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Smart & Final vs Dollar General: Which Is Cheaper?

As of September 17, 2026, Dollar General is cheaper. You'd pay about 18% less for the same groceries at Dollar General than at Smart & Final.

The breakdown — 1,086 products compared

  • Dollar General: cheaper on 799 items — overall winner on average price
  • Smart & Final: beats Dollar General on 286 items — but loses overall
  • Same price: 1 items

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

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Estimated savings

  • Average prices: $3.92 at Dollar General vs $4.78 at Smart & Final
  • Basket savings: save about $17.20 on a 20-item basket at Dollar General (86¢ less per item)

Calculated by multiplying the average 86¢ price difference by a standard 20-item grocery trip.

Cheaper by aisle

  • Dollar General: cheaper on beverages (33%), pantry (13%), snacks (11%), meat (7%), dairy (6%), ready meals (4%), frozen (1%)

Dollar General comes out cheaper in every aisle compared.

Cheaper in Smart & Final

Ingredient score C
General Mills Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs Cereal 11.5 oz

General Mills Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs Cereal 11.5 oz

$2.29Smart & Final
$3.85Dollar General
Ingredient score A
Green Seedless Grape - 1 Pound

Green Seedless Grape - 1 Pound

$2.99Smart & Final
$4.95Dollar General
Ingredient score C
Pop-tarts Frosted Strawberry Toaster Pastries

Pop-tarts Frosted Strawberry Toaster Pastries

$2.79Smart & Final
$4.35Dollar General
Ingredient score C
Pop-tarts Frosted S'mores Toaster Pastries

Pop-tarts Frosted S'mores Toaster Pastries

$2.79Smart & Final
$4.35Dollar General
Ingredient score C
Pop-tarts Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Toaster Pastries

Pop-tarts Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Toaster Pastries

$2.79Smart & Final
$4.35Dollar General
Ingredient score C
Hungry-Man Selects Classic Fried Chicken Frozen Meal, 16 oz

Hungry-Man Selects Classic Fried Chicken Frozen Meal, 16 oz

$3.59Smart & Final
$5.50Dollar General

Cheaper in Dollar General

Ingredient score C
Starkist Snack to Go Classic Tuna Salad Kit 3.6 oz Kit 3.28 oz

Starkist Snack to Go Classic Tuna Salad Kit 3.6 oz Kit 3.28 oz

$1.15Dollar General
$2.19Smart & Final
Ingredient score C
Vlasic Kosher Dill Baby Whole Pickles Keto Friendly 24 fl oz 24 fl oz

Vlasic Kosher Dill Baby Whole Pickles Keto Friendly 24 fl oz 24 fl oz

$2.95Dollar General
$5.39Smart & Final
Ingredient score B
Minute Maid Lemonade Bottle

Minute Maid Lemonade Bottle

$2.00Dollar General
$3.49Smart & Final
Ingredient score B
Fanta Orange Soda Soft Drink 2 L

Fanta Orange Soda Soft Drink 2 L

$2.00Dollar General
$3.49Smart & Final
Ingredient score B
Fanta Pineapple Soda Soft Drink 2 L

Fanta Pineapple Soda Soft Drink 2 L

$2.00Dollar General
$3.49Smart & Final
Ingredient score C
StarKist Tuna Creations Lemon Pepper Pouch

StarKist Tuna Creations Lemon Pepper Pouch

$1.15Dollar General
$1.99Smart & Final

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

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