Azure Standard vs the Grocery Store: A Cost Comparison Analysis

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I talk quite a lot about Azure here on the blog, so I thought it was about time I worked on a cost comparison. Is it even worth it to order from Azure? What are the hidden costs?

Why This Comparison Matters Right Now

With rising grocery store prices and shrinking packages sides, I think that all of us are looking to stretch a buck right now when it comes to our grocery budgets.

I believe that pantry staples (basics like flours, oats, sugar, beans, etc) have the biggest long-term savings, not to mention they can be healthier, so that’s what we are going to focus on in this article. If you want to learn more about building a frugal pantry, read this article: Basic Staples for Every Frugal Pantry.

These staples are used in all of my from-scratch baking and cooking from the pantry! They also help me cook and be able to buy in bulk without waste.

So today, I’m going to dive into a fair comparison of the prices from Azure as well as the prices from a standard grocery store, and also from Walmart on comparative items. I’ve actually never done this before until writing this article, so I think this will be informative for all of us!

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How This Cost Comparison Was Calculated

I will do this comparison in price per pound, per ounce, or per unit, whatever makes sense for the item I’m comparing. I will be comparing from my stores I have access to, Azure, Albertsons, and Walmart. I’m not including any sale prices or coupon discounts, nor any membership fees (none of them have any).

Also note that these prices were calculated using Wyoming prices. Prices may vary by location. My Azure drop location also has to add 8.5% for shipping but not all drop locations do.

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Organic Flour Cost Comparison

All-Purpose Flour

• Azure: $1.04/lb (Azure Brand – 25lb bag)
• Albertsons: $1.40/lb (O Organics brand – 5lb bag)
• Walmart: $1.09/lb (Organic Great Value – 5lb bag)

Whole Wheat Flour

• Azure: $1.12/lb (Azure Brand – 50lb bag)
• Albertsons: $1.40/lb (O Organics Brand – 5lb bag)
• Walmart: n/a

Bread Flour

• Azure: $1.36/lb (Azure Brand – 50lb bag)
• Albertsons: $1.40/lb (O Organics Brand – 5lb bag)
• Walmart: $1.37/lb (Arrowhead Mills – 5lb bag)

Takeaways

• The flour at Azure is the best price per pound, but only by slim margins.
• Store flour in airtight buckets with gamma lids to maximize longevity.
• I personally buy my bread flour locally from Cowboy Country Milling and pay $0.57/lb but it is not organic.

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Organic Oats Cost Comparison

Rolled Oats

• Azure: $1.06lb (Azure Brand – 50lb bag)
• Albertsons: $2.40/lb (O Organics Brand – 42oz container)
• Walmart: $2.88/lb (Organic Great Value Brand – 18oz container)

Quick Oats

• Azure: $1.11/lb (Azure Brand – 50lb bag)
• Albertsons: $4.64/lb (Bob’s Red Mill Brand – 28oz bag)
• Walmart: n/a

Steel-Cut Oats

• Azure: $1.12/lb (Azure Brand – 50lb bag)
• Albertsons: $3.36/lb (O Organics Brand – 24oz container)
• Walmart: $3.52/lb (Bob’s Red Mill Brand – 24oz bag)

Takeaways & Tips

• The oats at Azure are the best price per pound by far, but you do have to buy a significantly larger amount.
• Store oats in airtight buckets with gamma lids for it to last the longest.
• I personally buy the non-organic oats from Azure. Quick oats are $0.61/lb and Rolled Oats are also $0.61/lb. We don’t use steel cut at this time.

