If you’re on the fence about getting a Sam’s Club membership, there are plenty of ways you can still save at this exclusive store.
When you compare it to its sister brand, Walmart, you may be surprised that Sam’s is more cost-effective for many items.
We’ve compared these two brands to see which has better values for your everyday essentials, especially when buying in bulk.
Editor’s note: Prices are subject to change and may vary by location.
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Rotisserie chicken
Price: $4.98
Did you know that a Walmart rotisserie chicken from their deli costs a whole dollar more for fewer ounces?
Each Sam’s Club rotisserie chicken is 2.75 pounds, while one from Walmart is 2.25 pounds. It’s worth grabbing one during your Sam’s Club trip, even if your family won’t eat it all in one go, since you can cut and freeze the leftovers to save more cash.
Body wash
Price: $15.48
Save over $5 on the same exact body wash by buying a twin-pack at Sam’s Club instead.
At Walmart, one bottle costs $9.97, but for $5.51 more, you can get two value-sized pump bottles of Dove body wash for you and your spouse.
This is a more budget-friendly purchase that can last, which also saves you trips to the store.
Ready-made meal kits
Price: $5.48/lb
If you’re craving tacos but lack the energy to make them yourself, you may want to swing by Sam’s Club tonight.
This ready-made kit comes with everything you need to make street-style chicken tacos, while Walmart doesn’t have a similar kit, and you’ll have to spend more time and money making tacos.
With this kit, all you have to do is heat this chicken up and add your toppings for a quick meal that’s full of flavor.
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Cleaning supplies
Price: $10.98
For just 300 wipes, you’re spending a dollar more at Walmart compared to Sam’s Club.
The Member’s Mark wipes give you 312 total disinfecting wipes in three scents for just $10.98.
Meanwhile, the Great Value brand at Walmart gives you 12 fewer wipes at $11.98, so Sam’s Club is the clear winner here.
Wine
Price: $10.44
Typically, Sam’s Club has a bigger wine selection than Walmart if you’re looking for a great value (and no, we don’t mean the brand).
You can find plenty of high-quality wine under the Member’s Mark brand, which saves you money, while Walmart doesn’t have the same offerings.
Plus, plenty of the spirits from Sam’s Club are authentic and highly rated, like this Riesling that earned 4.7 stars from online reviews.
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Light bulbs
Price: $16.48
You could save $8 on light bulbs by using your Sam’s Club membership.
These GE LED bulbs cost $24.48 at Walmart, but the exact same four-pack at Sam’s Club costs $16.48 instead.
Buying these ahead of time can also save you a headache in case any of your lights go out.
Deli meat
Price: $8.87
This deli meat costs $6.45 a pound at Sam’s Club or $7.09 a pound at Walmart.
You’re getting pre-sliced, deli-style rotisserie chicken at each store, but the Member’s Mark brand offers better savings.
This is especially handy if you’re planning a party and want to create your own charcuterie board or sandwich bar.
Dog food
Price: $42.98
If you buy a similar premium brand of dog food from Walmart, you’re paying more for less.
Sam's Club lamb and brown rice dog food is $42.98 for 35 pounds, whereas the Walmart Pure Balance brand is $55 for 30 pounds.
You save over $12 by shopping this pet food at Sam’s Club, and it will last you longer, too.
Pasta
Price: $8.52
Stock up on pasta at Sam’s Club to save over $0.40 a box. At Walmart, one box of Barilla's elbows is $1.84, while this variety pack of elbows, spaghetti, and penne at Sam’s is $1.42 a box.
So, not only do you get more variety at Sam’s Club to mix things up, but you also save big in the long run.
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Paper towels
Price: $19.98
If you bought comparable paper towels at Walmart, you’d only be getting 110 sheets per roll, whereas Sam’s Club offers 150 per roll.
With this deal, you can save even more time and money in the long run by stocking up on Member’s Mark two-ply paper towels.
Plus, the Sam’s Club version has 4.9 stars in reviews, while Walmart’s has a 4.7 one.
Bottom line
Sam’s Club’s membership quickly pays for itself whether you’re buying bulk or looking for deals on big-ticket items. Plus, you can still stop by Walmart for your other smaller-ticket items for less.
These stores offer exclusive savings and a price-match guarantee that makes it easy to stretch your grocery budget.
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FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
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