How Much Does a Costco Membership Actually Save You?
It seems like a good idea — getting that membership to Costco so you can save lots of money on groceries and household products. But if you're on the fence about whether a membership would be right for you, take some time to check out Costco's online site to see what products it has that you're interested in, or visit a location in person to look around.
You can get a Costco membership for as little as $65 per year, which averages out to $5.42 per month. If you shop once a month, do you think you can rack up at least $5 in savings during a single trip? To help you gain perspective and see how much you can potentially save with a Costco membership, here's a look at the price of Costco signature products versus the price of similar products at Kroger with the savings calculated for you.
Olive Oil
How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $10.98
Olive oil can be expensive and quality matters. According to the experts, Kirkland's Signature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil is high-quality olive oil. A 2-liter bottle of Kirkland Signature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil is just $20.99 at Costco.
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To compare, The same product costs $31.91 at Walmart. Costco's price means you pay $10.49 per liter — 31 cents per ounce — while at Walmart you'd pay about $15.96 per liter or 47 cents per ounce.
Paper Towels
How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $9.60 for 1,920 sheets
You can get a really good deal when you buy Kirkland Signature Create-a-Size Paper Towels with 160 2-ply sheets per roll in a 12-count pack for $23.99. To compare, a pack of six-count Kroger Select-A-Sheet Double Paper Towels with 98 2-ply sheets per roll is $10.33. So, while you could buy two six-packs of the Kroger product for less than Costco's product, you'd get 62 fewer sheets per Kroger roll, which can really add up.
Kirkland paper towels cost $2 per roll, while the Kroger paper towels cost $1.72. At a glance, it could look like Kroger is the better buy, but the size of the rolls matters. If you buy Kroger, you're losing 744 sheets (62 sheets × 12 rolls) — the equivalent of slightly over 4.5 rolls (there are 160 sheets in each roll of the Kirkland product) — if you buy the Kroger product. Sheet for sheet, it's more accurate to say Kroger's 1.75 cents per sheet would cost $2.80 as an equivalent to the Kirkland roll. Buying at Costco, you only pay 1.25 cents per sheet.
Maple Syrup
How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $3.93
There's nothing like pure maple syrup on your pancakes. You can get Kirkland Signature Organic Pure Maple Syrup for $14.99 for 33.8 ounces or 44 cents per ounce. To compare, Private Selection 100% Pure Grade-A Amber Maple Syrup at Kroger is $17.99 for 32 ounces or about 56 cents per ounce. While it won't make your monthly target to recoup the membership, it's still great to get more syrup for lower cost at the same quality … doubly so when the product never goes bad.
Dishwasher Detergent Tabs
How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $23.95
At Costco, Kirkland Signature Platinum Performance UltraShine Dishwasher Detergent Pacs, 115-count, are $13.99 or 12 cents each. At Kroger, Finish Powerball Quantum Dishwasher Detergent Tabs, 50-count, are $16.49 or about 33 cents each. This is where you can really rack up the savings and pay for more than a third of your Costco membership just by the savings you'll reap from buying this one Costco product.
Kitchen Trash Bags
How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $30
Kirkland Signature Flex-Tech 13-Gallon Scented Kitchen Trash Bags, 200-count are $17.99 or 9 cents per bag. Kroger Tall Kitchen Stretch 'N Hold Custom-Fit Bags, 34-count, are $8.29 or about 24 cents per bag. By buying the Kirkland trash bags, even though you have to buy more up front, you can save $38. The saving itself is more than double the price of the Costco bags, and nearly half the cost of the annual membership.
Weight Control Cat Food
How much you could save by buying the Kirkland product: $34.20
Overweight kitties need a solution, or weight control cat food can help. Kirkland Signature Healthy Weight Cat Food is $19.99 for 20 pounds or $1 per pound. IAMS ProActive Health Chicken & Turkey Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Adult Dry Cat Food is $18.98 for 7 pounds or $2.71 per pound. Not only is the Kirkland formula cheaper but it also doesn't contain any corn, wheat or soy.
Is a Costco Membership Worth It?
If you bought every item on this list instead of buying the similar products from Kroger, you could save $112.66 in just one trip to Costco, nearly double the $60 membership fee. And that's just six items from one trip. The membership fee is due once every year, so think about how many more opportunities you'll have to save. Yes, a Costco membership is worth it — as long as you use it.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are accurate as of Feb. 12, 2026, and 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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