What $100 in Groceries at Costco Will Cost You at Trader Joe’s
Written by
J. Arky
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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It is a tough choice to pick when it comes to grocery shopping: Costco or Trader Joe’s? Both stores have all the food and household items you need to complete your weekly trip to the store.
The debate really boils down to how much of each store’s quality products can you get since Costco tends to sell in bulk while Trader Joe’s does not. When you add up the dollars, it’s clear that one makes sense when you are looking to stay on a budget.Â
To put this to the test, here is what $100 in groceries at Costco will cost you at Trader Joe’s.
Creamy Peanut Butter
- Trader Joe’s price: $2.49
- Costco’s price: $11.69
For all of the peanut butter fans out there, take notes that while Trader Joe’s has Creamy Salted Peanut Butter available in a 16-ounce jar for about $2.50, Costco offers a two-count of Kirkland Signature Organic Peanut Butter, with each container holding 28 ounces of your favorite condiment for just under $12.
Salad Dressing
- Trader Joe’s price: $3.99
- Costco’s price: $14.99
The Costco price of Hidden Valley Original Ranch Homestyle Dressing is only $15 for a two-count of 40 fluid ounces of your favorite salad dressing. Trader Joe’s has an 11-ounce bottle of Buttermilk Ranch on sale for $3.99, which you’d need to buy almost 8 bottles of to match what you get from Costco.
Balsamic Vinegar
- Trader Joe’s price: $5.99
- Costco’s price: $44.99
An 8.5-fluid-ounce bottle of balsamic vinegar at Trader Joe’s comes out to about $6. Put that up against Costco’s Kirkland Signature Organic Modena Balsamic Vinegar two-pack with 33.8 fluid ounces in each bottle. Do the math to see how much your dollar can stretch for this staple item in your kitchen, and you’ll start to see where the savings add up when you buy in bulk.
Breakfast Coffee
- Trader Joe’s price: $16.99
- Costco’s price: $39.99
At Costco, the Kirkland Signature USDA Organic Whole Bean Blend 2-pound, 2-pack will cost you almost $40 compared to when you pick up two 28-ounce cans of of Organic Fair Trade Wake Up Blend Coffee at Trader Joe’s for about $17 each, giving you more beans for your buck.
Grocery Bill Total
- Trader Joe’s total: $121.63
- Costco’s total: $111.66
These final checkout bills reflect the amount of Trader Joe’s products you’d need to purchase to get the same amount of Costco products for about $10 less.
Editor’s note: Prices are accurate as of Mar 21, 2025. Prices and availability may vary by location.
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