14 Popular Costco Buys That Cost Less at Other Stores

Costco is your go-to store for hacks 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 and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Costco price: $7.00 per two gallons

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 $7 isn't the highest cost we've seen for two gallons of milk, it's far from the best.

You'll save money on milk by shopping at Walmart, where one gallon costs $2.74, or Target, where a gallon costs $2.79.

Costco price: $14.74

Dry goods like spaghetti seem like the ideal Costco buys since they last a long time. Unfortunately, Costco's price for eight 1-lb bags of spaghetti is $14.74 total.

In contrast, Walmart sells one 16-oz box of spaghetti for only $.98. 

Costco price: $12.47 (5.5-lb bag)

If you prefer the convenience of buying one 5.5-lb bag of frozen vegetables instead of five 1-lb bags, stick with Costco's Kirkland Signature Organic Normandy Vegetable bag.

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

For instance, Walmart sells 32-ounce bags for $2.62. Even if you bought three Walmart bags (for a total of six pounds), you'd spend just $7.86 total, over $4 in savings.

And at Grocery Outlet, a 16-ounce bag is just $1.59, bringing your five-pound total to just $7.95.

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Costco price: $22.33 (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 family pack at Aldi comes to $1.55 per pound. Costco's chicken thighs are $2.03 a pound, which is not much of a bargain by comparison.

Costco price: $33.49

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 $3.39 per pound at Costco.

In contrast, Walmart's chicken breasts cost $2.67 per pound. Grocery Outlet charges $3.09 per pound, while Target charges just $2.69 per pound.

Costco price: $7.99 (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 $2.00 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 $2.99 per pound — so you might as well get your tomatoes at Costco if Walmart isn't an option for you.

Costco price: $35.43 (6.26-pound bag)

At $5.66 per pound, Costco's price for ground beef isn't the worst in the grocery business.

But it's hard to beat Walmart's prices, including its price for ground beef, which is $4.94 per pound for its frozen 73% lean/27% fat beef.

Costco price: $23.99 (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 regularly costs $20.98.

Costco price: $14.74

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 28 ounces of Rao's marinara sauce for about $15, 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.

Costco price: $7.71

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.

Costco price: $11.69

Two 28-ounce jars of Costco's organic peanut butter will cost you nearly $12.

Meanwhile, at Walmart, you can get one 64-ounce carton of peanut butter for just $6.47, which is more than $6 cheaper. 

Costco price: $3.39

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

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

Costco price: $6.19

Costco's price for bread can seem like a bargain at first glance, but almost $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 almost equal the cost of two Costco-priced loaves.

Costco price: $15.09 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 $15 for a pound of wild Alaskan Sockeye salmon, Trader Joe's charges just $11.99 per pound of fresh Atlantic salmon. 

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.