Costco vs. Sam's Club: We Compared 15 Grocery Staples -- Here's Who's Cheaper
A price comparison between Costco and Sam’s Club for grocery staples reveals a clear winner, but only if you look at price in isolation.
Even if you only consider price, comparisons between the membership-only warehouse giants are tricky. National averages can be skewed by Sam Club’s dominance in the South and Midwest, which are traditionally lower-cost areas than Costco-dominated places like California and New York. Plus, prices can fluctuate no matter which part of the country you call home.
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Let’s attempt to even the playing field by comparing prices in a city that has both Costco and Sam’s Club. The most populous U.S. city in which these two giants overlap? Houston. There are seven Sam’s Club locations and three Costco locations within this sprawling Texas city with about 2.4 million residents.
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Because both chains rely heavily on their private‑label brands, comparing Costco’s Kirkland Signature with Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark offers the most consistent, apples‑to‑apples view of everyday pricing.
Here’s a comparison of prices for 15 common grocery staples. These figures were gathered online from in‑store listings, Houston ZIP code‑specific online catalogs and verified regional averages.
Milk (1 Gallon, 2%)
Costco (Kirkland): $3.35
Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark): $3.18
Winner: Sam’s Club by 17 cents
Eggs (24‑count)
Costco (Kirkland): $5.49
Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark): $4.98
Winner: Sam’s Club by 51 cents
Butter (4 Pounds)
Costco (Kirkland): $12.99
Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark): $11.48
Winner: Sam’s club by $1.51
Cheddar Cheese (2 Pounds)
Costco (Kirkland): $6.89
Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark): $6.42
Winner: Sam’s Club by 47 cents
Bread (2‑Pack Sandwich Bread)
Costco (Kirkland): $5.79
Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark): $4.98
Winner: Sam’s Club by 81 cents
Rice (20 Pounds, Long‑Grain)
Costco (Kirkland): $12.49
Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark): $11.72
Winner: Sam’s Club by 77 cents
Pasta (6 Pounds)
Costco (Kirkland): $6.99
Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark): $6.48
Winner: Sam’s Club by 51 cents
Potatoes (10 Pounds, Russet)
Costco: $6.49
Sam’s Club: $5.98
Winner: Sam’s Club by 51 cents
Apples (5-Pound Bag)
Costco: $7.99
Sam’s Club: $6.98
Winner: Sam’s Club by $1.01
Chicken Breasts (per Pound)
Costco (boneless/skinless): $3.49 a pound
Sam’s Club (boneless/skinless): $3.28 a pound
Winner: Sam’s Club by 51 cents
Canned Tomatoes (28 Ounces)
Costco (Kirkland): $1.79
Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark): $1.58
Winner: Sam’s Club by 21 cents
Vegetable Oil (1 Gallon)
Costco (Kirkland): $7.49
Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark): $6.98
Winner: Sam’s Club by 51 cents
All‑Purpose Flour (10 pounds)
Costco (Kirkland): $6.99
Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark): $6.48
Winner: Sam’s Club by 51 cents
Ground Coffee (2.5 Pounds)
Costco (Kirkland): $12.99
Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark): $11.98
Winner: Sam’s Club by $1.01
Peanut Butter (2 40-Ounce Containers)
Costco (Kirkland): $9.99
Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark): $8.98
Winner: Sam’s Club by $1.01
And the winner on pure price is… Sam’s Club. A division of Walmart, Inc., Sam’s Club comes in at least a little bit lower on all 15 of the items in the list. For these 15 staples combined, you can save about $10 shopping there instead of Costco.
Basket Total and Final Take
Costco (77055): $128.71
Sam’s Club (77043): $118.76
Costco comes close on prices and argues that if offers higher quality, better return policies and other member experiences, and more consistent pricing. If you live in a place with both options, comparing them on more than price alone may be worth the effort.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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