Costco Prices Vs. Trader Joe's Results

Last week I shared a list of items our family buys most often from Costco. I decided to do a comparison against Trader Joe's to determine if we're still getting a good deal and because I was curious about their prices, I've considered making a weekly trip there. In the list below, the first price is Trader Joe's, the second is Costco's, (price per ounce is in parenthesis after each item) and the cheaper price is highlighted in Teal. I've made notes if there's a difference in Organic or not. 

1. Organic Spinach: $1.99/6oz (0.33/oz), $3.99/16oz (0.25/oz)

2. Organic Granny Smith Apples: $0.69 each, $6.79/5.5lbs

3. Canned Chicken: $2.99/12oz (0.25/oz), $9.99/75oz (0.13/oz)

4. Fruit Leather: $10.65/48 pieces (couldn't find this at Trader Joe's)

5. Ground Turkey: $2.99/lb cage free, $2.29/lb

6. Organic Diced Tomatos: $1.99/28oz (0.07/oz) or $1.49/14.5 (0.10/oz), $7.69/7lbs 4oz (0.06/oz)

7. Organic Frozen Peas: $1.99/16 oz (0.12/oz), $5.29/5 lbs(0.07/oz)

8. Organic Frozen Green Beans: $1.79/16 oz (0.11/oz), $5.45/5 lbs (0.07/oz)

9. Kirkland Dried Cherries: $3.69/8oz (0.46/oz), $6.69/20oz (0.33/oz)

10. Organic Kirkland Animal Crackers: $3.29/16 oz (0.21/oz) non organic, $7.99/64oz (0.12/oz)

11. Organic Apple Sauce: $2.29/24oz (0.10/oz), $8.99/11lbs 8oz (0.05/oz)

12. Organic Wild Rice: $1.99/16oz (0.13/oz) non organic, $7.39/3.2 lbs (0.14/oz)

13. Organic Kirkland Strawberry Jam $3.49/15.2oz (0.22/oz), $6.49/42oz (0.15/oz)

14. Kirkland Saigon Cinnamon $1.99/(forgot the weight but it wasn't much), 2.65/10.7oz

This was not on my original shopping list but I had figures from both stores

15. Trader Joe's Green Smoothies $3.99/32oz (0.12/oz), Costco's Odwalla Superfood $5.75 64/oz (0.09/oz)

The Verdict: Costco's prices are definitely cheaper when comparing the items on my shopping list above. By the time I got half way down the list I was kind of rooting for Trader Joe's to come out on top somewhere. The only item from the list that was cheaper at Trader Joe's was the wild rice but they did not carry it in Organic.

So of coarse now I'm curious how these prices will stand up against another store I don't make a weekly trip to, Walmart. Stay tuned for a price comparison against Walmart, I'm not sure what their Organic selection will be like but I'm curious. 

Costco Prices Vs. Trader Joes

My husband and I love shopping at Costco, who doesn't right. About a year ago I took a hard look at what our family was buying and I discovered that we could get many items significantly cheaper elsewhere using coupons. Since doing this the amount of money we spend at Costco has drastically decreased. We shoot for just a monthly trip there instead of a weekly one. Shopping thrifty doesn't mean you shop certain stores it means you shop smarter.

Now theres been lots of talk about the increase of food prices so I'm once again going to reevaluate what we're currently buying at Costco. I've compiled a list of the items we purchase most frequently (excluding gifts) and their current prices that I verified this week. I'll be comparing these prices against Trader Joe's because I've considered making a weekly trip there and I'm curious about their prices. I'll post my findings next week!

1. Organic Spinach $3.99/1 lb.

2. Organic Granny Smith Apples $6.79/5.5lbs

3. Canned Chicken $9.99/75oz

4. Fruit Leather $10.65/48 pieces (This is my hubby's favorite snack and brown bag treat)

5. Ground Turkey 4-Pack $2.29/lb

6. Organic Diced Tomatos $7.69/7lbs 4oz

7. Organic Frozen Peas $5.29/5 lbs

8. Organic Frozen Green Beans $5.45/5 lbs

9. Kirkland Dried Cherries $6.69/20oz

10. Organic Kirkland Animal Crackers $7.99/64oz

11. Organic Apple Sauce $8.99/11lbs 8oz

12. Organic Wild Rice $7.39/3.2 lbs

13. Organic Kirkland Strawberry Jam 6.49/42oz

14. Kirkland Saigon Cinnamon $2.65/10.7oz

15. Hanna Anderson Organic Cotton Sleepers $11.99! (cheapest I have found organic sleepwear)

Traders Joes: $9.99 for a Dozen Red Roses!

Trader Joes is offering a great deal on red roses, $9.99/dozen. 

Check out the rest of their Valentines Specials here.

Thanks, Coupon Connections NW!