It’s Costco vs. Sam’s Club! Which Warehouse Has Better Prices on These 15 Deals?

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Costco vs. Sam’s Club…Who Will Win? 🥇

Have you ever wondered whether Costco OR Sam’s Club offers better deals whenever their Instant Savings deals are running at both stores – or just how their prices compare to each other?

Well I headed to both clubs yesterday to check out a few deals to see which store had the best prices and was surprised with what I found. Although there are TONS of Instant Savings deals going on at both clubs (through 7/16 at Sam’s Club and through 7/23 at Costco), here are a few deals I spotted…

1.) Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino 15ct Bottles
  • Sam’s Club: $13.18 after Instant Savings (ends 7/16)
  • Costco: $12.59 after Instant Savings (ends 7/23)
🌟 Costco Wins! 🌟

2.) Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats 40-54ct
  • Sam’s Club: $6.22 after Instant Savings – just 15¢ each! (ends 7/16)
  • Costco: $10.99 – that’s 20¢ each (regular price)
🌟 Sam’s Club Wins! 🌟

3.) Fiber One Oats & Chocolate 36ct Bars
  • Sam’s Club: $10.98 – that’s 30¢ each! (regular price)
  • Costco: $6.99 after Instant Savings – just 19¢ each! (ends 7/23)
🌟 Costco Wins! 🌟

4.) Jif Chunky or Creamy Peanut Butter 48oz 2-Pack
  • Sam’s Club: $7.73 after Instant Savings (ends 7/16)
  • Costco: $7.49 after Instant Savings (ends 7/23)
🌟 Costco Wins! 🌟

5.) Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers 58-66oz
  • Sam’s Club: $7.64 after Instant Savings – just 12¢ per ounce (ends 7/16)
  • Costco: $8.69 – that’s 15¢ per ounce (regular price)
🌟 Sam’s Club Wins! 🌟

6.) Bounce Dryer Sheets 320ct
  • Sam’s Club: $7.98 after Instant Savings (ends 7/16)
  • Costco: $7.99 after Instant Savings (ends 7/23)
🌟 Sam’s Club Wins (Every ¢ Counts)! 🌟

7.) Always Feminine Pads 88-90ct
  • Sam’s Club: $4.81 after Instant Savings – just 5¢ per pad! (ends 7/16)
    -NOTE: This price may vary by region as the online price is much higher
  • Costco: $9.49 after Instant Savings – that’s 10.5¢ per pad (ends 7/23)
    -Costco also had Always Ultra Thin Regular Pads 96ct for $9.49 after Instant Savings
🌟 Sam’s Club Wins! 🌟

8.) Tampax Pearl 96ct Tampons
  • Sam’s Club: $11.48 after Instant Savings – that’s 12¢ each (ends 7/16)
  • Costco: $9.99 after Instant Savings – just 10¢ each! (ends 7/23)
🌟 Costco Wins! 🌟

9.) Olay Ultra Moisture Shea Butter Body Wash 3-Pack 23.6oz Each
  • Sam’s Club: $9.88 after Instant Savings – that’s $3.29 each (ends 7/16)
  • Costco: $8.49 after Instant Savings – just $2.83 each! (ends 7/23)
🌟 Costco Wins! 🌟

10.) Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner + Bleach 180oz + 32oz Spray
🌟 Sam’s Club Wins! 🌟

11.) Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner 4-Pack 32oz Each
  • Sam’s Club: $7.87 – that’s $1.97 each (regular price)
  • Costco: $5.49 after Instant Savings – just $1.37 each! (ends 7/23)
🌟 Costco Wins! 🌟

12.) Lysol Disinfectant Spray 4-Pack 19oz Bottles
  • Sam’s Club: $14.98 – that’s $3.75 each (regular price)
  • Costco: $11.39 after Instant Savings – just $2.85 each! (ends 7/23)
🌟 Costco Wins! 🌟

13.) Cascade ActionPacs with Dawn 90-105ct
  • Sam’s Club: $12.48 after Instant Savings – just 12¢ per pac (ends 7/16)
  • Costco: $11.99 after Instant savings – that’s 13¢ per pac (ends 7/23)
🌟 Sam’s Club Wins! 🌟

14.) Huggies Baby Wipes 952-1160ct
  • Sam’s Club: $14.98 each whenever you buy 2 – just 1.6¢ per wipe! (ends 7/16)
    -PLUS, look for boxes with a Free $10 Fandango Reward inside through 10/31! OR, if you’re more of a Pampers fan, you’ll pay just 1.9¢ per wipe whenever you buy 2 boxes!
  • Costco: $24.99 – that’s 2¢ per wipe (regular price)
🌟 Sam’s Club Wins! 🌟

15.) TNT Fireworks Packs 500-900ct

These aren’t Instant Savings deals, but if you’re buying Fireworks for the 4th of July..

