Costco vs. Walmart: Which Is Actually Cheaper for Monthly Household Essentials?
For shoppers seeking a deal, it makes sense to compare pricing between popular stores — so that’s exactly what MoneyLion did, comparing the cost of store-brand household essentials at Walmart and Costco to uncover where you’ll get the best deal.
The findings may surprise you, as quite a few comparisons ended in a tie with any price differences very small, though one name-brand product was significantly different. The real considerations when you’re shopping at Walmart versus Costco often come down to your current budget, how many trips to the store you want to save, and the amount of storage space in your home.
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1. Laundry Detergent
Winner: Tie
Kirkland UltraClean Premium Laundry Detergent from Costco contains enough to do 146 loads and costs $17.89 ($0.09/ounce). You can also choose the Free & Clear version for the same price. Great Value Ultimate Fresh Laundry Detergent will do 107 loads and costs $11.64 ($0.08/ounce), so you’re getting a slightly better deal at Walmart.
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The potential benefit of shopping at Costco and paying the additional cent per ounce is that you’re getting a larger container and won't have to head back to the store for another jug as soon, saving you money on gas. This one’s close enough to be a tie.
2. Toilet Paper
Winner: Walmart
Toilet paper is an item that you can almost always safely buy in bulk, which often makes Costco a top pick for this item. Toilet paper prices can be difficult to compare when you take ply, feel, sheets and number of rolls into account, so you’ll ultimately have to make the decision that makes you most comfortable.
Kirkland Signature Bath Tissue is $21.99 for 30 rolls, and each roll has 380 sheets. Great Value Soft & Strong Premium Toilet Paper is $19.67 for 36 mega rolls also with a total of 380 sheets per roll. If you go this route, you’re getting a lot more for your money than with the Kirkland version. Walmart wins this one, assuming you have no preference in the product.
3. Trash Bags
Winner: Tie
Surprisingly, if you get the 80-count Great Value Trash Bags or the 200-count Kirkland Signature Flex-Tex Trash Bags, you’ll be paying the same amount per bag — $0.11. When that’s the case, two other considerations come into play: budget and space.
If you’re on a tighter budget or lack storage space, the 80-count pack is $8.87 and won’t take up as much space in your home as the 200-count pack, which costs $22.49 and comes in a large box. On the other hand, if you've got the room, the bigger one saves you a trip in the future or getting caught flat-footed when you empty the trash.
4. Paper Towels
Winner: Tie
Paper towels can be difficult to compare when it comes to prices because you also have to take into account their quality and absorbency, which ultimately determines how long they’ll last and how much value they offer. You can also compare price per sheet or price per square foot.
That said, the Great Value Everyday Strong Paper Towels packs cost $8.12 and contain six “triple rolls” for an equivalent of 18 regular rolls. A roll contains 165 split sheets, which means you can tear smaller sections off the roll. Kirkland Signature Paper Towels cost $23.99 and come in packs of 12 rolls with 160 sheets per individually wrapped roll.
The price per sheet breakdown puts both brands at barely $0.01 per sheet, so the difference between the two is negligible. This one also comes down to your budget or your capacity to store a large amount of paper towels in your home.
5. Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Winner: Costco
Multi-purpose cleaner is one of the products that’s quite a bit cheaper at Costco. At Walmart, a 56-fluid-ounce bottle of Fabuloso is $4.97 compared to Costco’s Fabuloso price of $12.99 for a 210-fluid-ounce bottle. If you were to buy the same amount from Walmart, it would cost a total of $18.64, meaning you’ll save almost $6 when you buy the larger size.
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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