Money 
The cost of living is a concern for many U.S. households, and this includes the cost of everyday groceries which can take up a big chunk of your budget. Membership warehouses like Costco and Sam’s Club are widely regarded as the best option for bulk buy savings, and Costco has 81 million paid members globally. [1] Capital One Shopping, “Costco Statistics” https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/costco-statistics/ But, do these bulk buy savings hold true across the board?
In this report on bulk buying, the study compared the price per unit of a basket of household food items at Costco and Walmart to determine whether it was really worth buying in bulk. The study selected food products from Costco’s Kirkland Signature range and matched each one with the closest comparable Walmart private-label product (Great Value or Marketside). Where possible, the study also matched similar formulations, such as organic with organic or roasted with roasted.
Key findings
- Shoppers can save an average of 12.1% by bulk buying, with a full basket of Costco-sized products costing $95.91 less at Costco than the same amount of product at Walmart.
- Savings are bigger at Costco than at Walmart – items cheaper at Costco save 51% on average, compared to a 27.6% average saving on items cheaper at Walmart.
- Even after subtracting the $65 annual Gold membership fee, one large shop still leaves a net saving of $30.91, climbing to $126.82 after a second trip.
- Out of 46 grocery items compared, Costco was cheaper on 22 per unit/per gram, Walmart was cheaper on 21 per unit/per gram, and 3 items cost exactly the same at both stores.
- Pine nuts show the largest per-unit price gap in Costco's favor; shoppers save $1.37 per unit bulk buying pine nuts at Costco rather than Walmart, more than any other product tested.
- Green Tea shows the biggest per-unit markup at Costco, costing $1.51 more per unit than at Walmart.
- On average, products in the nuts, seeds and dried fruit category cost $0.36 less per unit at Costco than at Walmart, the largest gap of any category studied.
- Products in the beverage category cost $0.30 more per unit on average at Costco than at Walmart, making it the category with the biggest markup at Costco.
Price difference by product: Costco vs Walmart
When analyzing the 46 grocery items in the study, Costco and Walmart came out almost even. At Costco, 22 items were cheaper per unit/per gram than at Walmart, while 21 items were cheaper at Walmart, and three items cost the same per unit at both stores.
Items with the biggest savings at Costco
Based on dollar savings per unit, the following items offer the biggest savings when bought from Costco compared to Walmart:
- Pine Nuts: Costco is $1.37 cheaper per unit
- Walnuts: Costco is $0.50 cheaper per unit
- Blueberries: Costco is $0.43 cheaper per unit
- Mangos: Costco is $0.41 cheaper per unit
- Pecans: Costco is $0.39 cheaper per unit
Items with the biggest markup at Costco
The following items show the biggest markup in price per unit at Costco in comparison to Walmart.
- Green Tea: Costco is $1.51 more expensive per unit
- Salmon: Costco is $0.29 more expensive per unit
- Candy/Snacks: Costco is $0.11 more expensive per unit
- Olive Oil: Costco is $0.10 more expensive per unit
- Salt: Costco is $0.09 more expensive per unit
| Price differences by product: Costco vs Walmart | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Product | Unit Price- Costco | Unit Price- Walmart | Price difference | Which brand is cheaper? |
| Green Tea | $2.64 | $1.14 | $1.51 | Walmart |
| Salmon | $0.56 | $0.27 | $0.29 | Walmart |
| Candy/Snacks | $0.27 | $0.17 | $0.11 | Walmart |
| Olive Oil | $0.46 | $0.36 | $0.10 | Walmart |
| Salt | $0.13 | $0.04 | $0.09 | Walmart |
| Peanut Butter | $0.21 | $0.12 | $0.08 | Walmart |
| Applesauce | $0.16 | $0.09 | $0.07 | Walmart |
| Pretzels | $0.22 | $0.15 | $0.07 | Walmart |
| Peanuts | $0.22 | $0.16 | $0.06 | Walmart |
| Nut Bars | $0.43 | $0.37 | $0.06 | Walmart |
| Muffins | $0.33 | $0.28 | $0.05 | Walmart |
| Sugar | $0.09 | $0.05 | $0.04 | Walmart |
| Chicken Breast | $0.23 | $0.20 | $0.03 | Walmart |
| Evaporated Milk | $0.10 | $0.08 | $0.02 | Walmart |
| Apple Juice | $0.05 | $0.03 | $0.02 | Walmart |
