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Best Food Deals at Costco: Comparing Prices on 50 Products

Published June 26, 2019•Updated October 2, 2021

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Costco shopping cart — a katz/shutterstock

Can shoppers really save by skipping grocery stores in favor of warehouse clubs? Cheapism compiled a list of 50 staple products and compared prices per ounce at Costco, the largest wholesale club operator, and Kroger, one of the nation’s largest grocery chains.

Costco won big, with prices up to 70% cheaper on 43 of the 50 items. Shopping at Kroger, even with loyalty-card discounts, netted savings on just four items (there were three ties). On 10 items, the savings at Costco exceeded 40%; at Kroger, the savings were much more modest.

That doesn’t mean consumers should ditch conventional grocery stores entirely. Buying in bulk saves only if the extra food doesn’t go to waste. Also, selection is more limited at warehouse clubs; brand-conscious buyers won’t find as many favorites on the shelves. And don’t forget the membership fee ($60 a year at Costco, $55 at BJ’s Wholesale Club, and $45 at Sam’s Club). Still, with strategic shopping, a Costco membership can pay off big when it comes to groceries — here’s where.

Spinach

Costco: $4.49 for a 40 oz. bag (11.2 cents/oz.) Kroger: $6 for a 16 oz. bag (37.4 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 70.1% (26.2 cents/oz.)

Log Cabin Original Maple Syrup

maple syrup in glass bottle on wooden table — showcake/shutterstock

Costco: $7 for two 64 oz. bottles (5.5 cents/oz.) Kroger: $3.79 for a 24 oz. bottle (15.8 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 65.2% (10.3 cents/oz.)

Canola Cooking Spray

man spraying pan with cooking spray — DGLimages/istockphoto

(Store Brand) Costco: $5 for two 17 oz. cans (14.7 cents/oz.) Kroger: $3 for an 8 oz. can (37.5 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 60.8% (22.8 cents/oz.)

Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Costco: $9.49 for a 72 oz. bag (13.2 cents/oz.) Kroger: $6.79 for a 24 oz. bag (28.3 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 53.4% (15.1 cents/oz.)

Kettle Krinkle Cut Potato Chips

Kettle Krinkle Cut, Sea Salt — Jeffrey B. Banke/shutterstock

(Sea Salt) Costco: $4.59 for a 2 lb. bag (14.3 cents/oz.) Kroger: $4 for a 13 oz. bag (30.7 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 53.4% (16.4 cents/oz.)

Rotisserie Chicken

Costco: $5 for 3 lbs. (10.4 cents/oz.) Kroger: $7 for 2 lbs. (21.8 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 52.3% (11.4 cents/oz.)

Frozen Mixed Berries

(Store Brand) Costco: $9 for a 64 oz. bag (14 cents/oz.) Kroger: $14 for a 48 oz. bag (29.1 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 51.9% (15.1 cents/oz.)

Quinoa

(Store Brand) Costco: $10 for a 4.5 lb. bag (13.9 cents/oz.) Kroger: $4 for a 1 lb. bag (25 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 44.4% (11.1 cents/oz.)

Bottled Water

(Store Brand) Costco: $3 for 40 16.9 oz. bottles (0.4 cents/fl. oz.) Kroger: $2.79 for 24 16.9 oz. bottles (0.7 cents/fl. oz.) Savings at Costco: 42.9% (0.3 cents/fl. oz.)

Cheerios

Costco: $5.89 for two 20.35 oz. boxes (14.5 cents/oz.) Kroger: $5 for one 20 oz. box (25 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 42% (10.5 cents/oz.)

Eggo Homestyle Frozen Waffles

two frozen waffles — Tiger Images/shutterstock

Costco: $9.99 for six 12-count packages, 88.8 oz. (11.3 cents/oz.) Kroger: $5.49 for one 24-count package, 29.6 oz. (18.5 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 39% (7.2 cents/oz.)

Diet Coke

Costco: $10 for 35 12 oz. cans (2.4 cents/fl. oz.) Kroger: $5.49 for 12 12 oz. cans (3.8 cents/fl. oz.) Savings at Costco: 36.8% (1.4 cents/fl. oz.)

Eggs

(Large, Cage-Free) Costco: $3.19 for 2 dozen, 48 oz. (6.6 cents/oz.) Kroger: $2.49 for 1 dozen, 24 oz. (10.4 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 36.5% (3.8 cents/oz.)

Nutella

Costco: $12 for two 33.5 oz. jars (17.9 cents/oz.) Kroger: $9.79 for one 35.3 oz. jar (27.7 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 35.4% (9.8 cents/oz.)

Shredded Mozzarella

(Store Brand) Costco: $11 for 5 lbs. (13.7 cents/oz.) Kroger: $6.79 for 2 lbs. (21.2 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 35.4% (7.5 cents/oz.)

