Costco vs Sam’s vs. BJ’s: Warehouse Club Price Comparison

Warehouse Club Price Comparison: Costco vs. Sam’s Club vs. BJ’s – which store is cheaper? I’m definitely a fan of warehouse club stores for many products (although not everything), but for lot’s of items, they can be great. But if you live in an area that has the big 3 warehouse club stores, Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s, how do you know which is cheaper? That’s why I put together this Costco vs. Sam’s vs. Bj’s Warehouse Club Price Comparison of commonly purchased items. I hope it helps!!

Costco vs. Sam’s vs. BJ’s

Have you ever wondered which store was cheaper? Costco vs. Sam’s vs. BJ’s – it’s a price comparison I’ve always wanted to do. So I took the time to go through these huge warehouse stores and compare prices to find the best deals on staple items.

Today I am going to take your through all three stores to compare the exact same products. We will see through this in depth look which store really is least expensive! Clark Howard posted the first few items in this Costco vs. Sam’s vs. BJ’s warehouse club price comparison, but this post has the complete list!

Keep in mind that prices vary per city, so this is just a general look at the price comparison between stores. Also, if the item was on sale when we gathered prices then we still used the regular price. Use these prices for everyday shopping and rock those deals when they come around!

If you want to see how some other common store prices, you can see my in depth report on Aldi vs. Walmart or Walmart vs. Target.

Bananas
BJ’s – $1.39 (3 lb bag) = $0.47 per pound (TIED!)
Costco – $1.39 (3 lb bag) = $0.47 per pound (TIED!)
Sam’s Club – $1.48 (3 lb bag) = $0.50 per pound

Green Bell Peppers
BJ’s – $5.29 (4 pk) = $1.33 each
Costco – No price available
Sam’s Club – $5.98 (6 pk) = $1.00 each (WINNER!)

Cheerios Cereal
BJ’s – $5.39 (40.7 oz – on sale when pic was taken) = $0.13 per ounce (TIED!)
Costco – $5.39 (40.7 oz – on sale when pic was taken) = $0.13 per ounce (TIED!)
Sam’s Club – $5.68 (40.7 oz) = $0.14 per ounce

Jif Peanut Butter
BJ’s – $8.79 (96 ounces) = $0.09 per ounce (WINNER!)
Costco – no price available
Sam’s Club – $10.48 (96 ounces) = $0.11 per ounce

Skippy Peanut Butter
BJ’s – $8.99 (96 ounces) = $0.09 per ounce (TIED!)
Costco – $8.99 (96 ounces – on sale in image) = $0.09 per ounce (TIED!)
Sam’s Club – no price available

White Bread
BJ’s – $2.49 (2 pack of 20 ounce loaves) = $0.06 per ounce (WINNER!)
Costco – $3.99 (2 pack of 24 ounce loaves – on sale in pic) = $0.08 per ounce
Sam’s Club – $3.58 ( 2 pack of 22 ounce loaves) = $0.08 per ounce

Wheat Bread
BJ’s – $2.99 (2 pack of 20 ounce loaves) = $0.07 per ounce
Costco – $4.49 (2 pack of 32 ounce loaves) = $0.07 per ounce (WINNER! by a fraction of a penny)
Sam’s Club – $3.86 (2 pack of 20 ounce loaves) $0.10 per ounce

Milk
BJ’s – $2.09 (1 gallon) (TIED!)
Costco – $2.09 (1 gallon) (TIED!)
Sam’s Club – $2.50 (1 gallon)

Kraft American Cheese Slices
BJ’s – $11.49 (4 pounds of slices – on sale when image was taken) = $2.87 per pound
Costco – $9.99 (4 pounds of slices) = $2.50 per pound (WINNER!)
Sam’s Club – $7.98 (3 pounds of slices) = $2.66 per pound

Kraft Shredded Cheddar Cheese
BJ’s – $7.49 (2 pounds)
Costco – no price available
Sam’s Club – $7.48 (2 pounds) (WINNER! by a penny)

