Where To Buy Common Household Items In NYC For The Lowest Price

Shopping for household necessities in New York City can be daunting and expensive.

There's a seemingly endless number of drug stores, grocery stores, bodegas, and online marketplaces to choose from, but they all seem to charge more than your average suburban supermarket.

Where you shop in New York really does matter.

We've compared prices on common household items from three New York City retailers - Duane Reade, Food Emporium, and Bed Bath & Beyondm and one online retailer, Soap.com.

The not-so-obvious option - Bed Bath & Beyond - seems to be the cheapest in nearly every category. Soap.com's prices were comparable, but the site charges $5.99 for shipping on orders under $35.

The items we included in this survey were an average of 36% cheaper at Bed Bath & Beyond. Popular grocery store Food Emporium was most expensive, followed by Duane Reade.

Tide liquid deterge

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nt, 50 oz. (32 loads)

Duane Reade: $11.99
Food Emporium: $10.99
Soap.com: $8.99
Bed Bath & Beyond: $8.99

Tide detergent pods, 18 loads

Duane Reade: $6.49
Food Emporium: $6.29
Soap.com: $7.79
Bed Bath & Beyond: $5.99

Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste, 5.8 oz.

Duane Reade: $5.49
Food Emporium: $5.49
Soap.com: $4.25
Bed Bath & Beyond: $3.39

Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal shampoo, 12.6 oz.

Duane Reade: $4.99
Food Emporium: $6.99
Soap.com: $4.99
Bed Bath & Beyond: $3.99

Soap.com

Dove Men+Care 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, 12 oz.

Duane Reade: $5.99
Food Emporium: none in stock
Soap.com: $4.99
Bed Bath & Beyond: $3.99

Degree invisible solid deodorant, 2.6 oz.

Duane Reade: $4.59
Food Emporium: $4.99
Soap.com: $3.79
Bed Bath & Beyond: $2.99

Opti-Free Replenish contact solution, 10 oz.

Duane Reade: $13.99
Food Emporium: $15.99
Soap.com: $12.95
Bed Bath & Beyond: $8.99

Clorox all-purpose cleaner, 32 oz.

Duane Reade: $5.49
Food Emporium: $6.49
Soap.com: $4.89
Bed Bath & Beyond: $3.99

Drano clog remover, 32 oz.

(Note: Duane Reade and Food Emporium stocked Drano Max Gel, but did not carry the regular formula Liquid Clog Remover, which is usually cheaper.)

Duane Reade: $8.49 (Max Gel)
Food Emporium: $7.49 (Max Gel)
Soap.com: $4.55 (Liquid)
Bed Bath & Beyond: $3.99 (Liquid)

Soap.com

Softsoap moisturizing body wash, 18 oz.

Duane Reade: $6.49
Food Emporium: $7.49
Soap.com: $5.45
Bed Bath & Beyond: $3.99

Clorox disinfecting wipes, 35 count

Duane Reade: $4.49
Food Emporium: $4.49
Soap.com: $4.49 (75 count - no 35 count in stock)
Bed Bath & Beyond: $2.99

Swiffer Sweeper wet cloth refill, 12 count

Duane Reade: $6.99
Food Emporium: $7.49
Soap.com: $6.49
Bed Bath & Beyond: $4.99

Clorox toilet bowl cleaner with bleach, 24 oz.

Duane Reade: $3.99
Food Emporium: $3.29
Soap.com: $4.35
Bed Bath & Beyond: $2.49

Dial bar soap, 3 pack

Duane Reade: $3.49
Food Emporium: $4.19
Soap.com: $5.95 for 8 (does not stock 3 pack)
Bed Bath & Beyond: $2.29

For this survey, we visited the Duane Reade at 20th Street and Park Ave. South, the Food Emporium at 14th Street in Union Square, and the Bed Bath & Beyond at 18th Street and 6th Avenue. Prices may vary by location.