  • Sam’s Club: $21.98 for 500+ Pieces – that’s 4¢ per piece!
  • Costco: $24.99 for 900+ Pieces – that’s 3¢ per piece!
🌟 Costco Wins! 🌟
So who wins?

Well, in the end, it truly just depends on what you need, but if you’re planning to purchase everything on this list, Costco got 8 wins versus Sam’s Club’s 7 wins. SO, which warehouse will you do most of your shopping at this month? Have you spotted any great warehouse deals lately?


Written by Mary for Hip2Save. Mary is a proud mom to 3 kids in Austin, TX, who thrives off running long distance, bargain shopping, warm weather, a yummy latte…and a little Candy Crush from time to time. She loves quality time with family & friends and sharing great deals with others.

Join The Discussion

Comments 71

  1. Laura

    I belong to both stores. My family loves them both for their own reasons. Costco offers more than just a membership to the store though.

  2. Nicole

    I don’t think you should be comparing items that have instant coupons because those always change. You should be comparing items that are regularly priced.

    • Evan

      Agree

    • Eber

      last month i did the same comparison with the rice krispies treat and costco won

    • Kayleigh

      I was just about to comment the same thing! I totally agree, we should be looking at the regular prices instead of sale prices.

      I have memberships to both (because I get them for free), but I have always preferred Costco.

  3. sarianna

    Plus Costco treats their employees well. Definitely an important consideration for my family. We like to get good deals but without supporting exploitative businesses!

    • Elaine

      Yes!

    • Eber

      sure… i guess, but they still treating the customers as they hate them just for buy at the store. And that goes for both, Sam’s and Costco, here in illinois

  4. Sarah

    This comparison is silly to me. A true comparison would be regular price vs regular price. It just isn’t a true comparison with sale prices vs regular prices because sale prices aren’t standard.

  5. Holly

    Thank you Mary! I find it helpful to know which one has the better sale price/instant savings!

  6. Steph

    Costco actually wins the cascade deal

    • Steph

      Ha! Nevermind…sams is a bigger count! I apologize and clearly need to get my eyes checked! Haha

      • Bob

        The Costco Cascade is actually a better product for almost the same price.

        • kT

          Yes this. The comparisons are bogus bc they’re not the same products. Costco is selling the newer and more expensive Cascade produce. Also, I would prefer you compare regular price to regular price. This is a pretty useless analysis.

    • CJ

      Yikes….Math! Sams IS cheaper.

  7. Love Deals

    Cant compare them ..either quantity is different or something else.. example fireworks packet sams has 500 plus pieces where as costco has 900 plus pieces so prices are different and in that case costco wins there !

  8. Julie

    I have had all of the memberships and I prefer BJs hands down. They have in-house coupon savings and you can use manufacturer coupons too! Also, if you buy a multipack of something, you can use one manufacturer coupon per ITEM! So on a three pack of Olay body washes, I can use three manufacturer coupons.

    • Jen

      That is awesome that you have BJs, however many don’t as they are located in only 16 states.

  9. Tiffany

    Wow so much criticism! Lol
    I’m a Costco member and found the list fun! I try to shop mostly the instant deals or the items I know are better prices, so the comparison was no big deal to me. Thanks for the research!

  10. Sara

    Great post! I’d love to see more like this!

  11. Katherine

    I excited. I thought there was a Costco membership deal

  12. Wren

    Yes, it was a fun post to read although I agree somewhat that the comparisons aren’t exact (esp instant savings prices vs. regular) so maybe not quite accurate. But really interesting, thanks ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Kimberly

    The point is to see where you can save the most. Take what you need and leave the rest and move on.

  14. DebY

    Have memberships at both. Buy different things per club. I find Sams produce tends to be better quality.

  15. Linda

    Why do you people have to post negative comments, Colin did a very good job if you have nothing nice to say don’t comment. She is trying to help if you don’t agree then don’t read her post.

    • Elaine

      First off, this post wasn’t even by Collin. If you’re going to try to call out people get your facts straight. Secondly, criticism isn’t “being negative.” Criticism is a very important aspect of life. Not being able to take criticism is a bad trait to have. Not everything is rainbows and puppies. People can explain their opinion or give suggestions on how to improve future posts.

