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Costco's fame comes from its bulk bargains, but have you ever wondered if those savings outweigh the $65 annual membership fee? There are many Costco membership perks, from designer goods at affordable prices to the high quality of Kirkland Signature items, but what about the bare bones?
To find out, we compared everyday essentials at Costco and Target. The results may surprise you.
Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.
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Eggs
Costco: $2.92 per dozen
Target: $5.29 per dozen
Let's start with a breakfast staple, and a big win for Costco members. Per dozen, eggs are nearly 45% cheaper at Costco than at Target. If you're an avid baker, that difference adds up before you know it.
To put it into perspective, just $2 savings per dozen translates to over $100 a year if you use a carton each week.
Milk
Costco: $3.22 per gallon
Target: $2.69 per gallon
We didn't expect this, but there it is: Target comes ahead when it comes to milk. Unless you're buying in bulk for a large household or sharing with family, you'll save more on perishable items like milk by sticking with your local Target.
Toilet paper
Costco: $1.13 per roll
Target: $1.66 per roll
Essentials like toilet paper, tissue, and paper towels are some of Costco's most sought-after bargains. At $1.13 per roll, Costco's offering beats Target's Charmin Ultra Strong toilet paper by 53 cents, which is quite a margin. Depending on how much toilet paper you use, in the long run, you could be saving 30% on a non-negotiable.
For even more savings, you can opt for Costco's store brand. The Kirkland Signature Bath Tissue will run you even cheaper at 83 cents per roll.
Paper towels
Costco: $1.99 per roll
Target: $2.64 per roll
Similar to toilet paper, Costco also comes ahead when it comes to paper towels. Its price per roll is almost a dollar less than Target's.
If you consider how many paper towel rolls you use in a year, you'll easily see that the savings can cover part of your Costco membership cost.
Bread
Costco: $3.06
Target: $3.69
For this article, we compared a loaf of Nature's Own Whole Wheat Bread. Costco wins again, with a price that's about 17% cheaper than Target's pantry essential.
A popular brand like Nature's Own is worth the savings. Besides, bread freezes well, so buying larger loaves is a good reason to shop at Costco.
Rice
Costco: $1.12 per pound
Target: $2.10 per pound
Even if you don't go through a lot of rice regularly, it's an easy-to-store source of healthy carbs and a quick snack or meal.
With Costco selling a 25-pound bag almost a dollar cheaper per pound than Target, it's easy to see where your savings are coming from in the long term.
Cooking oil
Costco: 14 cents per fl ounce
Target: 11 cents per fl ounce
Unlike rice, cooking oil can go rancid relatively quickly. Here's a great instance of where buying in bulk isn't better, and Target takes the lead with a three-cent saving.
Unless you're using cooking oil daily, you'll be better off buying smaller bottles from Target. Doing so will also prevent waste.
Soap
Costco: 97 cents per bar
Target: $1.62 per bar
For the sake of transparency, here we compared Costco's 15-bar Kirkland Signature shea butter soap with eight bars of Target's Dove Beauty Shea Butter Bar Soap. We could have picked a cheaper soap, but we wanted to ensure the ingredients were comparable, ensuring the most similar comparison possible.
Here, too, Costco wins the first spot, especially by offering a larger pack that is likely to last close to a year in a smaller household.
Toothpaste
Costco: $3.19 per tube
Target: $4.99 per tube
Costco shines here, too. With more than one dollar in savings on Crest Pro Health Advanced toothpaste and five packs per package, it'll let you save in spades.
Moreover, toothpaste doesn't expire quickly, so it makes sense to buy multi-packs in bulk to save even more.
Frozen vegetable mix
Costco: 11 cents per ounce
Target: 11 cents per ounce
This one's a tie. We looked at store-brand broccoli-cauliflower blends for both retailers, and it works out to exactly 11 cents per ounce.
Your choice comes down to freezer space and brand preference, but with a Costco membership, you get the convenience of tossing a bag or two in your cart and skipping an extra trip.
Laundry detergent
Costco: 14 cents per load
Target: 15 cents per load
Laundry detergent can be a drain on the budget, but it's one product that a Costco membership can help with. At 14 cents per load, it's slightly cheaper than Target's store-brand soap.
Apples
Costco: $2.13 per pound
Target: $3.34 per pound
As fruit is an everyday essential, we decided to compare the price of in-season apples — the Honeycrisp variety — between these two stores.
Costco offers a roughly 36% discount on these delicious treats, and the quality of its produce often exceeds supermarket standards.
Trash bags
Costco: 10 cents per bag
Target: 18 cents per count
At 10 cents per bag, Costco offers you almost half of Target's price. Regardless of how often you use your membership to shop, this is one of the best buys for your household, especially since trash bags don't expire.
Bottom line
As it turns out, the perks of shopping with a membership aren't as cut and dry as you may have thought. For bulk shoppers and large families, Costco's prices can easily cover the membership cost within a few short months.
However, if you'd rather save more on everyday essentials in smaller quantities or you like to shop more frequently, Target's flexibility, smaller packages, and frequent promotions may save you more in the long term. It's entirely up to you and your budget.
More from FinanceBuzz:
- 12 ways to pocket up to $300
- Are you a homeowner? Get a protection plan on all your appliances.
- 10 little weird hacks Costco shoppers should know.
- Learn how to escape the paycheck-to-paycheck grind.
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