Costco vs. Sam's Club: Which Has Better Deals on Summer Grilling?
If you grill hard all summer and buy in bulk, which warehouse club actually delivers more sizzle for your dollar?
To find out, we compared seven summer grilling staples side by side at Costco and Sam's Club: burger patties, hot dogs, charcoal briquettes, paper plates, a condiment pack, disposable cups, hamburger buns and a portable charcoal grill. Where possible, we matched equivalent package sizes.
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Here's how the two clubs stack up, item by item.
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Burger Patties (18-Count)
Costco: $28.69
Sam's Club: $31.57
Costco wins this round by more than $2. The Member's Mark Ground Angus Beef Patties come in at $31.57, while the Kirkland Signature Ground Beef Patties run $28.69. Both are 75% lean and well-suited for backyard cookouts, but Costco offers a slight per-patty savings.
Beef Hot Dogs
Costco: $16.29 for 36
Sam's Club: $10.86 for 24
The Kirkland Signature Beef Hot Dogs cost $16.29 for 36 all-beef franks, which is about 45 cents each. Sam's Club's Member's Mark Beef Hot Dogs run $10.86, or about 45 cents per dog, making them equal. For a big cookout, Costco's Kirkland pack gives you more dogs in one go. But if you don't need so many, Sam's Club is the way to go.
Charcoal Briquettes
Costco: $25.53 (Kingsford Professional, 36 pounds)
Sam's Club: $23.48 (Kingsford Original, 40 pounds)
Sam's Club wins on charcoal, getting you 40 pounds Kingsford Original for less. Costco's Kingsford Professional briquettes is the Professional formula, while Sam's carries the Original. Both popular choices for summer grilling, but an independent test by Virtual Weber Bullet found Kingsford Professional burns hotter and with less ash, meaning it's better suited to the burgers 'n' dogs grilling that goes on at summer cookouts. It also means you can use less to reach the same temperature. As long as you grill semiregularly, those extra 4 pounds and the lower price might help you keep saving more money over the summer.
8.5-Inch Paper Plates
Costco: $21.99
Sam's Club: $20.98
Sam's Club wins this category by $1 in sticker price, but by 60 extra plates for a clear per-unit victory. The Member's Mark Ultra Lunch Paper Plates offer a cost of roughly 7 cents per plate, compared to about 9 cents per plate for the Dixie Ultra's 240-count at Costco. Both are soak-proof and strong enough for a loaded burger plate, so why not get the cheaper one?
Disposable Cups
Costco: $14.99
Sam's Club: $12.74
Sam's Club wins this round, and it's not even close. The Member's Mark Heavy-Duty Red Cups are a 240-count of 18 ounces, costing $12.74: That's about 5 cents per cup. Costco's Solo 16-ounce cups run $14.99 for 200, or 7.5 cents each. Sam's Club gives you more cups, bigger size and a lower price, for a clean sweep.
Hamburger Buns
Costco: $6.49
Sam's Club: $3.84
Sam's Club wins the bun battle. A 24-pack of Sara Lee Hamburger Buns at Costco come in at just $6.49 for about 27 cents per bun. Sam's Club's Home Pride Hamburger Buns are $3.84 for only 16 buns, making them about 24 cents each.
Portable Charcoal Grill
Costco: $94.99
Sam's Club: $169.98
Costco wins here if you want something truly portable. The Duro 304 Stainless Steel Tabletop Charcoal Grill is an online-only item at $94.99, and comes with a carrying bag perfect for tailgates, camping or balcony grilling. Sam's Club's Member's Mark 22.5" Charcoal Kettle Grill is a larger, full-featured kettle at approximately $169.98, and is better for a stationary backyard setup. However, if you need a dedicated patio grill, Sam's Club offers more cooking space for the far less money.
Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice. It was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy; however, AI-generated content may be inaccurate, incomplete or outdated. You should independently verify important information through reliable sources before making any decisions based on this content.
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