Costco vs Trader Joe’s: Which Store Saves You More on Weekly Essentials?
Written by
Jamela Adam
Edited by
Amen Oyiboke
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Costco and Trader Joe’s both have loyal followings, and for good reason. One’s known for bulk deals and a massive selection, and the other wins on curated products and affordable items you can’t find elsewhere.
To find out which saves you more money on a grocery run, we put together a hypothetical shopping list of nine common grocery items and compared the cost per unit at each. Note that these prices are based on averages, so you may not see the exact same prices at your local store.
Here’s a Hypothetical Shopping List
- Eggs
- Whole milk
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Bananas
- Organic baby spinach
- Cheddar cheese
- Greek yogurt
- Organic peanut butter
- Fresh salmon
Costco vs. Trader Joe’s Price Comparison
| Item | Costco Price per unit | Trader Joe’s Price Per Unit | Winner |
| Eggs | $3.50/dozen | $6.50/dozen | Costco |
| Whole milk | $2.55/gallon | $6.49/half gallon | Costco |
| Chicken breasts | $3.39/lb | $7.49/lb | Costco |
| Bananas | $0.5/lb | $0.5/lb | Tie |
| Organic baby spinach | $5/lb | $6/lb | Costco |
| Cheddar cheese | $6/lb | $9/lb | Costco |
| Greek yogurt | $8/48 oz | $7.20/48oz | Trader Joe’s |
| Organic peanut butter | $5.67/28 oz | $7.85/28 oz | Costco |
| Fresh salmon | $13.61/lb | $12.99/lb | Trader Joe’s |
Breaking Down the Savings
On this list, Costco comes out ahead in 6 out of 9 items, mainly because of its bulk pricing. Eggs, milk, chicken, peanut butter, and spinach all cost less per unit when you buy them at Costco.
That said, even though Trader Joe’s might be more expensive overall, it’s come out with plenty of products that customers rave about. For example, their Everything But the Bagel seasoning, Mandarin orange chicken, unexpected cheddar cheese, and cauliflower gnocchi are all pretty popular. Though these aren’t always the cheapest options, their uniqueness could make them worth the extra cost.
When Costco Wins
Go with Costco if you have the space and the appetite for bulk. Buying chicken breasts in an 8-pound pack drops the per-pound price by more than $4 compared to Trader Joe’s. The same goes for salmon and milk, where buying in larger sizes brings the cost down quite a bit.
Per-unit savings on basics like eggs might seem small, but they add up over a year. For example, if you go through two dozen eggs a week, Costco’s price would save you over $100 each year compared to Trader Joe’s.
When Trader Joe’s Wins
Trader Joe’s might make more sense if you want smaller portions and certain niche items. For those who don’t have fridge or freezer space for bulk chicken or milk, their smaller packages mean you’re less likely to throw away unused food. Plus, they have lots of unique snacks and products that you won’t find anywhere else.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go to Costco if: you have the storage space and want the lowest per-unit cost on everyday basics.
- Go to Trader Joe’s if: you prioritize unique specialty products and minimal waste.
Of course, you don’t have to grocery shop at just one of these two. You can always comparison shop and find the best options between them. For example, you could stock up on milk, meat, and coffee at Costco, then go to Trader Joe’s for their unique products, like their organic vodka sauce or Speculoos cookie butter.
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