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Food Lion vs Safeway: Which Is Cheaper?

As of September 17, 2026, Food Lion is cheaper. You'd pay about 20% less for the same groceries at Food Lion than at Safeway.

The breakdown — 6,424 products compared

  • Food Lion: cheaper on 5,255 items — overall winner on average price
  • Safeway: beats Food Lion on 718 items — but loses overall
  • Same price: 451 items

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

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Estimated savings

  • Average prices: $4.75 at Food Lion vs $5.94 at Safeway
  • Basket savings: save about $23.80 on a 20-item basket at Food Lion ($1.19 less per item)

Calculated by multiplying the average $1.19 price difference by a standard 20-item grocery trip.

Cheaper by aisle

  • Food Lion: cheaper on frozen (26%), meat (24%), ready meals (23%), pantry (22%), dairy (21%), bakery (20%), beverages (20%), snacks (14%), baby foods (7%)

Food Lion comes out cheaper in every aisle compared.

Cheaper in Food Lion

Ingredient score C
Martha White Wild Berry Muffin Mix, 7 oz

Martha White Wild Berry Muffin Mix, 7 oz

$1.25Food Lion
$2.50Safeway
Ingredient score C
Coca-Cola Soda Soft Drink 6 pk Bottles, 16.9 oz

Coca-Cola Soda Soft Drink 6 pk Bottles, 16.9 oz

$4.00Food Lion
$8.00Safeway
Ingredient score B
Fanta Orange Soda Bottles 16.9 oz 6 Pack

Fanta Orange Soda Bottles 16.9 oz 6 Pack

$4.00Food Lion
$8.00Safeway
Ingredient score AB
Knorr Pasta Sides Chicken Broccoli, 4.2 oz

Knorr Pasta Sides Chicken Broccoli, 4.2 oz

$1.25Food Lion
$2.50Safeway
Ingredient score B
Knorr Rice Sides Cajun Chicken Flavor Rice & Pasta Blend 5.8 oz 5.8 oz Bag

Knorr Rice Sides Cajun Chicken Flavor Rice & Pasta Blend 5.8 oz 5.8 oz Bag

$1.25Food Lion
$2.50Safeway
Ingredient score AB
Sprite Lemon-lime Caffeine Free Soda Bottles

Sprite Lemon-lime Caffeine Free Soda Bottles

$4.00Food Lion
$8.00Safeway

Cheaper in Safeway

Ingredient score B
Sour Patch Kids Red White & Blue Soft & Chewy Candy 1 lb 12.8 oz

Sour Patch Kids Red White & Blue Soft & Chewy Candy 1 lb 12.8 oz

$5.50Safeway
$10.99Food Lion
Ingredient score C
M&m's M&m's Peanut Red White & Blue Summer Candy 10.05 oz

M&m's M&m's Peanut Red White & Blue Summer Candy 10.05 oz

$3.50Safeway
$6.49Food Lion
Ingredient score B
Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Caramel Candy Bars - 8.4 oz 6ct

Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Caramel Candy Bars - 8.4 oz 6ct

$5.00Safeway
$8.99Food Lion
Ingredient score C
M&M'S Milk Chocolate Candy - Share Size, 3.14 oz

M&M'S Milk Chocolate Candy - Share Size, 3.14 oz

$1.67Safeway
$2.99Food Lion
Ingredient score C
M&m's Peanut Milk Chocolate Candy Share Size 3.27 oz Bag 3.27 oz

M&m's Peanut Milk Chocolate Candy Share Size 3.27 oz Bag 3.27 oz

$1.67Safeway
$2.99Food Lion
Ingredient score B
Jolly Rancher Blue Raspberry & Cherry Ropes, 10 oz

Jolly Rancher Blue Raspberry & Cherry Ropes, 10 oz

$2.75Safeway
$4.79Food Lion

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

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