Many shoppers weigh whether Sam's Club or Costco offers the better value, especially when it comes to bulk groceries and essentials. While both warehouse clubs can help you stretch your grocery budget, you might not want to pay for two memberships.
To help you decide, we looked at the pricing of popular items at both retailers. Here are 14 products that currently cost less at Sam's Club than they do at Costco.
Laundry detergent
A 156-count box of Tide PODS costs $29.98 at Sam's Club. At Costco, the same count costs $33.79. You can also get a 170-ounce Downy Liquid Fabric Softener bottle for $10.98 at Sam's Club. The identical bottle is $16.99 at Costco.
Dog food
At Sam's Club, a 35-pound bag of Member's Mark Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe costs $37.98. In comparison, Costco's 40-pound Kirkland Signature Adult Formula is priced at $46.99.
Chips
The Frito Lay Classic Mix 50-pack is $18.48 at Sam's Club. Costco's 54-pack is $22.99. Sam's Club also occasionally offers $2 discounts, making the deal even better.
Jasmine rice
A 25-pound bag of jasmine rice is $18.98 at Sam's Club, about $0.76 per pound. Costco's version costs $23.99, or around $0.96 per pound.
Coffee pods
Member's Mark Classic Variety Pack Coffee Pods at Sam's Club cost $32.98 for 100 pods. That's $0.33 per pod. Costco sells a 120-count of Kirkland Signature Organic Pacific Bold for $41.99, or $0.35 per pod.
Cookies
Sam's Club sells a 60-pack Nabisco Sweet Treats Variety Pack for $14.68. At Costco, a similar Oreo Cookies Variety Pack costs $16.99.
Soda
A 30-pack of Pepsi Mini is $15.48 at Sam's Club. At Costco, the same 30-pack costs $18.89.
Chicken noodle soup
A 12-count of Campbell's Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup is $12.98 at Sam's Club, while the same product is $15.99 at Costco.
Pop-Tarts
Sam's Club sells a 48-count box of Pop-Tarts for $9.98. Costco charges $12.49 for the same size box and flavor selection.
Nuts variety snack pack
The Planters Variety Pack of cashew and peanut snacks is $10.88 at Sam's Club for 24 packages. The same product costs $12.99 at Costco.
Gatorade Zero
Sam's Club has a 28-count Gatorade Zero Variety Pack for $16.28. The same pack costs $18.99 at Costco.
Nature Valley Protein Bars
A 30-count box of Nature Valley Protein Bars in the Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate flavor is $15.96 at Sam's Club. At Costco, it's $18.99.
Candy bars
Sam's Club offers a 30-count Mars Full Size Candy Bar pack for $29.88. At Costco, the equivalent pack costs $33.99, though it includes more variety with Skittles and Starburst.
Crackers
An 18-count box of RITZ Original Crackers is $9.98 at Sam's Club. Costco sells the same size package for $12.49.
Bottom line
If you're deciding between Sam's Club and Costco, the right choice may come down to which products you buy most often. Based on current prices, Sam's Club beats Costco on these 15 essentials. With a little price comparison ahead of time, you can make the most of your warehouse membership and your budget.
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Editor's Note: Portions of this story were drafted with assistance from generative AI tools. All final creative decisions, edits, and fact checking were done by human writers and editors.