Hi Tara and welcome to the forum
Wholesale prices are always cheaper because the price you pay relates to the volume you buy. The more you buy, the better the price per unit. If you are wanting to but wholesale, then you need to ignore website prices and speak with the wholesale supplier about their minimum order requirements and pricing structure.
Dropshipping does have advantages over wholesale, but price isn't one of them. Because dropshipping is set up so you can purchase a single item, there is no option to buy in volume and get a better price per unit.