapest it has been since February.
- Eggs: The cheapest dozen he found was $1.29 at Grocery Outlet.
- Amazon Fresh: New to the list this month, it came in as the fifth cheapest of the 20 stores, still behind WinCo, Grocery Outlet and Walmart.
He notes that butter and eggs are at or approaching record lows just in time for fall baking, which is welcome news for anyone planning pies and holiday cookies.
What Shoppers Said
The comments gave a nice reality check. One viewer said Grocery Outlet is not reliable for having everything on your list, but when it does, the price is great, while WinCo is reliable. Another said they would happily pay extra to shop at an employee owned store. A third pointed out that Grocery Outlet specializes in close out foods, some near their expiration dates, so grab deals when you see them. One more commenter noted that it is fine if you are comfortable with groceries that expire in a few days.
Run Your Own Price Check
You do not need 20 stores to learn something useful. A simple version of this experiment can help any family find the best deal near home. These are general ideas, and your results will depend on your area.
- Build a short list. Pick 10 to 20 items your household buys every week, such as eggs, milk, bread, butter, ground beef and a few pantry staples.
- Compare the same sizes. Use unit prices, such as price per ounce or per pound, so a larger package does not fool you.
- Track it in one place. A notebook or a phone note is enough. Write down the store, the date and the price.
- Repeat monthly. Prices shift, as the September results show. A store that was cheapest last season may not be this one.
- Weigh convenience. A cheaper basket is great, but gas, time and a longer drive can eat the savings.
Using Close Out Stores Smartly
Close out and discount grocers can offer real savings, but their stock changes, so they work best as a supplement to a regular store. Many shoppers use them for pantry items, snacks, baking supplies and other items they can use soon. Check dates on perishable items, buy only what you can use before it expires, and keep your regular store as a backup for the things you need every week.
The big lesson from the tracker is that the cheapest store can change, and that small gaps matter. A 21 cent difference on a basket of 20 items is tiny, which means the top spots are close. For families watching every dollar, a little comparison shopping might be worth a few minutes each month.
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