Ritz Crackers

Costco: $8.89 for a 61.6 oz. pack (14.4 cents/oz.) Kroger: $3 for a 13.7 oz. pack (21.8 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 33.9% (7.4 cents/oz.)

Jif Creamy Peanut Butter

Costco: $9 for two 48 oz. jars (9.4 cents/oz.) Kroger: $5.69 for a 40 oz. jar (14.2 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 33.8% (4.8 cents/oz.)

Thomas’ Original English Muffins

Costco: $5.79 for an 18-count, 36 oz. pack (16.1 cents/oz.) Kroger: $2.79 for a 6-count, 12 oz. pack (23.3 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 30.9% (7.2 cents/oz.)

Cheddar Cheese

(Store Brand) Costco: $4.79 for 2 lbs. (15 cents/oz.) Kroger: $6.79 for 2 lbs. (21.2 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 29.2% (6.2 cents/oz.)

Chicken Stock

chicken broth with herbs — marysckin/shutterstock

(Store Brand) Costco: $10 for six 32 oz. boxes (5.2 cents/oz.) Kroger: $2.29 for one 32 oz. box (7.2 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 27.8% (2 cents/oz.)

Canned Green Beans

green beans in a white bowl — petrova_dc/shutterstock

(Store Brand) Costco: $6 for 12 14.5 oz. cans (3.4 cents/oz.) Kroger: $2.29 for a 50 oz. can (4.6 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 26.1% (1.2 cents/oz.)

Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice

freshly squeezed orange juice — Africa Studio/shutterstock

Costco: $8.89 for three 59 oz. bottles (5 cents/fl. oz.) Kroger: $6 for a 89 oz. bottle (6.7 cents/fl. oz.) Savings at Costco: 25.4% (1.7 cents/fl. oz.)

Hellmann’s Mayonnaise

homemade mayonnaise with chicken eggs and mustard oil — 5PH/shutterstock

Costco: $7 for a 64 oz. jar (10.9 cents/oz.) Kroger: $7 for a 48 oz. jar (14.6 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 25.3% (3.7 cents/oz.)

Lipton Tea Bags

box of Lipton Tea with teabags and cup — littleny/shutterstock

Costco: $9 for 312 bags, 24.9 oz. (36.1 cents/oz.) Kroger: $3.79 for 100 bags, 8 oz. (47.4 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 23.8% (11.3 cents/oz.)

Sunbeam White Bread

Costco: $3.29 for two 24 oz. loaves (6.9 cents/oz.) Kroger: $2 for a 22 oz. loaf (9 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 23.3% (2.1 cents/oz.)

Heinz Ketchup

close up on a single bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup — Thinglass/shutterstock

Costco: $8 for three 44 oz. bottles (6.1 cents/oz.) Kroger: $8 for two 50.5 oz. bottles (7.9 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 22.8% (1.8 cents/oz.)

Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Canned Tuna

canned tuna fish in white bowl — bitt24/shutterstock

Costco: $14 for 12 7 oz. cans (16.7 cents/oz.) Kroger: $2.59 for a 12 oz. can (21.6 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 22.7% (4.9 cents/oz.)

Greek Yogurt

(Store Brand) Costco: $5.59 for a 48 oz. tub (11.6 cents/oz.) Kroger: $4.79 for a 32 oz. tub (15 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 22.7% (3.4 cents/oz.)

Unsalted Butter

(Store Brand) Costco: $10.49 for four 1 lb. packages (16.4 cents/oz.) Kroger: $3.29 for a 1 lb. package (20.6 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 20.4% (4.2 cents/oz.)

Nestle Drumstick Variety Pack

Nestle Drumsticks Variety Pack — Walmart

Costco: $9.49 for 16-count pack, 73.6 oz. (12.9 cents/oz.) Kroger: $11.89 for 16-count pack, 73.6 oz. (16.2 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 20.4% (3.3 cents/oz.)

Maxwell House Original Roast Coffee

store display with bulk containers of Maxwell House Original Roast — Sheila Fitzgerald/shutterstock

Costco: $8.49 for a 48 oz. canister (17.7 cents/oz.) Kroger: $6.79 for a 30.6 oz. canister (22.2 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 20.3% (4.5 cents/oz.)

Gala Apples

(Organic) Costco: $8.79 for 5.5 lbs. (10 cents/oz.) Kroger: $2/lb. (12.5 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 20% (2.5 cents/oz.)

Kraft Boxed Macaroni and Cheese

Costco: $14 for 18 7.25 oz. boxes (10.7 cents/oz.) Kroger: $4.79 for five 7.25 oz. boxes (13.2 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 18.9% (2.5 cents/oz.)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

bottle pouring virgin olive oil in a bowl — DUSAN ZIDAR/shutterstock

(Store Brand) Costco: $13 for a 2-liter bottle (19.2 cents/oz.) Kroger: $8 for a 34 oz. bottle (23.5 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 18.3% (4.3 cents/oz.)

