This Halloween, Americans may spend around $4.6 billion on Halloween candy. That’s around 12.5% of the nation’s annual candy budget. But with the global “cocoa crisis” and the rising bills associated with the present tariff policy, kids and ghouls alike may find themselves the victims of shrinkflation — smaller bars and packets for the same price. How can you meet expectations without exceeding your budget? And who sells the cheapest Halloween candy in Arizona?

One recent survey of 2,000 Americans found that 52% are planning to spend less on Halloween candy this year, estimating an average spend of $58 on candy. But, while others recommend switching from candy to chips to keep Halloween costs down, candy has been the norm for well over half a century (following over 1,000 years of candy alternatives such as fruit, nuts, coins and toys), and it is still possible to meet expectations if you know where to shop. Researchers found that candy is 23.16% cheaper at Target than at other stores in Arizona.

To help consumers save, CashNetUSA checked the prices at over 2,000 grocery stores to identify which store sells branded candy the cheapest in each state and major city. And they found that savings of up to 43% are possible when comparing local prices at the cheapest stores against the national average. Read on to find out the most affordable candy option near you — and to avoid a big (price) shock this Halloween.

Key Findings

• Target is the cheapest place for Halloween candy in 20 states — the most of any store.

• New York City’s cheapest candy is found at America’s Food Basket, where it costs 20.73% less than the national average.

• The cheapest grocery chain in LA for Halloween candy is Grocery Outlet, which is 35.21% below average.

• Grocery Outlet is also the cheapest nationally, with Halloween candy costing on average 43.50% less than the national average.

The Methodology Behind This Study

To discover the most affordable grocery stores for Halloween candy by state and city, CashNetUSA explored grocery prices from more than 2,000 stores across America.