Compare stores

vs

Food Lion vs Dollar General: Which Is Cheaper?

As of September 17, 2026, Food Lion is barely cheaper. You'd pay about 2% less for the same groceries at Food Lion than at Dollar General.

The breakdown — 1,532 products compared

  • Food Lion: cheaper on 651 items — overall winner on average price
  • Dollar General: beats Food Lion on 828 items — but loses overall
  • Same price: 53 items

Food Lion wins overall — but not on every item. Download Labeled App and discover healthy foods for less.

Download on the App Store

Estimated savings

  • Average prices: $3.60 at Food Lion vs $3.66 at Dollar General
  • Basket savings: save about $1.20 on a 20-item basket at Food Lion (6¢ less per item)

Calculated by multiplying the average 6¢ price difference by a standard 20-item grocery trip.

Cheaper by aisle

  • Food Lion: cheaper on beverages (7%), ready meals (5%), meat (1%)
  • Dollar General: cheaper on pantry (6%), snacks (3%), bakery (1%), dairy (1%)

Compared across 7 aisles, each averaged separately.

Cheaper in Food Lion

Ingredient score C
Pepsi Cola Soda Bottles

Pepsi Cola Soda Bottles

$3.49Food Lion
$6.50Dollar General
Ingredient score B
Mountain Dew Soda Bottles

Mountain Dew Soda Bottles

$3.49Food Lion
$6.50Dollar General
Ingredient score C
Gorton's Breaded Fish Sticks

Gorton's Breaded Fish Sticks

$3.99Food Lion
$6.95Dollar General
Ingredient score C
Gorton's Crispy Battered Fish Fillets

Gorton's Crispy Battered Fish Fillets

$3.99Food Lion
$6.95Dollar General
Ingredient score C
Gerber Stage 3 Baby Snacks Banana Puffs Puffed Grain Snack Baby Led Feeding 1.48 oz

Gerber Stage 3 Baby Snacks Banana Puffs Puffed Grain Snack Baby Led Feeding 1.48 oz

$1.84Food Lion
$3.15Dollar General
Ingredient score C
Nissin Chow Mein Chicken Flavor Noodles, 4 oz

Nissin Chow Mein Chicken Flavor Noodles, 4 oz

$1.00Food Lion
$1.70Dollar General

Cheaper in Dollar General

Ingredient score C
Prairie Belt Smoked Sausages Made with Chicken & Pork

Prairie Belt Smoked Sausages Made with Chicken & Pork

$1.00Dollar General
$1.99Food Lion
Ingredient score AB
Polar Wild Caught Chunk Light Tuna in Water, 5 oz

Polar Wild Caught Chunk Light Tuna in Water, 5 oz

$1.00Dollar General
$1.97Food Lion
Ingredient score B
Stauffer's Cheddar Whales Crackers 7 oz

Stauffer's Cheddar Whales Crackers 7 oz

$1.25Dollar General
$2.19Food Lion
Ingredient score B
Mac's BBQ Flavored Fried Pork Skins, 3 oz

Mac's BBQ Flavored Fried Pork Skins, 3 oz

$1.50Dollar General
$2.49Food Lion
Ingredient score A
Mac's Original Fried Pork Skins 3 Ounces

Mac's Original Fried Pork Skins 3 Ounces

$1.50Dollar General
$2.49Food Lion
Ingredient score AB
Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Alaskan Pink Salmon in Spring Water Packet 2.5 oz

Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Alaskan Pink Salmon in Spring Water Packet 2.5 oz

$1.35Dollar General
$2.19Food Lion

Prices are periodic snapshots and may differ from your local store.

We are independent — stores don't pay us for placement.

All images, logos, and trademarks belong to their respective owners.