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Organic Sugar Cost Comparison

White Sugar

• Azure: $1.32/lb (Azure brand – 50lb bag)
• Albertsons: $2.59/lb (O Organics brand – 32oz bag)
• Walmart: $1.44/lb (Organic Great Value brand – 4lb bag)

Brown Sugar

• Azure: $2.35/lb (Azure brand – 5lb bag)
• Albertsons: $4.96/lb (Wholesome Sweeteners brand – 20oz bag)
• Walmart: $3.20/lb (Wholesome Sweeteners brand – 20oz bag)

Takeaways & Tips

• The sugar from Azure is the best price per pound. They do have a cheaper brown sugar, but I stuck with the 5lb bag as I wouldn’t recommend buying more than that at a time.
• Store white sugar in an airtight container with a gamma lid.
• Don’t store more brown sugar than you can use up in a month or it will get hard.
• I buy the organic sugar in the 50lb bag from Azure. I’ve been making my own brown sugar by mixing 1 cup of sugar with 1 tablespoon of molasses.

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Organic Dry Beans & Legumes Cost Comparison

Pinto Beans

• Azure: $1.77/lb (Azure brand – 25lb bag)
• Albertsons: $3.99/lb (O Organics brand – 1lb bag)
• Walmart: n/a

Black Beans

• Azure: $1.40/lb (Azure brand – 25lb bag)
• Albertsons: $3.99/lb (O Organics brand – 1lb bag)
• Walmart: n/a

Lentils (Red)

• Azure: $1.76/lb (Azure brand – 25lb bag)
• Albertsons: $3.99/lb (O Organics brand – 1lb bag)
• Walmart: n/a

Takeaways & Tips

• The beans at Azure are the best price per pound. Walmart does not have dried beans, only canned.
• Store dried beans in an airtight container with a gamma lid.
• For quicker cooking, can your dried beans.
• I buy the non-organic pinto beans from Azure at $1.65/lb, the non-organic black turtle beans for $1.29/lb, and the non-organic red lentils at $1.51/lb. Although after doing this comparison I’m going to switch to the organic versions since they are only pennies more now.

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Other Baking & Pantry Staples Worth Comparing

Baking Powder

• Azure: $6.10/lb (Azure Brand – 1lb bag)
• Albertsons: no aluminum free brands
• Walmart: $6.24/lb (Rumford – 8.1oz container)

Baking Soda

• Azure: $1.60/lb (Azure brand – 5lb bag)
• Albertsons: $1.28/lb (Signature brand – 16oz)
• Walmart: $0.92/lb (Great Value brand – 16oz)

Yeast

• Azure: $6.44/lb (Azure brand – 2lb bag)
• Albertsons: $23.20/lb (Red Star brand – 4oz)
• Walmart: $21.92/lb (Fleischmanns – 4oz container)

Cocoa Powder

• Azure: $11.24/lb (Azure brand – 5lbs)
• Albertsons: $7.98/lb (Signature brand – 8oz, not organic but non-gmo)
• Walmart: $12.36/lb (Organic Great Value brand – 8oz bag)

Cornstarch

• Azure: $8.17/lb (Azure brand – 5lb bag)
• Albertsons: $3.52/lb (Bob’s Red Mill – 18oz bag, not organic)
• Walmart: n/a

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When Azure Standard Makes Sense (And When It Doesn’t)

Azure is best for:

• From-scratch bakers
• Large families
• Pantry cooking households
• Monthly or seasonal stock-ups

Grocery store may be better for:

• Very small households
• Emergency one-off items
• Some baking goods where organic is not important
• Limited storage space

Table for Comparison

If you are a table reading person, you will find this comparison chart easier to read!

