What are the best things to buy at Costco? What items should be on my Costco shopping list? What are the best deals at Costco?
If you’re still on the fence about Costco, read Is a Costco membership worth it? If you want to know the best things to buy at Costco, or find a bargain-friendly Costco shopping list, read on!
Here are some of my favorite things to buy at Costco because of the quality or because they’re cheapest at Costco. Sometimes they are both cheapest and the best quality. I love it when that happens!
My Must-Have Costco Shopping List
Gas – I have a friend who’s a mechanic, and he suggested my husband and I use Top Tier gasoline in both our cars. In our area, we’ve found that Costco consistently sells Top Tier gas cheaper than other stores. I estimate our savings on gas alone more than pays for our membership in several months; everything we save after that is gravy.
Coffee – We really enjoy the 100% Columbian beans from the Kirkland brand, and it is not expensive. A friend of ours loves the pre-ground Columbian coffee in the can (also Kirkland brand coffee).
Romaine Lettuce – The next item on my must-have Costco shopping list is Romaine. It comes in a six-pack, looking and tasting very fresh, and it lasts amazingly long in my fridge. Since we try to eat salad one or more times a day, we almost always use up the whole package before it wilts. The price at Costco is waaaaaaay lower than anywhere else, except Sam’s Club. (I’ll buy it at either warehouse store.)
Frozen Blueberries – The organic frozen blueberries at Costco are delicious and priced very well. This is just something I always keep on hand for a refreshing cool snack, for use in smoothies, or to make gorgeous, scrumptious blueberry bars.
Almond Milk – Costco sells a case of shelf-stable almond milk at a really great price. Because we don’t always buy regular dairy milk, I keep this almond milk around as a staple item in my pantry. It is the least expensive I have been able to find. I can definitely taste this difference from dairy milk, but this is very convenient to have on hand.
Salsa – Kirkland has a jarred medium salsa that is tasty and spicy and well-priced. It comes in a two-pack, which is just fine by us. I don’t always buy it, because I prefer the fresh salsa we get at Sam’s, but when I need to stock up for the pantry, this is the brand I prefer.
Oats – The price was great, but the bag was huuuuge. I bought it anyway and kept most of the oats in the resealable bag it came in, and just refilled my container as necessary. At the time, I was eating oatmeal for breakfast once or twice a week and using it for granola, baking cookies and crumbles, etc. This is the last bit we have left; next time, I might try to share with a friend. It keeps for a long time though!
Rotisserie Chicken – What? This is the best thing, without controversy, to buy at Costco. It is delicious and still the same price after so many years. This is guaranteed to be one of your best Costco finds.
Quinoa – I purchased a bulk bag of organic quinoa at Costco last year because the price was very good and because I don’t like to run out of versatile grains in the pantry. What I didn’t realize until I got it home was that the quinoa was already rinsed, so that just made it even better. Now when I want quinoa, it’s there in my cabinet and it’s cooked in a jiffy – no extra rinsing step required.
Cheese – I like the quality and the prices of Costco shredded and block sharp cheddar. The price does fluctuate, so sometimes I’ll buy cheese on sale at the regular grocery store. But between sales, I often stock up on cheese at Costco. Tip: shredded cheese can be frozen in the bag without loss of quality. The shredded cheese I have been buying at Costco comes in a package of two bags, so one goes into the fridge and one goes into the freezer for later.
Clothes – It’s almost always worth browsing the clothing at Costco. You’ll find great prices on quality clothing. I’m not ashamed to admit most of my wardrobe buys come from there. (I never claimed to be a fashionista, and I don’t mind dressing like everyone else. Sometimes I realize, as I’m browsing the clothing tables, that I’m wearing something I bought at Costco!) At times the best Costco finds are on these tables!
Appliances – When we first moved, I asked around for advice on where to buy a good washer and dryer. Everyone, almost without exception, suggested Costco. I was surprised, thinking someone would recommend a good local dealer but nope! So we did, indeed, buy our washer and dryer there, and we are exceedingly happy with the set. I also really like our name-brand refrigerator and dishwasher; both came from Costco. I think people like to buy there because the price, with delivery and installation, and the warranty is good. You’ll need to research in your area to see if you find the same to be true.
Food Court Snacks – While the cheapest food court items aren’t always the healthiest, they are tasty and inexpensive when you just need something quick to eat. I don’t stop often, but when I do, I usually go for the budget-friendly choice. As of this writing (in 2025), Costco announced it will be switching from Pepsi to Coca-Cola in its food court. This change won’t weigh heavily in my decision about which warehouse club to shop.
What I don’t buy at Costco
I love so many things about it and I’m able to fill my shopping list with Costco deals. With that said, there are some things I just don’t buy at Costco for various reasons.
Meat – This one might be controversial, but I have yet to find meat at Costco that is the best value (except, of course, for the wonderful rotisserie chicken mentioned in my “to-buy” list). I always take a glance at the prices though, because I keep hoping. You may have some other perfectly valid reason to get meat at Costco; I just haven’t found it yet.
Bread – When possible, I avoid the high-priced bread at Costco and get the 100% whole wheat loaves from other grocery stores instead.
Milk and Eggs – While I do like to buy cheese at Costco, I’ve never found the price or the quantities of milk or eggs compatible with our needs, so I pass on both of them.
Some Produce – At times, the produce is very tempting because it almost always looks fresh and beautiful – at least at the Costco locations I’ve shopped. But I look at the price per pound to see if it’s a good deal, and it isn’t always, AND you have to buy a ginormous quantity. If I could buy smaller quantities, maybe I would give in to the temptation. The exception, of course, is the Romaine lettuce I mention above. It’s a great price and quality and almost always lasts a long time in our fridge.
What kinds of things are on your Costco shopping list? What kinds of things do you leave at the store?
Related:
How to save money on groceries
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