If I only shopped at Costco, I’d pay too much for bagels, waste a lot of eggs, miss out on Aldi’s grass-fed ground beef, and overpay for some pantry staples.
Based on the price per ounce, I’d save money on meat, canned goods, bread, and conventional produce at Aldi.
Costco, however, is my ideal pick for lower prices on dairy, cereal, organic produce, and packaged snacks like chips and cookies. (For example, I noticed Oreos were $0.25 an ounce at Aldi and only $0.18 an ounce at Costco.)
This logic isn’t foolproof, as prices and sales can vary by location and are subject to change; however, I feel fairly confident about where to shop for what.
Still, I must admit that realizing Costco isn’t the clear frontrunner for cheap groceries has me reevaluating my $65-a-year membership.
As much as I love shopping there and find its gas prices unbeatable, my small household doesn’t consume food quickly enough for buying in bulk to be a significant advantage.
Ultimately, the value of a membership comes down to household size, fridge and freezer space, what you buy, and how quickly you move through bulk groceries.
For larger families who consume more produce, packaged snacks, and cereals, the membership could quickly pay off.