15 Popular Costco Buys That Cost Less at Other Stores

Costco is your go-to store for scoring bargain deals on bulk items. However, just because something is sold at Costco doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cheaper than anywhere else.

The next time you shop at the warehouse retailer, consider leaving these 15 items off your list — you should be able to find them at more affordable prices elsewhere.

Editor’s note: Prices are subject to change and may vary by location.

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1. Milk: Target and Walmart

Costco price: $4.00 per gallon

Generally speaking, as a buy-in-bulk retailer, Costco doesn’t always have the best prices on perishable goods.

Plus, you’ll lose money purchasing a perishable item in bulk if you can’t use it all before it goes bad. So, while $4 isn’t the highest cost we’ve seen for a gallon of milk, it’s far from the best.

You’ll save money on milk by shopping at Walmart, where one gallon costs $3.44, or Target, where a gallon costs $2.99.

2. Spaghetti: Walmart

Costco price: $15.99 ($0.11 per ounce)

Dry goods like spaghetti seem like the ideal Costco buys since they last a long time. Unfortunately, Costco’s price for eight 17.6-ounce bags of spaghetti is $0.11 per ounce, or $15.99 total.

In contrast, Walmart sells four individually wrapped one-pound bags of spaghetti for $3.76, or just over $0.05 per ounce.

3. Frozen vegetables: Walmart and Grocery Outlet

Costco price: $10.93 (5-pound bag)

If you prefer the convenience of buying one five-pound bag of frozen vegetables instead of five one-pound bags, stick with Costco’s Kirkland brand frozen vegetable medley.

But if saving money is your top priority, most other stores offer mixed vegetables for less.

For instance, Walmart sells 32-ounce bags for $2.28. Even if you bought three Walmart bags (for a total of six pounds), you’d spend just $6.84 total — over $4 in savings.

And at Grocery Outlet, a 16-ounce bag is just $1.49, bringing your five-pound total to just $7.45.

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4. Chicken thighs: Trader Joe’s

Costco price: $24.53 (11-pound bag)

Costco’s 11-pound bag of frozen chicken thighs is a convenient way to buy and store chicken, but if you’re on a budget, we recommend skipping Costco’s mega-pack for smaller packages.

For instance, a one-pound pack of chicken thighs costs $1.99 at Trader Joe's. Costco’s chicken thighs are $2.23 a pound — not much of a bargain by comparison.

5. Boneless skinless chicken breast: Walmart, Grocery Outlet, Target

Costco price: $32.22 (8.66-pound bag)

Apart from its rotisserie chicken, Costco’s poultry department doesn’t actually serve up the best deals. A pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts comes to $3.72 per pound at Costco.

In contrast, Walmart’s chicken breasts cost $2.92 per pound. Grocery Outlet charges $3.09 per pound, while Target charges just $2.79 per pound.

6. On-the-vine tomatoes: Walmart

Costco price: $9.94 (four-pound bag)

There’s nothing quite like the crisp, tart taste of a ripe on-the-vine tomato. But if you’re the type to savor the summertime tomato bumper crop, you’ll get more bang for your buck at Walmart.

Costco charges around $2.50 per pound of vine-ripened tomatoes, while Walmart charges just $1.98.

However, other grocery stores charge more than Costco for vine-ripened tomatoes. Target, for instance, charges $3.89 per pound, while Safeway charges $2.49 per pound — so you might as well get your tomatoes at Costco if Walmart isn’t an option for you.

7. Ground beef: Walmart

Costco price: $38.44 (6.19-pound bag)

At $6.21 per pound, Costco’s price for ground beef isn’t the worst in the grocery business (it beats out Target, which charges $6.49 per pound of ground beef).

But it’s hard to beat Walmart’s prices — including its price for ground beef, which is $5.48 per pound for 73% lean/27% fat beef.

8. Olive oil: Grocery Outlet

Costco price: $31.09 (two-liter bottle)

Costco’s extra-virgin olive oil is undeniably tasty, but you’re definitely paying extra for that taste.

If you’re comfortable settling for a little less pizzazz with your olive oil, you’ll save by shopping at Grocery Outlet. There, you can get two liters of olive oil for $18.38 ($9.19 per bottle).

9. Basmati rice: Walmart

Costco price: $24.87 (20-pound bag)

Basmati rice is a long-grained Indian rice that pairs nicely with almost anything, from your favorite curry dish to teriyaki meatballs.

It’s easy to go through a small bag of rice in just a few meals, so 20-pound bags are popular staples in many rice-loving households.

And if you value your budget, you should skip Costco’s 20-pound bag in favor of one from Walmart, which costs $20.98.

10. Marinara sauce: Target

Costco price: $15.66

Spaghetti with red marinara sauce is a hassle-free weekday meal, but it can also eat up a surprisingly large portion of your budget if you're not careful.

At Costco, you can get 56 ounces (or 3.5 pounds) of marinara sauce for $15.66 — which might seem like a bargain upfront.

However, a 24-ounce container of tomato, basil, and garlic pasta sauce costs just $1.69 at Target, so you can get 48 ounces for $3.38 or 72 ounces for just over $5.

11. Greek yogurt: Target

Costco price: $7.82

If you value your wallet, don’t make Costco your default store for milk and dairy goods.

A 48-ounce container of Kirkland Signature Greek yogurt costs nearly $8, while a 32-ounce carton of Target’s signature Good & Gather brand Greek yogurt only costs $3.69.

Buying two cartons from Target gets you more yogurt than you’d get at Costco and at a lower price, too.

12. Peanut butter: Walmart

Costco price: $14.42

Two 28-ounce jars of Costco’s organic peanut butter will cost you nearly $15.

Meanwhile, at Walmart, you can get four 28-ounce cartons of peanut butter for just over $15 — so you’ll get double the peanut butter for the same cost.

13. Pineapples: Target

Costco price: $3.60

Don’t turn to Costco the next time you’re craving a tart and tasty tropical treat.

You’ll pay a full $1 more for an unsliced pineapple than you would at Target, where one pineapple costs more than $2.69.

14. White bread: Walmart

Costco price: $6.95

Costco’s price for bread can seem like a bargain at first glance, but $7 for two loaves of enriched white bread isn’t actually much of a bargain.

At Walmart, for instance, one loaf costs just $1.42. In other words, five loaves of Walmart’s bread equals the cost of two Costco-priced loaves.

15. Salmon: Trader Joe’s

Costco price: $13.67 per pound

Depending on where you live, seafood might not be easy to come by (and it might not come cheap, either). But if you can, skip Costco’s seafood selection in favor of Trader Joe’s.

Where Costco charges more than $13.50 for a pound of salmon, Trader Joe’s charges just $10.99 per pound.

Bottom line

To make the most of your next Costco trip, prioritize cheaper items and look elsewhere for items that the store overcharges for.

Remember that the best way to save money on groceries is to buy bulk items that you know you’ll use by their expiration date.