5 Costco Buys That Seem Like Deals but Actually Waste Your Money
If you’re a loyal Costco customer, you’ve scored some really good deals. However, doing all of your shopping there could end up costing you more money than it saves. Just because it’s sold on Costco shelves does not mean it has the best price.
Most of the time, you can narrow down bad buys to certain categories. Some types of products are just not going to be as cheap at Costco as they are at neighborhood grocery stores or places like Target. You just have to know what to look for.
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Here’s how to be prepared next time you shop. MoneyLion spoke with consumer experts to find out what you shouldn’t buy at Costco. Read on to find out what not to buy and why.
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1. Fresh Produce
If you’re looking to stock up on your fruits and veggies, you might want to look elsewhere. Because you have to buy food in bulk at Costco, produce can easily go to waste. Then, you’re essentially paying to throw food away.
If you're buying more than you need with no plan to preserve it, you're just squandering food and money. If that's you, use Costco for non-perishables and specialty items instead, then pick up only as much fresh fruit and veg as you need for the next few days elsewhere.
2. Flowers
Perhaps you’re on your way to an event and you see flowers at Costco that might be nice to bring to your host. Nadi Melam, the founder and preservation artist at Florals Memories, said you’re better off making an extra stop at a smaller store.
“A February 2026 price comparison shows that Costco charged $36.99 for a bouquet of 24 roses, while Aldi and Trader Joe’s offered their flowers for less,” Melam said.
She said you should look at the price per stem and compare with other stores before committing to Costco.
3. Prepared Meals
Costco sells full meals that just need to be heated up and they’re ready to go. Though these may be convenient, you might be surprised at how much the price markup is.
“My family really likes chicken salad made with rotisserie chicken,” said Dmitrii Malashkin the CEO and founder of Born to Move. “When we compared the cost of buying a container of prepared chicken salad to the cost of buying a rotisserie chicken and adding mayonnaise, celery, and spices, we found that the prepared salad cost nearly twice as much.”
Malashkin said that it’s better to calculate the cost of food in bulk by dividing the cost of the food by the amount that your family will eat, not the amount in the package.
4. Canned Goods
Melanie Musson, a retail finance expert with Quote.com, said it’s important to remember that holidays can bring great grocery store sales. Sometimes, these markdowns can’t compete with Costco.
“Costco’s prices on name-brand canned goods like baked beans and pumpkin are similar to grocery store prices," she said, "but grocery stores run sales that often bring prices down to about half. Stock up during grocery store sales rather than pay full price at Costco.”
5. Glasses
Though it is convenient that Costco has an optical department, when you compare prices for frames with online retailers, Costco often trails behind.
“A basic pair from Costco with single-vision lenses comes in around $129,” said Costco member and co-president of Insurance Navy Rami Sneineh. “Get progressives or anti-reflective coating and you’re easily past the $200 mark. You can get a complete pair of prescription glasses at Zenni starting at $6.95, with most people spending between $40 and $60 on their order. At EyeBuyDirect, a basic pair averages about $70, with bifocals coming in at $29 and progressives at $49.”
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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