| Diced Tomatoes | $0.09 | $0.07 | $0.02 | Walmart |
| Chicken Stock | $0.06 | $0.05 | $0.02 | Walmart |
| Granola Bars | $0.23 | $0.22 | $0.01 | Walmart |
| Lemonade | $0.04 | $0.03 | $0.01 | Walmart |
| Trail Mix | $0.27 | $0.26 | $0.01 | Walmart |
| Tomato Paste | $0.16 | $0.15 | $0.01 | Walmart |
| Cranberry Juice | $0.05 | $0.05 | $0.00 | Equal |
| Tomato Sauce | $0.07 | $0.07 | $0.00 | Equal |
| Canola Oil | $0.08 | $0.08 | $0.00 | Equal |
| Garlic | $0.58 | $0.60 | $0.02 | Costco |
| Protein Bars | $0.29 | $0.32 | $0.03 | Costco |
| Quinoa | $0.18 | $0.22 | $0.03 | Costco |
| Popcorn | $0.12 | $0.16 | $0.04 | Costco |
| Pistachios | $0.42 | $0.47 | $0.05 | Costco |
| Chocolate Raisins | $0.42 | $0.48 | $0.05 | Costco |
| Almond Butter | $0.36 | $0.42 | $0.06 | Costco |
| Honey | $0.31 | $0.37 | $0.07 | Costco |
| Coffee | $0.54 | $0.61 | $0.07 | Costco |
| Agave Syrup | $0.15 | $0.25 | $0.10 | Costco |
| Chocolate Chips | $0.21 | $0.32 | $0.11 | Costco |
| Almonds | $0.31 | $0.46 | $0.15 | Costco |
| Black Pepper | $0.99 | $1.19 | $0.20 | Costco |
| Maple Syrup | $0.44 | $0.66 | $0.22 | Costco |
| Red Pepper Flakes | $0.48 | $0.75 | $0.28 | Costco |
| Prunes/Plums | $0.21 | $0.50 | $0.28 | Costco |
| Cashews | $0.42 | $0.74 | $0.31 | Costco |
| Pecans | $0.56 | $0.96 | $0.39 | Costco |
| Mangos | $0.34 | $0.75 | $0.41 | Costco |
| Blueberries | $0.52 | $0.95 | $0.43 | Costco |
| Walnuts | $0.34 | $0.84 | $0.50 | Costco |
| Pine Nuts | $1.31 | $2.68 | $1.37 | Costco |
Data note: This table shows the unit price for each of the products analyzed. For example, Costco might sell a 2 lb bag of walnuts, whereas Walmart only sells a 500g bag, so this shows the cost per unit/gram.
Price difference by category: Costco vs Walmart
As well as comparing the prices of specific products, the study also analyzed average prices across popular grocery categories to determine where Costco provided the biggest savings.
Categories with the biggest savings at Costco
Based on dollar savings per unit, Costco gave the biggest savings in the following categories compared to Walmart:
- Nuts, Seeds & Dried Fruit: Costco is $0.36 cheaper per unit
- Fresh Produce: Costco is $0.29 cheaper per unit
- Pantry Staples (Dry Goods): Costco is $0.08 cheaper per unit
Categories with the biggest markup at Costco
The following categories have the biggest markup in price per unit at Costco compared to Walmart:
- Beverages: Walmart is $0.30 cheaper per unit
- Meat & Fish: Walmart is $0.16 cheaper per unit
- Canned & Packaged Goods: Walmart is $0.03 cheaper per unit
| Category | Costco price per unit | Walmart price per unit | Price difference | Which brand is cheaper? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beverages | Costco price per unit $0.67 | Walmart price per unit $0.37 | Price difference $0.30 | Which brand is cheaper? Walmart |
| Meat & Fish | Costco price per unit $0.39 | Walmart price per unit $0.23 | Price difference $0.16 | Which brand is cheaper? Walmart |
| Canned & Packaged Goods | Costco price per unit $0.11 | Walmart price per unit $0.08 | Price difference $0.03 | Which brand is cheaper? Walmart |
| Snacks & Confectionery | Costco price per unit $0.26 | Walmart price per unit $0.25 | Price difference $0.01 | Which brand is cheaper? Walmart |
| Oils, Spreads & Sweeteners | Costco price per unit $0.29 | Walmart price per unit $0.32 | Price difference $0.03 | Which brand is cheaper? Costco |
| Pantry Staples (Dry Goods) | Costco price per unit $0.37 | Walmart price per unit $0.45 | Price difference $0.08 | Which brand is cheaper? Costco |
| Fresh Produce | Costco price per unit $0.48 | Walmart price per unit $0.77 | Price difference $0.29 | Which brand is cheaper? Costco |
| Nuts, Seeds & Dried Fruit | Costco price per unit $0.49 | Walmart price per unit $0.85 | Price difference $0.36 | Which brand is cheaper? Costco |
Walmart prices at Costco sizes
The study put together a basket of 46 grocery items and compared the costs of buying the same amount of each product at both Costco and Walmart. For example, Costco stocks 3lb bags of walnuts, but Walmart only stocks 48oz bags of walnuts. The study compared the price of Costco’s 3lb bag to the price of 3lbs worth of walnuts from Walmart.
