Pay Less vs Tops Markets

Pay Less vs Tops Markets at a glance

• Pay Less is cheaper in all 9 aisles we compared.
• On the healthiest products (ingredient score A or AB), Pay Less is 13% cheaper.
• The same 15-product basket costs $56.93 at Pay Less and $64.35 at Tops Markets.

How far apart Pay Less and Tops Markets prices are

• Within 10%: 718 items
• 10% to 25% apart: 1,256 items
• More than 25% apart: 974 items
• Typical gap: 18.3% per item, where the prices differ

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  Biggest saving at Pay LessMcCafe Premium Roast Coffee, Single Serve Keurig K-Cup Pods, Medium Roast, 32 Count$21.99 vs $30.49 at Tops Markets — save $8.50

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  Biggest saving at Tops MarketsGreen Mountain Coffee Roaster Dark Magic Keurig Single-Serve K-Cup Pods, Dark Roast Coffee, 32 Count$12.49 vs $21.99 at Pay Less — save $9.50

The same basket at Pay Less and Tops Markets

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

Pay Less is $7.42 cheaper on this basket.

Pay Less vs Tops Markets prices by aisle

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

Pay Less vs Tops Markets 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: Pay Less vs Tops Markets

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

Ingredient score	Pay Less	Tops Markets	CheaperGap
Score A424 items	$3.73	$4.25	Pay Less · 12%
Score AB666 items	$4.14	$4.81	Pay Less · 14%
Score B934 items	$4.42	$5.07	Pay Less · 13%
Score C1,018 items	$5.06	$5.90	Pay Less · 14%

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