Costco’s 50 best buys (and 10 products not to buy)

Updated Oct 4, 2024
Costco
To the point Here's a list of what's worth buying at Costco to maximize your savings, while avoiding the expensive stuff.

Let’s delve into the world of Costco, the warehouse club giant, to explore a number of smart choices that will make your shopping experience all the more advantageous.

What to buy at Costco: For all future or current addicts

In-store payment is by debit card, cash, Costco Shop Card or any Mastercard credit card.

You can also pay indirectly with a Visa credit card. Simply go to costco.ca and purchase a Costco Shop Card to pay for your purchases at the warehouse.

Costco isn’t coded like a grocery store. Costco is considered more of a “warehouse”, so it will give points in the “Other” category, with the lowest credit card accumulation.

The best Mastercard credit cards to use at Costco are :

Card Point Redemption
National Bank World Elite Mastercard 1 NBC Rewards point / $1 purchase Travel
National Bank Platinum Mastercard 1 NBC Rewards point / $1.50 purchase Travel
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard 1 BMO Rewards point / $1 Travel
Rogers World Elite® Mastercard® 1.5% cash back on all purchases Cash Back

 

50 items to buy at Costco

Here are some suggestions for foods and items worth buying at Costco to save money compared to prices elsewhere.

Fresh products

  • Frozen fruit and vegetables
  • Bananas
  • Romaine lettuce hearts (package of 5-6)
  • Taylor Farms Creamy Dill Pickle Salad (in the fridge with fruit and vegetables)
Salade crémeuse aux cornichons à l’aneth Taylor Farms

Dairy products and eggs

  • All cheeses (Parmesan, Mozzarella, Burrata, Brie, Oka, Babybel, Allegro, etc.) and Ficello
  • Almond and vegetable milk
  • Coffee creamer
  • Yogurt
  • Eggs (pack of 30) and egg whites

Note that a dozen eggs at Costco costs about $3.48. So if you see a special at the grocery store for $3.47 or less for a dozen eggs, then it’s best not to buy them at Costco.

Dessert, bread and breakfast

  • Tuxedo cake and Biscoff cake/biscuits
  • Bread, bagel, tortilla and English muffin
  • Maple syrup
  • Kirkland hazelnut spread
  • Cereals and Peanut Butter
  • Flour, brown sugar, yeast, organic cocoa, sugar, salt, vanilla extract and powdered sugar

Meat and fish

  • Fresh salmon
  • Box of four Bâton Rouge seasoned beef flank steaks
  • Marinated butterfly shrimps (frozen)
  • Sliced cold cuts
Costco quoi acheter

Other

  • Realemon lemon juice
  • Hummus Fontaine Santé
  • Unisoya tofu
  • Kirkland basil pesto
  • Kirkland granola bars and protein bars
  • Nuts (all types)
  • Oil (avocado, organic olive, canola, etc.)
  • Better than bouillon (vegetable, beef or chicken broth in concentrate)

For the home

  • Kirkland plastic wrap
  • Gift cards ($79.99 for $100, several local restaurants, Porter, WestJet, WaySpa, Cineplex, Xbox Game Pass, ski ticket for the mountains near the warehouse)
  • Kirkland Batteries
  • Dog bed
  • Dog food
  • Qualicat cat litter
  • Cut flowers in bouquet
  • Annual spring flowers (at the Garden Center, around May)
  • Gas (at Costco service stations)
  • Garbage bags
  • Kirkland dishwasher detergent tablets
Épicerie Canada-06- Costco

Drugs

  • Seasonal allergy medication
  • Kirkland Acetaminophen

Health - Gluten-free and organic options

  • Carbonaut gluten-free bread
  • Kirkland almond flour
  • Pizza with gluten-free crust
  • Crunchmaster gluten-free sweet potato crackers
  • Organic meat, milk and fruit at lower prices than elsewhere

Clothing

  • Monster snow suit for kids (on sale from July each year)
  • Kirkland shirt for men
  • Pekkle baby pyjamas

Restaurant

Everyone can eat and enjoy under the red and white umbrellas, as the restaurant is open even to non-members!