Category	Product	Azure Standard	Albertsons	Walmart
Flour	All-Purpose Flour	$1.04/lb (Azure – 25 lb bag)	$1.40/lb (O Organics – 5 lb bag)	$1.09/lb (Organic Great Value – 5 lb bag)
	Whole Wheat Flour	$1.12/lb (Azure – 50 lb bag)	$1.40/lb (O Organics – 5 lb bag)	n/a
	Bread Flour	$1.36/lb (Azure – 50 lb bag)	$1.40/lb (O Organics – 5 lb bag)	$1.37/lb (Arrowhead Mills – 5 lb bag)
Oats	Rolled Oats	$1.06/lb (Azure – 50 lb bag)	$2.40/lb (O Organics – 42 oz container)	$2.88/lb (Organic Great Value – 18 oz container)
	Quick Oats	$1.11/lb (Azure – 50 lb bag)	$4.64/lb (Bob’s Red Mill – 28 oz bag)	n/a
	Steel-Cut Oats	$1.12/lb (Azure – 50 lb bag)	$3.36/lb (O Organics – 24 oz container)	$3.52/lb (Bob’s Red Mill – 24 oz bag)
Sugar	White Sugar	$1.32/lb (Azure – 50 lb bag)	$2.59/lb (O Organics – 32 oz bag)	$1.44/lb (Organic Great Value – 4 lb bag)
	Brown Sugar	$2.35/lb (Azure – 5 lb bag)	$4.96/lb (Wholesome Sweeteners – 20 oz bag)	$3.20/lb (Wholesome Sweeteners – 20 oz bag)
Beans & Legumes	Pinto Beans	$1.77/lb (Azure – 25 lb bag)	$3.99/lb (O Organics – 1 lb bag)	n/a
	Black Beans	$1.40/lb (Azure – 25 lb bag)	$3.99/lb (O Organics – 1 lb bag)	n/a
	Red Lentils	$1.76/lb (Azure – 25 lb bag)	$3.99/lb (O Organics – 1 lb bag)	n/a
Baking Staples	Baking Powder	$6.10/lb (Azure – 1 lb bag)	n/a	$6.24/lb (Rumford – 8.1 oz)
	Baking Soda	$1.60/lb (Azure – 5 lb bag)	$1.28/lb (Signature – 16 oz)	$0.92/lb (Great Value – 16 oz)
	Yeast	$6.44/lb (Azure – 2 lb bag)	$23.20/lb (Red Star – 4 oz)	$21.92/lb (Fleischmann’s – 4 oz)
	Cocoa Powder	$11.24/lb (Azure – 5 lb bag)	$7.98/lb (Signature – 8 oz, non-GMO)	$12.36/lb (Organic Great Value – 8 oz)
	Cornstarch	$8.17/lb (Azure – 5 lb bag)	$3.52/lb (Bob’s Red Mill – 18 oz, non-organic)	n/a

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So Which Option Makes the Most Sense?

I would say it depends on what your shopping needs are. If you have a large family, prefer to buy all organic, don’t want to support mega corporations, or even just want less packaging waste, Azure could be the answer for you.

Just remember, even switching out where you buy a few basic staples each year to a lower-priced version can save a LOT!

If you already bake from scratch, price comparison shopping is one of the easiest savings wins.

My Favorite Storage Containers and Tools

Here are some of the things I use (shown in the pictures!) on a daily basis.

• Long Handled Measuring Spoons
• Food Safe Buckets
• Gamma Lids
• Gallon Glass Jars
• Half Gallon Mason Jars
• Lids for Gallon Jars
• Plastic Jar Lids for Wide Mouth Jars

Exclusive Azure Discount Code for Little House Living Readers

Shop for Azure Standard products by clicking my link here. Create your free account to get started, and as an added bonus, use my promo code LITTLEHOUSE15 at checkout to receive 15% off your first order. This 15% off promotion is exclusively available to new customers.

To qualify, customers must create a new Azure account and place a minimum order of $100 or more in products, shipped to a drop location of their choice. The promo code LITTLEHOUSE15 must be entered at checkout. This offer expires on December 31, 2026, unless extended.

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More Things to Read

• A Beginners Guide to Azure Standard: Everything to Know
• My Biggest Ever Azure Order (What I got and how we use it!)
• Simple Pantry Organization Ideas for Small Spaces
• Pantry Needs and Stockpiling Enough (Plus Printable!)
• Staples That Should Be in Every Frugal Pantry

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