Butter
BJ’s – $8.99 (4 pounds) = $2.25 per pound (TIED!)
Costco – $8.99 (4 pounds) = $2.25 per pound (TIED!)
Sam’s Club – $10.18 = $2.55 per pound (4 pounds)

Yogurt, GoGurt
BJ’s – $7.49 (32 count) = $0.23 per serving
Costco – $6.99 (32 count – Simple variety) = $0.22 per serving
Sam’s Club – $6.98 (32 count) = $0.22 per serving (WINNER by a penny!)

Greek Yogurt, Chobani NonFat
BJ’s – $4.69 (38 ounces) = $0.12 per ounce
Costco – No price available
Sam’s Club – $4.98 (38 ounces) = $0.13 per ounce

Greek Yogurt, Store Brand NonFat 
BJ’s – $6.99 (64 ounces) = $0.11 per ounce
Costco – $6.99 (64 ounces) = $0.11 per ounce
Sam’s Club – No price available

Eggs
BJ’s – No price available
Costco – $6.49 (3 dozen) = $2.16 per dozen (WINNER!)
Sam’s Club – $7.13 (3 dozen) = $2.38 per dozen

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
BJ’s – $1.99 per pound
Costco – $2.89 per pound
Sam’s Club – $1.88 per pound (WINNER!)

Chicken Drumsticks or Thighs (same price for either variety)
BJ’s – $0.99 per pound (WINNER!)
Costco – No price available
Sam’s Club – $1.27 per pound

Ground Beef
BJ’s – $3.59 per pound (85% lean)
Costco – $3.69 per pound (88% lean)
Sam’s Club – $3.28 per pound (80% lean) (WINNER! although the fat content is different)

Sandwich Meat – Ham
BJ’s – $9.99 (2 pounds) = $5.00 per pound (WINNER!)
Costco – No price available
Sam’s Club – $6.98 (1.375 pounds) = $5.08 per pound

Sandwich Meat – Turkey
BJ’s – $7.29 (2.5 pounds) = $2.92 per pound (WINNER!)
Costco – $9.89 (3 pounds) = $3.30 per pound
Sam’s Club – $9.88 (1.375 pounds) = $7.19 per pound

Sandwich Meat – Variety Pack
BJ’s – $9.99 (3 pounds) = $3.33 per pound (TIED!)
Costco – $9.99 (3 pounds) = $3.33 per pound (TIED!)
Sam’s Club – $12.88 (2 pounds) = $6.44 per pound

Baby Wipes – Store Brand
BJ’s – $19.99 (1140 wipes) = $0.0175 per wipe (WINNER!)
Costco – $19.99 (900 wipes) = $0.0222 per wipe
Sam’s Club – $17.86 (1000 wipes) = $0.0179 per wipe

Baby Wipes – Pampers Sensitive
BJ’s – $24.99 (1024 wipes) = $0.024 per wipe (WINNER!)
Costco – No price available
Sam’s Club – $19.98 (808 wipes) = $0.025 per wipe

Diapers – National Brand

Each store carried different brands and different varieties. It was impossible for our team to truly compare these products from the stores we visited.

Diapers – Store Brand (We used size 3 in all varieties to get a true comparison.)
BJ’s – $22.99 (160 diapers) = $0.144 per diaper
Costco – $38.99 (210 count) = $0.186 per diaper
Sam’s Club – $34.94 (252 count) = $0.139 per diaper (WINNER!)

Toilet Paper – Charmin Ultra Strong
BJ’s – $28.99 (48 rolls of 209 sheets) = $0.29 per 100 sheets
Costco – $19.99 (30 rolls of 231 sheets) = $0.29 per 100 sheets
Sam’s Club – $22.48 (24 rolls of 330 sheets) = $0.28 per 100 sheets (WINNER!)