    • Hot dog and soft drink at the unbeatable price of $1.50
    • Poutine

10 things not to buy at Costco

Based on my experiences as a Costco shopper and prices elsewhere, here are some items that may be worth buying outside Costco.

  • Seasoned roast chicken 1.2 kg, $7. 99: You either like it or you don’t! Fat, undercooked, too salty… At this price, try it at least once to find out. It’s the best price for a roast chicken, but the quality leaves something to be desired in my experience.
  • Fresh fruit and vegetables: Unless used within a short time, these large-format fruits and vegetables spoil quickly.
  • Soft drinks: When you’re on the lookout for certain specials in grocery stores or liquidation centers, it’s cheaper to buy them in smaller outlets.
  • Laundry detergent and tissues: Pharmacies and grocery stores often have better prices, especially when there are promotions.
  • Kirkland toilet paper: The quality of this product has unfortunately declined in recent years.
  • Cans: There’s a chance of a better deal elsewhere, as they’re more expensive at Costco.
  • Sunscreen: The choice of sunscreen available in the warehouse is limited. The best cream will depend on your skin type and whether you prefer a mineral or chemical sunscreen. Keep a close eye on whether the ingredients are right for you, because a sunscreen shouldn’t be based solely on economic criteria.
  • Items you don’t need: It’s so easy to get carried away the first time (and every visit thereafter…) at Costco. We go in to get bananas and come out with 10 other unexpected things, all the while forgetting about the bananas.
  • Spices: Even if the price and quality are excellent, you need to think about how long that huge jar of spices or box of dried herbs is going to last. Over time, the flavor will be altered.
  • Gold or silver bars or coins: Costco sells 24-carat gold bars and .9999 pure gold or silver coins in one or more ounces. They are slightly above market value. But if you have an Executive membership card, you’ll get 2% back, as well as points or cash back on your credit card. You need to have the right insurance at home, the right storage and know exactly where this purchase fits into your investment strategy. So it’s not for everyone.
Fleurs costco

The difference between Costco warehouses and Costco for business

Large-format products can be found in both types of warehouse. Individuals and families can also take advantage of Costco for business discounts, even if some items are not similar.

Costco flyer for rebates

These advantageous and even lower prices change every Monday or every month. They can last longer or shorter during certain periods of the year. Consult the flyer on their website.

Costco quoi acheter

What was Costco called before?

People with experience used to say (or still do) that it was the Price Club.

When to go to Costco?

Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the best times to shop in the most peacefull way at Costco.

To avoid a cart hitting your ankles or a parking lot overflowing, go a few minutes before the official opening or 30 to 45 minutes before closing. Also, avoid weekends or the eve of statutory holidays, when everyone is in a hurry.

What to buy at Costco and not at the grocery store?

Costco is all about quantity and quality. Often, a vacuum packing machine is very useful for preserving Costco purchases and avoiding waste. See our recommendations in the article above.

What is the biggest Costco in Quebec?

The Costco Laval warehouse is the largest Costco in Quebec.

What's the biggest Costco in Canada?

The largest Costco warehouse in Canada is in St. John’s, Newfoundland. St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

It has 17,000 square metres (about 182,000 square feet), with 1,000 parking spaces and a huge service station with 24 gas pumps.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Caroline Tremblay

Caroline Tremblay

Caroline Tremblay
Caroline, a loyalty program specialist, helps families maximize their points to travel more frequently and affordably. With expertise in Disney, AIR MILES, and Costco, she travels the world with her partner and two children through rewards. Passionate about the latest in loyalty programs, Caroline shares tips to help you earn more points and turn your travel dreams into reality.
All posts by Caroline Tremblay
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