    • rebecca

      also, there are times that commenters catch something that was not noticed by the person who made the original post. i find it very helpful when commenters notice a difference in price, quality, or quantity from what was posted and then helpfully point it out in the comments.
      i don’t like negativity for the sake of being negative. but, if i was going to purchase a club membership based on this post, then i would like to read through the comments and be able to see what the opinions of other shoppers are. i would find it helpful if someone pointed out that some of the prices posted are temporary prices, not regular everyday prices, for example.

  16. db

    Enjoyed the comparison. Thank you!!

    • Happymama

      Same here! Thanks Collin and team!

      • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

        You’re welcome! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  17. momo

    I find Costco very expensive but love that they have various organic products. Sadly, I’ve noticed the products kind of coming/going… During my trip last wk, they no longer carried 4x organic items I had wanted to repurchase.

    • Steph

      You can go to the front desk area and they can order anything they dont have out on the floor unless its been discontinued

      • Ram

        Have been a Costco member for years. Never knew this. thanks for sharing

  18. janet

    I love Costco so much!! And I had Sam’s before.

  19. Sarah!!

    Price out of the picture I have to vote for Costco I feel like they are a nicer store with friendlier employees! I also really like Costco brand products especially their diapers! They seem just like Huggies ๐Ÿ‘

    • Wren

      Kirkland brand is made by Huggies ๐Ÿ™‚

      • Kayleigh

        I was just about to say that! ๐Ÿ™‚

  20. Kira

    I love having the sale price comparisons because they put similar things on sale each month. I stock up then!

  21. faith

    Loved it! Thanks!

  22. Jeff

    I love any Costco post there is! Thanks!

  23. Lynsi

    I really liked this post. I have a Sam’s club membership and I saw a couple things here that I will be picking up soon. Thanks for taking the time to do thisn

  24. Kamee

    I have both a sams club and a Costco membership. They both have great items and different items. So I shop both, but I do love Costco more!

    • Erin

      I have both as well. I enjoy Sam’s club in my location it is not as busy. But, depending on my needs each week it I go to both. We have a Costco and Sam’s that are right across the freeway from each other. So, you can shop both and enjoy the competition.

  25. Jennifer

    I don’t have a Costco near me unfortunately to be able to try it out. But I like Sams. I love the bakery for birthday cakes and the cheap pizza for dinner when I need it plus everything else they have!

  26. Netty hert

    I love this!!!! Thank you for your time to help us! โค๏ธ

  27. Jenn

    Last year I had both a Sams and Costco membership. I found their prices to be pretty similar. I decided to stick with Sams. It simply had more products that I used regularly. (Plus I really love the ability to order/pick up online or scan my own groceries with their app!)

  28. Melissa

    Thanks Mary! I shop at Costco. My son shops at Sam’s Club. It’s nice to see the deals at both and see how the two stores compare.

  29. Keri

    Thank you so much for doing this our family is gearing up for a big military move and I was debating whether not to renew our Sam’s Club membership fully knowing there was a Costco nearby. I think my mind is made up I am going all the way Costco again

  30. LS

    Thanks for this post. I have both and love both. I like seeing the comparisons. They both have different things that I like about them.

  31. Billie

    I like both stores for different reasons. Sams is great for day to day items. We like Costco for special things; bought out tv there. Also bought a new car through the Costco car buying program.

  32. LAURA JEAN

    Mary, thanks so much for taking the time and trouble to put together this list. As we all should know, prices are not set in stone, they can change as the new promotions come out. I appreciate that you are working so hard to bring us great deals, and post them for us to see for free! I am very grateful for this site!!!

  33. lisag29

    I tend to stock up on items I need when they have the Instant Savings. Also, I have a Sam’s+ membership that I pay $100/year for and I just used my earned money of $120 so for me it will continue to be Sam’s. (Plus Sam’s is closer to me)

  34. dre

    I like this list. I would like it if you did this every month! Sounds fun! Also… Regular price vs instant savings that peeps are talking about… All is what you would have to do is add the instant saving back to the price and you would get their regular price so it is still an excellent comparison tool. Keep up the great work โ˜บ

  35. Daniel

    I have both memberships and Costco is the clear winner. Costco offers a lot more and their gas prices are always better. Sam’s club always seems to have things that are of a lesser grade or lesser size. Just so they can have good prices.

  36. Heather C

    Well, my husband is a Costco employee and I frequently have him bring home things about 2 to 3 nights per week. Is convenient but I still coupon for prices a lot better than Costco for things like Olay body wash, Tide pods and apples (for example.)

