What 4 Grocery Staples Cost at Costco vs. Walmart
Written by
Nicholas Morine
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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As the American economy continues to struggle with cost-of-living issues related to persistent inflation, cost increases in grocery stores and retail locations (and on utility bills!), and high interest rates in the auto and housing markets, consumers are understandably tightening their fiscal belts and eyeing price tags with increased scrutiny.
So when it comes to two of the nation’s largest retailers — Walmart and Costco — which one offers the better bang for your buck on grocery staples?
White Bread
There’s nothing quite like a slice of white bread toasted to perfection with a bit of butter on top. Or take two slices and make yourself a sandwich for lunch on the go. Most kitchens usually have this particular grocery staple sitting on the counter, or in a bread box, ready to eat.
Costco sells Old Country round top white bread for $4.79 for 2 pounds, or 32 ounces. By comparison, Walmart sells its private-label Great Value round top white bread for $1.42 for 20 ounces. A quick calculation puts Old Country’s offering at almost $0.15 per ounce and Great Value’s at $0.07, so Walmart’s bread is about half of the price.
With that being said, however, there may not be a clear winner, at least if quality is a concern. Walmart’s Great Value white bread has a rating of just 2.9 stars out of five via 2,391 customer ratings. There are no ratings provided for Costco’s Old Country product, however.
Cage-Free White Eggs
If you’d like to put a nice egg on your toast to add some protein to your breakfast, you certainly wouldn’t be alone. While the price of eggs may be falling in some markets, they remain relatively expensive compared with past years.
Costco sells a 40-pack of jumbo cage-free white eggs for $17.59, or about $0.44 per egg, while Walmart lists a dozen large cage-free white eggs for $5.44 originally (though they’re currently on sale for $2.96). With the regular price, that’s $0.45 per egg, but with the sale price, it’s just $0.25.
Again, poor reviews are in evidence on Walmart’s Great Value eggs, achieving 3.1 stars out of five.
Reduced-Fat 2% Milk
Milk remains a must-have in most American kitchens, whether you’re pouring up a tall glass of it or including it as part of cooking or baking recipes.
Costco offers its Kirkland Signature 2% milk in a dual-pack of gallon containers for $8.99, or about $4.50 a gallon. Meanwhile, Walmart’s Great Value 2% milk comes in at the more modest price point of $2.63 per gallon.
Walmart’s milk did again exhibit some rocky reviews, scoring 3.1 out of five stars over 8,049 ratings.
Ground Beef
Ground beef is perhaps one of the most versatile meats one can keep in the fridge. Tacos, hamburgers, spaghetti and meatballs, and many more dishes all rely upon this protein to keep things interesting.
Costco takes the lead on this one. Its Kirkland Signature 73% lean ground beef is priced at $3.89 per pound on a 10-pound roll.
On the other hand, Walmart sells a 5-pound roll of 73% lean ground beef for $19.94, or about $3.99 per pound. Reviews are again mixed, at 3.3 stars derived from 845 ratings.
Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.
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