Costco vs. Walmart: Which Store Has the Better Prices on 5 Winter Basics?
Shopping for winter basics might have you running back and forth between some of your favorite retailers, including Costco and Walmart. If you are trying to find the best prices on basics for the cold season, you might want to do some side-by-side comparison to see which store offers the better deals and save you a trip in traffic to the other one.
That’s exactly the analysis Elisabella Ricca, personal finance and consumer analyst at TopCashback, recently shared with MoneyLion ahead of the chilly months.
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See if Costco or Walmart comes out on top when it comes to saving you some money.
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Hot Chocolate Mix
Ricca found that a 50-count pack of Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa mix is currently $8.49 at Costco, compared to Walmart’s 30-count box for nearly the same price at $8.97.
“That works out to be about 17 cents per packet at Costco versus 30 cents at Walmart,” Ricca noted. “Costco gives you the better deal on hot chocolate packets.”
Keep in mind Costco's promotional offer won't last long. After it ends, the price will spring back up to $11.49.
Moisturizing Lotion
“With the changing seasons, shoppers may want to stock up on moisturizing lotion to help with dry winter skin,” Ricca explained. Her research found that Costco shoppers can get two 20-ounce Cetaphil dry-to-normal moisturizing lotions for $15.99 for right now, crowning the big box store the winner in this category.
“Conversely, Walmart sells a same-sized bottle for $15.97,” added Ricca. “That means at Costco you get two bottles for the price of one at Walmart, making Costco a much better value.”
Even after the Costco discount goes away, it's still far and enough the superior deal.
Assorted Teas
According to Ricca, tea is a drink that can bring a cozy ambiance to a cold, winter day and luckily, both Costco and Walmart offer the Stash Tea Essentials Variety Pack, including 180 tea bags in 6 different flavors.
“The difference, though, is how much they cost,” Ricca pointed out, highlighting that at Costco, the pack is $23.99, and at Walmart it’s almost $37.
“In this case, you’ll save $13 at Costco. Buying this amount makes the most sense, of course, if you or someone in your household is a frequent tea drinker," she noted.
Chicken Broth
Ricca shined a light on how winter is a great time to cook soup, making chicken broth a useful pantry staple, with the price differences between Walmart and Costco not being too far off when it comes to this must-have, yet finding that Costco has a slight edge.
Ricca found that Costco has a six-count Swanson Chicken Broth pack currently on sale for $9.99, making it cost around $1.67 per package. On the other hand, Walmart has single cartons on sale for $1.98. Therefore, if you’re buying six cartons at Costco, Ricca noted shoppers would save $1.89.
Cold and Flu Medicine
“Unfortunately, the winter months bring cold and flu season with them,” Ricca described. “When you need to relieve your cough, cold and flu symptoms, Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil LiquiCaps are helpful to have on hand.”
“Costco will end up being cheaper per capsule,” Ricca shared, stating how Costco sells a 72-count pack for $24.99, while Walmart sells a 24-count pack for $13.12. “At Walmart, it’s about 55 cents per capsule, while at Costco, it’s about 35 cents per capsule; a difference of about 20 cents per capsule.”
Overall Winner
When it comes to stocking up for winter–from cozy beverages to self-care products–Ricca’s breakdown shows that Costco is the winner when it comes to price. Before the first snow, make sure you go to Costco to save.
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.
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