I Brought the Same Grocery List to Costco & Walmart - Here's Who Was the Clear Winner

Bulk buys don't always make the most sense for every household. That's why warehouse shopping isn't always my standard go-to. This month, I took my grocery list to Costco and Walmart to compare prices on everything from pantry staples to decadent desserts.

Keep in mind, this isn't a strict price per product showdown. Costco's oversized quantities make it tricky to accurately match up individual items. Instead of simply adding up the totals, I broke down each pick on my list by weight or size. Along with factoring in bulk buy pricing, I also had to consider the annual membership fee. My $65-per-year Gold Star card adds a little extra cash to each Costco order.

Did I save money at Walmart or score the best deals at Costco? Keep reading to find out which store was the clear winner.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Pantry products

Winner: Costco

Shelf-stable staples like pasta and canned goods make it easy to stock up and save. This is one area in which Costco excels. While bulk-buy deli items, prepared foods, dairy products, and produce tend to go bad in my fridge before I can use them, pantry picks could last for months or even years.

For this shopping trip, I priced pasta and canned tomato sauce. Costco sells six 17.6-ounce bags of Garofalo Organic Pasta for $11.99. While Walmart does sell one-pound boxes of Great Value spaghetti for $1.36, I wanted a true organic-versus-organic comparison. I found the same Garofalo product in the same quantity on the superstore's website for $22.75.

Like pasta, Costco also has affordable organic tomato sauce. The Kirkland Signature 12-count (15-ounce cans) costs $13.49. Walmart sells one 15-ounce can of Great Value Organic Tomato Sauce for $1.63. At $1.12 per can, the warehouse club's bulk buy is the winner.

Beverages

Winner: Costco

Both stores offer budget-friendly bargains on bottled seltzer, coffee, and more. But which retailer has the best prices?

I found a 24-count of Sparkling Ice Zero Sugar Life Savers Sparkling Water (17-ounce-bottle variety pack) for $7.97 at a local Costco club. Walmart sells individual bottles of Sparkling Ice for $1.27. In this match-up, Costco's in-store deal wins at $0.33 per bottle. Keep in mind, prices vary by location. I found this unbelievable bargain near me, but some Costco clubs may have a much higher price.

Along with sparkling water, I also checked generic coffee pods. Costco's Kirkland Signature Organic Pacific Bold K-Cups (120-count) cost $41.99 or $0.35 per pod. Walmart sells a more manageable quantity of Great Value 100% Arabica Breakfast Blend Pods (12-count) for $4.71. At that price, you would pay $0.39 per store-brand K-cup.

Dairy

Winner: Costco

Kirkland Signature's two-count of 2.5-pound bags of shredded mozzarella is a steal at $12.69. But if your family can't eat all that cheese before it gets moldy, the bulk-buy bargain isn't worth the cash. I found a smaller eight-ounce bag from Great Value at Walmart for $1.97. In a straight price-per-ounce comparison, Costco wins at $0.16 versus $0.25.

Greek yogurt was also on my shopping list. The warehouse price for Costco's 48-ounce tub of Kirkland Signature Organic Greek Yogurt was $7.49 ($0.16 per ounce). In comparison, a 32-ounce container of Chobani Non-Fat Greek Yogurt costs $5.97 at the superstore ($0.19 per ounce).

Walmart does sell 32 ounces of Great Value Greek Yogurt for $3.28 ($0.10 per ounce). But it isn't organic. If organic is a must in your household, Costco offers the better deal.

Frozen fruits and vegetables

Winner: Costco

Costco's Kirkland Signature Three Berry Blend is perfect for making smoothies, sweet treats, and breakfast bowls. But at four pounds, it isn't easy to fit into smaller freezers. If you have room for the bulk buy, you can snag this freezer section find for $13.69 ($0.21 per ounce). Walmart sells a one-pound pack of Great Value Frozen Whole Berry Medley for $3.52 ($0.22 per ounce).

My list also included frozen veggies. Kirkland Signature's 5.5-pound Stir-Fry Vegetable Blend costs $10.99 at my local club. The superstore charges $2.84 for a 20-ounce bag from Great Value. Which generic costs less? Costco's per-ounce price is $0.12, while Walmart's is $0.14.

Desserts

Winner: Costco

Costco has a standout fresh bakery section that includes items you aren't likely to find at Walmart. The warehouse club's Kirkland Signature Pumpkin Cheesecake with Whipped Topping is a decadently indulgent dessert with a somewhat high price tag ($21.99). Walmart sells a Freshness Guaranteed New York Style Cheesecake for $6.72.

Even though the total cost is significantly more for Costco's item, you will get over four pounds of pumpkin-packed goodness for the price. Walmart's smaller sweet treat weighs in at one pound. When I did the math, Kirkland's cheesecake was only $5.50 per pound. That makes the Costco confection the best bargain.

Bottom line

So there you have it. The winner of the warehouse club versus superstore match-up is Costco. Even though I spent less at the warehouse club, Walmart still has amazingly affordable deals. This makes it important to shop both stores to score the best bargains. While this strategy takes more time and energy, the savings could make the extra trips worth it.

Now that you know which retailer made it easier for me to tackle high grocery costs, I've got one more tip that could help you save money on everyday essentials: Swap brand-name products for equivalent private-label lines. Costco's Kirkland Signature and Walmart's Great Value products are comparable to more expensive options — minus the fancy label and clever marketing campaigns.

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