Costco offers bigger savings
Based on the number of items, there is a 50/50 split between Costco and Walmart, with both stores being cheaper for 23 of 46 items. However, where Costco offers the lower price, the savings tend to be significantly larger than in cases where Walmart is cheaper.
Among the items that were cheaper at Costco, the price difference was 51% on average. Though half of the items were cheaper at Walmart, the average price difference among these items was 27.6%.
A full basket is $95.91 cheaper at Costco than Walmart
The study added up all of the items on the list to compare a full basket of Costco-sized items at both stores. This revealed that shopping at Costco would save you $95.91, a 12.1% saving compared to a like-for-like basket of products from Walmart.
| Comparing Walmart prices and Costco Sizes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Size | Costco price | Walmart price at Costco size | Price difference | Which brand is cheaper? |
| Wild Alaskan Pink Salmon | 36 oz | $19.99 | $9.68 | $10.31 | Walmart |
| Candy/Snacks | 92 oz | $24.99 | $15.27 | $9.72 | Walmart |
| Green Tea Bags | 5.29 oz | $13.99 | $6.01 | $7.98 | Walmart |
| Extra Virgin Italian Olive Oil | 67.6 oz | $30.99 | $24.34 | $6.65 | Walmart |
| Organic Sugar | 160 oz | $13.99 | $7.36 | $6.63 | Walmart |
| Apple Juice | 256 oz | $13.99 | $8.70 | $5.29 | Walmart |
| Organic Applesauce | 76.08 oz | $11.99 | $7.00 | $4.99 | Walmart |
| Organic Peanut Butter | 56 oz | $11.69 | $6.94 | $4.75 | Walmart |
| Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets | 55 oz | $11.99 | $8.42 | $3.58 | Walmart |
| Evaporated Milk | 144 fl oz | $14.99 | $11.95 | $3.04 | Walmart |
| Organic Chicken Stock | 192 oz | $11.99 | $9.02 | $2.97 | Walmart |
| Pure Sea Salt | 30 oz | $3.99 | $1.11 | $2.88 | Walmart |
| Extra-Large Peanuts | 40 oz | $8.99 | $6.44 | $2.55 | Walmart |
| Nut Bars | 42.3 oz | $17.99 | $15.61 | $2.38 | Walmart |
| Organic Diced Tomatoes | 116 oz | $9.99 | $7.66 | $2.33 | Walmart |
| Chicken Breast | 75 oz | $16.99 | $14.95 | $2.04 | Walmart |
| Organic Lemonade | 192 oz | $7.59 | $5.76 | $1.83 | Walmart |
| Mini Chocolate Chip Muffin Bites | 33.0 oz | $10.99 | $9.37 | $1.62 | Walmart |
| Organic Tomato Sauce | 180 oz | $13.49 | $11.88 | $1.61 | Walmart |
| Cranberry Juice | 192 oz | $9.99 | $8.83 | $1.16 | Walmart |
| Granola Bars | 54.4 oz | $12.59 | $11.91 | $0.68 | Walmart |
| Trail Mix | 64 oz | $16.99 | $16.45 | $0.54 | Walmart |
| Organic Tomato Paste | 72 oz | $11.49 | $11.02 | $0.47 | Walmart |
| Granulated Garlic | 15.5 oz | $8.99 | $9.25 | $0.26 | Costco |
| Canola Oil | 192 oz | $14.99 | $15.94 | $0.95 | Costco |
| Almond Butter | 27 oz | $9.69 | $11.21 | $1.52 | Costco |
| PB & Choc Chip Protein Bar | 59.22 oz | $16.99 | $18.77 | $1.78 | Costco |
| Organic Quinoa | 72 oz | $12.99 | $15.48 | $2.49 | Costco |
| Black Pepper with Grinder | 12.6 oz | $12.49 | $14.99 | $2.50 | Costco |
| Salted In-Shell Pistachios | 48 oz | $19.99 | $22.56 | $2.57 | Costco |
| Crushed Red Pepper | 10 oz | $4.79 | $7.54 | $2.75 | Costco |
| Milk Chocolate Raisins | 54.4 oz | $22.99 | $25.95 | $2.96 | Costco |
| Organic Raw Honey | 72 oz | $21.99 | $26.86 | $4.87 | Costco |
| Colombian Coffee, Dark Roast | 73.5 oz | $39.99 | $45.06 | $5.07 | Costco |
| Microwave Popcorn | 145.2 oz | $16.99 | $23.52 | $6.53 | Costco |
| Organic Blue Agave | 72 oz | $10.99 | $18.00 | $7.01 | Costco |
| Whole Almonds | 48 oz | $14.99 | $22.22 | $7.23 | Costco |
| Organic Pure Maple Syrup | 33.8 oz | $14.99 | $22.38 | $7.39 | Costco |
| Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips | 72 oz | $14.99 | $23.18 | $8.19 | Costco |
| Whole Dried Blueberries | 20 oz | $10.49 | $19.08 | $8.59 | Costco |
| Cashew Clusters | 32 oz | $13.49 | $23.52 | $10.03 | Costco |
| Pecan Halves | 32 oz | $17.99 | $30.56 | $12.57 | Costco |
| Sweetened Dried Mangoes | 35 oz | $11.99 | $26.18 | $14.19 | Costco |
| Whole Dried Plums | 56 oz | $11.99 | $27.78 | $15.79 | Costco |
| Walnut Halves | 48 oz | $16.49 | $40.32 | $23.83 | Costco |