Fine Sea Salt

fine salt on the spoon of wood — O.Bellini/shutterstock

(Store Brand) Costco: $2.79 for a 30 oz. jar (9.3 cents/oz.) Kroger: $2 for a 17.6 oz. jar (11.3 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 17.7% (2 cents/oz.)

Frozen Shrimp

(Store Brand) Costco: $13.69 for a 2 lb. bag, 31-40 count (42.8 cents/oz.) Kroger: $16 for a 2 lb. bag, 31-40 count (50 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 14.4% (7.2 cents/oz.)

Vegetable Oil

(Store Brand) Costco: $7 for two 3-quart bottles (3.6 cents/fl. oz.) Kroger: $5.19 for a 1-gallon jug (4.1 cents/fl. oz.) Savings at Costco: 12.2% (0.5 cents/fl. oz.)

Ground Beef

Costco: $3.19/lb. (19.9 cents/oz.) Kroger: $3.49/lb. (21.8 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 8.7% (1.9 cents/oz.)

Baby Carrots

(Organic) Costco: $5.49 for 4 lbs. (8.6 cents/oz.) Kroger: $1.50 for 1 lb. (9.4 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 8.5% (0.8 cents/oz.)

Potatoes

Costco: $7 for a 15 lb. bag (2.9 cents/oz.) Kroger: $5 for a 10 lb. bag (3.1 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 6.5% (0.2 cents/oz.)

Bush’s Baked Beans

Costco: $8.89 for eight 16.5 oz. cans (6.7 cents/oz.) Kroger: $3.89 for a 55 oz. can (7.1 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 5.6% (0.4 cents/oz.)

Bananas

(Organic) Costco: $2 for 3 lbs. (4.2 cents/oz.) Kroger: 69 cents/lb. (4.3 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 2.3% (0.1 cents/oz.)

Salsa

(Store Brand) Costco: $7.49 for two 38 oz. jars (9.9 cents/oz.) Kroger: $7 for a 70 oz. jug (10 cents/oz.) Savings at Costco: 1% (0.1 cents/oz.)

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast

raw skinless chicken breast fillets — Viktor1/shutterstock

Costco: $3/lb. (18.7 cents/oz.) Kroger: $3/lb. (18.7 cents/oz.) Savings: Tie

Red Seedless Grapes

red grapes in a basket — Natalia Wimberley/shutterstock

Costco: $8 for 4 lbs. (12.4 cents/oz.) Kroger: $2/lb. (12.4 cents/oz.) Savings: Tie

Onions

Costco: $6 for a 10 lb. bag (3.7 cents/oz.) Kroger: $1.79 for a 3 lb. bag (3.7 cents/oz.) Savings: Tie

Pasta Sauce

(Store Brand, Organic) Costco: $9.59 for three 32 oz. jars (9.9 cents/oz.) Kroger: $2.29 for a 25 oz. jar (9.2 cents/oz.) Savings at Kroger: 7.1% (0.7 cents/oz.)

Frozen Mixed Vegetables

mixture frozen vegetables in pan — Katerina Maksymenko/shutterstock

(Store Brand) Costco: $7.49 for a 5 lb. bag (9.4 cents/oz.) Kroger: $5.69 for a 5 lb. bag (7.1 cents/oz.) Savings at Kroger: 24.5% (2.3 cents/oz.)

Tomatoes on the Vine

Costco: $5 for 2 lbs. (15.6 cents/oz.) Kroger: $1.59/lb. (9.9 cents/oz.) Savings at Kroger: 36.5% (5.7 cents/oz.)

2% Milk

splash of milk in glass — Africa Studio/shutterstock

(Store Brand) Costco: $2.09 a gallon (1.6 cents/fl. oz.) Kroger: $1 a gallon (0.8 cents/fl. oz.) Savings at Kroger: 50% (0.8 cents/fl. oz.)

Meet the Writer

Saundra Latham

Saundra Latham regularly exploits her grocery’s fuel-points program for free tanks of gas and skips the salon in favor of the $5.99 sales at Great Clips. She has made her home in areas with a low cost of living, such as Dayton, Ohio, and Knoxville, Tenn.

Before joining Cheapism as the site’s first staff writer, Saundra freelanced for websites including Business Insider, ConsumerSearch, The Simple Dollar, The Motley Fool, and About.com. She was previously an editor at The Columbus Dispatch, one of Ohio’s largest daily newspapers. She holds a master’s in communication from Ohio State University and a bachelor’s in journalism from American University.