Costco Grocery Prices
Costco typically prices groceries 15–30% below traditional supermarkets. Costco Membership required.
Avg savings vs supermarket
15–30%
per unit on staples
Est. weekly cart savings
$30
on a $150 grocery cart
Est. annual savings
$1560
based on weekly shopping
Membership
$65–$130/year
breaks even in ~6 months
Best Grocery Deals at Costco
Rotisserie chickenKirkland organic eggsSalmonButterOlive oilNuts & trail mixCheeseWine
Why Are Costco Grocery Prices Lower?
Costco operates on a near-zero retail margin — they make almost all their profit from membership fees. This allows them to sell grocery items at or near cost, sometimes below. Their Kirkland Signature private label is manufactured by the same suppliers as top name brands (often the exact same product) but sold at a fraction of the price. Volume buying power and streamlined logistics keep costs down further.
Membership Options
✓Gold Star ($65/year) — standard warehouse access
✓Executive ($130/year — 2% annual reward on purchases, extra discounts)
Shopping Tips
•Kirkland Signature brand rivals or beats name brands at 20–40% lower price
•Rotisserie chicken is famously $4.99 regardless of inflation
•Executive members earn 2% back — at $3,250+ annual spend, it covers the membership fee
•Costco app shows current prices and Instant Savings deals
Costco Grocery Prices by State
Grocery prices vary by region. Select your state to see local context.
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Costco Grocery Prices — FAQs
Is Costco the cheapest place to buy groceries?
Costco is consistently among the cheapest for bulk grocery staples. Studies show Costco can be 15–30% cheaper than traditional supermarkets on comparable items. The Kirkland Signature brand specifically often undercuts even store brands at competitors while maintaining high quality.
What groceries are cheapest at Costco?
Costco's best grocery deals include: rotisserie chicken ($4.99 — a famous loss leader), organic eggs, wild-caught salmon, Kirkland butter, olive oil, coffee, nuts, dried fruit, cheese, and fresh produce. The per-unit price on most packaged goods beats standard grocery stores.
Is the Costco Executive membership worth it for groceries?
The Executive membership ($130/year) pays for itself if you spend $3,250+/year at Costco through the 2% reward. For a family of four doing regular grocery shopping, this threshold is usually easy to hit. You'd receive $65 back, making your net membership cost $65 — same as the base Gold Star.
Does Costco accept EBT/SNAP for groceries?
Yes. Costco accepts EBT/SNAP cards for eligible food items at all US warehouse locations. Note: you still need a paid membership to shop — the EBT card only covers qualifying food purchases.
How does Costco keep grocery prices so low?
Costco earns the vast majority of its profit from membership fees, not product markups. This lets them price groceries at near-cost. They stock a limited product selection (~4,000 SKUs vs 30,000+ at a typical grocery store), which gives them massive volume leverage with suppliers.