    I DO belong to Sam’s Club because it is so inexpensive but The closest one is a little over an hour away so I really only hit that store about three times per year. Love to buy clothes and their amazing baked goods out do Costco any day. Don’t get me wrong, I use Costco cakes for everything but sometimes it’s nice to have something different and it times more upscale. I also like the variety

  37. CARIBBEAN GIRL

    Just FYI Kirkland formula is made by Similac at half the price. The NICU Dr at LA Childrens hospital let me know and I tell everyone I can.

  38. $$$$$

    I shop Sam’s because it’s closer. I would like to try Costco at some point though.

  39. Kristie Mae

    I had a Sam’s membership but just let it expire because they really didn’t have much in the way of organics. I was wondering does Costco carry much organic food? Sam’s club is closer for me but Costco isn’t so far that I couldn’t get there at least once a month. So this question goes out to all the Costco shoppers. What is Costco’s organic selection like. Thanks

    • Danae

      Costco has a good selection of organic food and is adding more all the time. I shop Costco because they have a lot more to offer in this category than Sams Club.

      • Kristie

        Thank you very much, this is the information I needed to decide whether I should renew my Sam’s club membership or further investigate Costco. I will be visiting Costco to see their selection.

        • patricia

          You could let them know at the front door that you are not a member and would like to look through the store and see the variety of the products offered and then decide ๐Ÿ™‚

  40. MamaDukes

    We have memberships at both stores and we enjoy each for different reasons. As a mom of 3 little ones I enjoyed seeing the baby/kids deals included too! ๐Ÿ˜€ Please do more of these in the future. We love Hip2Save!!!

  41. Micah

    Once you go Costco, you’ll never go back!

  42. Happymama

    I was a vendor that worked inside one of these (won’t say which) a few years ago. I started to notice a theme when things were on sale/coupon. Being aware of the price before it goes on sale is key. Sometimes when it goes on sale/coupon, they raise the price so you feel you are getting a great deal. Sometimes you only saved a few pennies when the tag said you saved a few dollars off. Just something to think about!

  43. Mrs. Y

    Both stores offer great value and variety, but we have found that Sams meat is consistently superior to the meat offered by Costco. This has been true in three states we have lived in, north, south and midwest. Hubby loves to grill and he says he prefers Sams meat options. Costco offers some great products at holiday times though!

  44. Angel

    #13 should say Costco wins.

    • Angel

      Oh nevermind, you did unit price! I got it! oops!

  45. L.O.

    TITLE: Have you ever wondered whether Costco OR Samโ€™s Club offers better deals WHENEVER THEIR INSTANT SAVINGS DEALS ARE RUNNING at both stores….
    To all the people that are slamming H2S for posting this are crazy! “She should compare reg. price vs. reg. price”. (Apparently you didn’t read the title) Sam’s has what… over 600 Instant Savings going on right now? She was just doing a simple comparison at her local stores while the “INSTANT SAVINGS PROMOTION” is going on with a few of the items. I thought it was great!
    I did see that prices can be Regional… my Sam’s here in AZ has the Rice Krispies 40ct for $5.98 (22 cents cheaper), Clorox Clean-Up for $7.88 ($1.12 more), and the Alway Ultra Thin pads are $10.58 (AFTER $2 instant savings which is a whopping $5.77 more here).
    And to Rebecca that said “but, if i was going to purchase a club membership based on this post, then i would like to read through the comments and be able to see what the opinions of other shoppers are”…well… WOW. If you were basing your club membership on THIS post, then…just WOW. Maybe a better option would be visiting both stores to personally evaluate each to see what you experience and would be best for your family needs. Just a thought.
    Also, if you have a Costco membership and you have a local Costo BUSINESS Center… they don’t carry all the clothes, etc, but they have cheaper prices on their food items, paper plates, paper towels, toilet paper, and office supplies as it is geared for the local business owners. (You don’t have to own a business to shop there!) If you purchase online and want your order delivered, it will need to be to a business address and there is a minimum order amount AND the prices can be slightly higher than in the store/business center.
    I just can’t believe all the negativity. If there is a correction that needed to be brought up or something, great, but to slam them for posting this is just so unbelieveable.
    GREAT JOB H2S TEAM!

  46. Mamaof4

    Great post! Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š

  47. Cindy

    Mary – thanks for the article! I learn from the post and from the comments. Does anyone know who makes the Kirkland brand hearing aids? My elderly mom needs a pair and her insurance does not cover them.

  48. Tina

    I was just wondering when Costco has a sale on its membership price. Help please

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