When I read a recent ranking of America’s most expensive grocery stores, my first thought was: Where is Gelson’s? Where is Erewhon? Whole Foods often gets labeled “Whole Paycheck,” but for specialty shoppers like me, Erewhon is in a pricey league of its own. I shop weekly at Costco, Sprouts, and Whole Foods, with occasional trips to Ralphs, following a gluten-free, vegan diet that includes egg whites (ovo-vegetarian, if you want to get technical) and buying only organic produce. Lately, Sprouts’ vegan cheese selections have thinned out, and unsweetened vanilla almond vegan yogurt is nowhere to be found. Costco is stocking less organic fruit. What does that mean for someone trying, or needing, to stick to a specialty diet on a budget? Whole Foods is not only the most dependable option, but when I catch the right sales (including occasional Prime member deals), it’s sometimes the most economical.

For those consuming a specialty diet, especially in Southern California, here’s a locale-specific grocery hierarchy:

  • Whole Foods offers a dependably large variety of specialty diet options, with rotating sales and specials every week.
  • Sprouts offers some variety, but availability can be unreliable.
  • Ralphs covers staples (gluten-free and vegan cereals, waffles, etc.).
  • Gelson’s offers lesser variety than Sprouts, while sitting firmly in the premium pricing tier.
  • Erewhon exists in an entirely different stratosphere, for those who don’t need to check prices.

Navigating this hierarchy has become as much about strategy as it is about diet, and for anyone with special dietary needs, knowing where to shop can make all the difference.

Rankings that average prices across categories are useful, but for gluten-free, vegan, and organic shoppers, the real ‘most expensive’ store is often the one that forces you into last‑minute, full‑price substitutions.