6 Items To Splurge On, Settle For or Skip at Costco
Costco's bulk pricing is legendary, but savvy shoppers know that not every item on those warehouse shelves deserves a spot in your cart.
While the bulk model promises savings, the real value depends on quality, shelf life and your household's actual consumption patterns. The key is knowing which products justify the higher upfront cost, which offer acceptable compromises, and which are better left behind.
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To help you maximize your Costco shopping trip, we've evaluated six popular items across three categories: splurges that deliver exceptional quality or value, settling options that work fine if you're budget-conscious and items to skip entirely — no matter how good they look. Use this guide to navigate your next warehouse run with confidence.
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Items To Splurge On
Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Price: $30.99
Costco's two-liter bottle of extra virgin olive oil commands a higher price tag than budget cooking oils, but the quality justifies the investment, especially if you cook regularly. Premium olive oil doesn't just taste noticeably better; it also preserves more antioxidants and heart-healthy compounds. Since Costco's bulk format spreads that upfront cost across many meals, you're getting exceptional quality at a per-ounce price that rivals or beats specialty food stores.
Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon
Price: $48.79
Wild-caught salmon is a splurge-worthy protein powerhouse, packed with omega-3s and lean muscle-building amino acids. Costco's individually wrapped portions eliminate the typical markup you'd pay at traditional grocery stores, making premium salmon genuinely affordable in bulk. The individually wrapped format also means you can thaw only what you need, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
Items To Settle For
Paper Towels
Price: $23.99
If you just need paper towels to dry your hands or clean up small spills when you’re cooking, you don’t necessarily need to buy the best paper towel on the market. At Costco, you can get 12 rolls (160 sheets per roll) of paper towels for just $23.99. They might not be as absorbent and tough as Bounty’s version, but they still perform pretty well for most household cleaning tasks.
Bottled Water
Price: $4.53
If your family goes through a lot of bottled water, there's no reason to pay extra for premium labels, since Costco's Kirkland bottled water tastes pretty much the same as those from more expensive brands. Of course, a reusable water bottle and filtered tap water are even cheaper, but if bottled water is non-negotiable for your household, Costco's house brand is the smarter buy.
Items To Skip
Organic Cooked Beets
Price: $9.07
Buying fruit and vegetables in bulk only saves money if you actually eat them before they spoil. Costco's oversized produce packages, like these Gefen organic beets, can be a great value for large families. But if you live alone, you might just end up throwing away food you can’t finish. So, unless you have a plan to freeze or meal prep your produce packs, you might want to buy smaller quantities at other grocery stores like Trader Joe’s or Aldi.
Ketchup Multi-Pack
Price: $15.88
Giant bottles of ketchup or mayonnaise look like a pretty good deal, but it's not if half of it expires before you use it. Condiments can last longer than produce, but they still have a pretty limited shelf life and can start to taste bad over time. So, if you don’t plan on using it a lot, get a smaller-sized container somewhere else.
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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