Grocery prices are soaring and, regardless of the impact of inflation, few of us are seeing our paychecks get any fatter. So the pressure is on to make the most of our money.

This means resisting impulse buys, digging up coupons (and coupon codes) and keeping informed about where the best sales are happening. It also means hitting up bargain retailers for our food staples, including Walmart. But is Walmart, in particular, always the smartest bet?

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In most scenarios, shopping for groceries and food at Walmart is a good idea — but look at the fine print of your situation, and consider whether the savings value is always present.

“For instance, if you have to drive further out to visit a Walmart compared to another grocery store, you should evaluate if the savings are worth it, or if the extra distance cuts into those savings,” said Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst at DealNews.com. “But in general, most shoppers will find that groceries at Walmart can cost less overall, even for higher-end brands that will cost significantly more elsewhere, which means if you’re on a tighter budget, grocery shopping at Walmart can help you ensure your dollar goes further.”

Consider Unit Price

In addition to figuring in the cost of commuting to the mega-retailer, shoppers should also consider the unit price of Walmart’s stock.

“Walmart definitely has a great number of deals but you want to make sure you’re getting the best price when you shop, so be sure to look at the price per unit, whether that’s an ounce, fluid ounce, pound, or whatever,” Ramhold said. “Then compare that to what else is available on the shelf, or even what you can find elsewhere.”

In some cases, even if a package costs more upfront, the price per ounce or pound will work out to be cheaper than a smaller, more affordable package.

“As long as you can afford to buy the larger versions in those cases, you definitely should, as you’ll be saving money in the long run,” Ramhold said.