| Organic Pine Nuts | 24 oz | $31.49 | $64.32 | $32.83 | Costco |
| All Items | - | $694.44 | $790.35 | $95.91 | Costco |
Walmart is cheaper at Costco sizes across 5 categories
In addition to analyzing Costco sizes at Walmart prices for individual products, the study also looked at this comparison across each category. This found that Walmart was actually cheaper in five out of eight categories, with meat & fish having the biggest difference (products in this category are $6.17 cheaper on average at Walmart).
| Category | Costco price | Walmart price but Costco size | Price difference | Which brand is cheaper? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meat & Fish | Costco price $18.49 | Walmart price but Costco size $12.32 | Price difference $6.17 | Which brand is cheaper? Walmart |
| Canned & Packaged Goods | Costco price $12.32 | Walmart price but Costco size $9.75 | Price difference $2.57 | Which brand is cheaper? Walmart |
| Beverages | Costco price $17.11 | Walmart price but Costco size $14.87 | Price difference $2.24 | Which brand is cheaper? Walmart |
| Pantry Staples (Dry Goods) | Costco price $9.65 | Walmart price but Costco size $9.30 | Price difference $0.35 | Which brand is cheaper? Walmart |
| Snacks & Confectionery | Costco price $16.06 | Walmart price but Costco size $15.83 | Price difference $0.22 | Which brand is cheaper? Walmart |
| Oils, Spreads & Sweeteners | Costco price $16.48 | Walmart price but Costco size $17.95 | Price difference $1.47 | Which brand is cheaper? Costco |
| Fresh Produce | Costco price $10.49 | Walmart price but Costco size $18.17 | Price difference $7.68 | Which brand is cheaper? Costco |
| Nuts, Seeds & Dried Fruit | Costco price $17.60 | Walmart price but Costco size $29.30 | Price difference $11.70 | Which brand is cheaper? Costco |
Costco offers better value even when factoring in membership fees
Unlike typical supermarkets, club warehouse stores like Costco often charge a membership fee. Costco charges $65 per year for their Gold membership and $130 per year for their Executive membership.
When factoring the Gold membership price of $65 per year into the average basket savings of $95.91, the data shows the following:
A single shop: If a Gold member did one shopping trip at Costco per year, the $95.91 basket saving would be reduced to a net saving of $30.91 after the $65 membership fee is deducted.
Repeat shopping: As the membership is an annual fee rather than a cost per visit, the value improves significantly with each additional shop. For example, based on the average basket price:
- Two shopping trips: $191.82 in basket savings minus $65 = $126.82 net savings
- Four shopping trips: $383.64 in basket savings minus $65 = $318.64 net savings
The Costco Executive membership costs more, but it also includes extra benefits like an annual 2% reward and additional value on Costco Travel which are separate from in-store purchase discounts. [2] Costco, “Join Costco” https://www.costco.com/f/-/join-costco
Methodology
To select the products for this study, the research used Costco’s Kirkland Signature groceries, removing any non-food products or multiple of the same item. The study matched each Costco item to the nearest comparable Walmart private-label (Great Value or Marketside) product in the same category (e.g., almond butter to almond butter), prioritizing similar formulation (organic vs. organic, roasted vs. raw) where available.
List prices and pack sizes were pulled directly from each retailer's product page (not sale or membership-discounted pricing) in September 2026. Pricing collected via Walmart’s website was set to a location in the most populated area of the United States (07731) to reflect pricing in a major consumer market.
Package sizes were converted to a common unit (oz, fl oz, or lb) to calculate a per-unit price, since Costco and Walmart pack sizes rarely match.
Sources
- [1] Capital One Shopping, “Costco Statistics” https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/costco-statistics/
- [2] Costco, “Join Costco” https://www.costco.com/f/-/join-costco