Toilet Paper – Store Brand
BJ’s – $18.99 (36 rolls of 1000 sheets) = $0.05 per 100 sheets (WINNER!)
Costco – $14.99 (30 rolls of 425 sheets) = $0.12 per 100 sheets
Sam’s Club – $17.86 (45 rolls of 220 sheets) = $0.18 per 100 sheets

Paper Towels – Bounty
Each store sold a different variety (some Soft, some regular size, some Select-A-Size) which made it impossible for a side by side comparison.

Paper Towels – Store Brand Select-A-Size variety
BJ’s – $14.99 (12 rolls of 144 sheets) = $0.87 per 100 sheets
Costco – $15.79 (12 rolls of 160 sheets) = $0.82 per 100 sheets
Sam’s Club – $16.48 (15 rolls of 142 sheets) = $0.73 per 100 sheets (WINNER!)

Dishwashing Detergent – Finish All in 1 Powerballs
BJ’s – $14.99 (100 count) = $0.15 per use
Costco – $14.49 (145 count) = $0.10 per use (WINNER!)
Sam’s Club – $13.78 (100 count) = $0.14 per use

Dishwashing Detergent – Store Brand
BJ’s – $9.99 (85 count) = $0.12 per use
Costco – $9.69 (110 count) = $0.09 per use (WINNER!)
Sam’s Club – $9.98 (105 count) = $0.10 per use

Plastic Cups – Store Brand
BJ’s – $7.99 (200 count) = $0.040 per cup (WINNER! yes, by a fraction of a penny)
Costco – $9.89 (240 count) = $0.041 per cup
Sam’s Club – $10.68 (240 count) = $0.045 per cup

Paper Plates – Store Brand, 9 inches
BJ’s – $11.99 (375 plates) =$0.032 per plate
Costco – $9.59 (620 plates) = $0.015 per plate (WINNER!)
Sam’s Club – $15.98 (600 plates) = $0.027 per plate

Trash Bags – Glad Force Flex 13 gallon Kitchen Bags
BJ’s – $16.99 (140 count) = $0.121 per bag
Costco – $15.99 (140 count) = $0.114 per bag (WINNER!)
Sam’s Club – $16.87 (140 count) = $0.121 per bag

Trash Bags – Store Brand, 13 gallon kitchen size
BJ’s – $13.99 (150 count) = $0.093 per bag
Costco – $13.89 (200 count) = $0.069 per bag
Sam’s Club – $12.96 (200 count) = $0.065 per bag (WINNER!)

Toothpaste – Colgate Total Whitening
BJ’s – $11.99 (5 X 7.8 ounces = 39 ounces) = $0.31 per ounce
Costco – No price available
Sam’s Club – $10.79 (5 X 7.8 ounces = 39 ounces) = $0.28 per ounce (WINNER!)

Toothpaste – Colgate Optic White
BJ’s – $8.99 (3 X 5 ounce tubes = 15 ounces) = $0.60 per ounce
Costco – $14.99 (5 X 6.3 ounce tubes = 31.5 ounces) = $0.48 per ounce (WINNER!)
Sam’s Club – No price available

Razors – Gillette Sensor2 Plus Disposable
BJ’s – $26.99 (52 count) = $0.52 per razor
Costco – No price available
Sam’s Club – $26.96 (52 count) = $0.52 per razor (WINNER by $0.03 on the entire pack)

The results are in!

Costco vs. Sam’s vs. BJ’s – Head to Head Unit Pricing Results
# of Wins/Ties for Best Price
BJ’s – 15
Costco – 14
Sam’s Club – 11

After seeing the side by side details here in this Costco vs. Sam’s vs. BJ’s price comparison, we can see that BJ’s is least expensive on more items than the other stores. But it was a hugely competitive matchup! It seems to me that it could be worth it to have memberships to a few of these warehouses if they’re close enough to make it worth the drive.

What do you think about this, were you surprised at all?