If I'm willing to purchase "natural" Russets ("natural" can be used for non-conventionally grown produce when transitioning from chemical to organic farming) from my neighborhood produce/grocery shop, I can get 5 lb/$1.99 and 10 lb/$2.99.
Yukon Golds are *always* more expensive, but Pete can get the Grade B size, somewhere between creamers and bakers, at 69¢/lb, sometimes. He's even had them at 39¢ once or twice, when the wholesaler had another retail buyer either not buy an entire order or there was a miscommunication. If I want to buy baking-sized, non-blemished Yukon Golds, then yes I'll be paying the big bux....but I gotta say, I love Pete's specials! And they taste absolutely wonderful.
Here in Maine I can get 20 pounds for about 5 bucks. Makes sense (sorry Idaho but our spuds are tastier!!). Red potatoes 5 pounds for 3 bucks. I'd like to try growing my own this year but the prices are really great. I think I'll have to do fingerling or something weird to make it worth my while.
Of course, to me, the weirder something is the more I want to grow it!!
I just paid $1.89 for a 5 lb. bag of russets, lookin forward to tryin a spud condo this year. A couple months ago they were $1.49, I must admit that food prices are starting to get waaaaaaaaay outta hand lately!
My idea on growing potatoes (my first time) is to grow something that would cost a bunch at the store. Why wait months for russets that are super cheap. I have reds, purple and golds on order. Should get here in March.
The best thing you can do is talk to the produce worker. They mark down and toss out so much stuff. There was a bag of potatoes he marked it down from 3 bucks to a dollar. it was starting to grow roots.