Whether you’re new to Costco or you’re one of many regular shoppers who joined with cheap TVs, bulk toilet paper, and other deals in mind, you may not have considered all the health-related goods and services available at the warehouse club. Cheapism compared prices on a handful of items at Costco, Walmart, a regional supermarket chain in Columbus, Ohio, and online sources. The warehouse club undercuts the competition — sometimes by significant amounts — on products from organic food to medication to insurance. Here’s where consumers can find savings to keep the whole family healthy, even pets. Not a Costco member? You can apply here.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Related: 14 Smart Things for Singles and Couples to Buy From Costco
Women’s One A Day Multivitamin
Price: $19 Buy It Vitamins are a good deal at Costco after determining the price per pill. A 300-tablet bottle of women’s One A Day multivitamins comes to roughly $.06 per capsule compared with $27 for a 300-count bottle (or $.09 each) from Walmart.
Organic Spring Salad Mix
Price: $4 a pound Demand for organic food products may be outstripping supply, but Costco is well-stocked with large quantities of organic vegetables and undercuts other retailers on price. You can pay $3.50 for just 5 ounces of an organic spring salad mix at a local market.
Organic Blueberries
Price: $7 for 18 ounces The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that organic produce is the top seller in the organic food space. Costco meets the demand with an array of fresh fruit, such as organic blueberries, at budget prices, compared with $5 per 6 ounces at the local grocer.
Orgain Organic Protein Powder
Price: $27 Buy ItThis 2.74-pound tub of Orgain Organic Protein powder comes out to 62 cents per ounce at Costco. The cost at Walmart is $21 per pound ($1.30 per ounce).
Organic Apple Slices
Price: $7 for 8 bags Pre-sliced organic apples are a healthy grab-and-go snack. The slices are tagged at $7 for eight 4-ounce bags ($0.87 per bag) at Costco. The local grocery store had them for $5 for just five 2.2 ounce bags ($0.99 per bag) — and the bags are half the size as the Costco version.
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Wholly Guacamole Dip
Price: $15 for a 20-pack Pairing perfectly with a healthy chip snack, organic Wholly Guacamole makes for a great anytime snack. Costco sells the dip in packs of 2-ounce cups for roughly $1.33 per container, compared with a four-pack of 2-ounce cups for a little under $7 (roughly $1.67 per container) at the local grocer.
Related: 12 Tips for Shopping at Costco If You Live in a Small Home
Collagen Peptides
Price: $30 Buy ItCollagen is an excellent way to support overall health and specifically boost skin health, heart health, increase muscle mass, prevent bone loss, and relieve joint pain. Collagen peptides are typically sold in tubs, with two scoops being a serving. They can be added to hot or cold beverages and have no taste unless you get the flavored variety. Costco sells a 24-ounce tub of the unflavored variety that compares with paying $40 on Amazon for just 20 ounces.
Kirkland Blanched Almond Flour
Price: $14 (not including delivery fees) Buy It Almond flour is a great substitute if you are gluten free or low carb, but the price can be steep. Instead buy a 3-pound bag from Costco for $5 per pound, compared with $11 for just a 2-pound bag, or $5.49 a pound at Walmart.
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Skinny Pop Popcorn
Price: $6 for a 14-ounce bag Skinny Pop Popcorn, a family favorite, contains 150 calories, 3 grams of fiber, and 75 milligrams of sodium in each serving. Costco charges the equivalent of 43 cents an ounce, while Walmart’s nearly $5 price on a 6.7-ounce bag comes out to 70 cents an ounce.
Organic Kombucha
Price: $14 for eight bottles Kombucha has a host of health benefits including gut health, liver health, mental health, and a reduced risk of cancer, infection, and heart disease. Organic kombucha in 16-ounce bottles sells for around $0.10 per ounce at Costco. Neither Walmart or the local grocer sells kombucha in packs — just individual bottles —and the lowest price we found was $2.50 per 15 ounce bottle at the local grocer. That’s $0.16 per ounce.
Cymbalta
Price: $15 for a one-month supply In a Consumer Report study conducted in 2018, secret shoppers called 150 pharmacies, including Costco, inquiring about the cost of five commonly prescribed medications without insurance. Costco was cheaper by far. In 2023, Walgreens is still $34 compared to Costco’s $15.
Lipitor
Price: $16 More than a quarter of American adults 40 and older take the cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lipitor, a commonly prescribed statin, cost $16 at Costco and $36 at Walgreens.
Vision Services
Price: $184 for eyeglasses Costco Optical (not available at all locations) can save members money on contacts, glasses, and prescription sunglasses with a current prescription. Many stores also host independent optometrists who conduct exams. Costco charges a median of $184 for eyeglasses, according to Consumer Reports, a price that is hundreds less than some competitors. The warehouse giant ranked top in customer satisfaction with a much larger selection than its competition. Still, Costco faces some stiff competition, particularly for consumers with simpler prescriptions. It’s possible to buy a pair of single-lens specs from an eyeglasses website for less than $50.
Flu Shots
Price: $20 Buy It Costco typically provides flu shots to members and non-members alike, no insurance required. The same shot costs roughly $38 at Sam’s Club. Be sure to check your insurance before you get the shot — it can be free with no copay at some locations, such as CVS.
Related: Where to Get Cheap Flu Shots: Walmart vs. CVS vs. Costco
Bone Density Test
Price: Free Costco offers a host of free health screenings for conditions such as diabetes and osteoporosis through health clinics at some locations on select days. This is quite a bargain considering that the going rate for a bone density test is $125. The schedule can be downloaded from the pharmacy website.
