What I buy at Costco as a single person on a budget

Author’s Note: Not a paid review. I have no affiliation with Costco. Or any other brands mentioned here. P.S. Yes, I live in Florida! How did you know?

NOT an “ultimate” shopping guide! Not a “complete” guide. Just one person’s weird little opinion on what is worth buying at Costco.

Before I joined Costco 2.5 years ago, I read a LOT of articles online, trying to decide if a club membership would even be worthwhile for me. I’m a single person on a limited food budget ($50 per week), and none of my friends or family were Costco members. I’d never, ever visited a Costco. I really had no point of comparison, outside of online articles and reviews.

So I wrote this as the kind of guide I wish I’d had. Maybe this list will resonate with you. And maybe it won’t.

Here’s what I’ve found to be worthwhile products, both in quality and value, at Costco:

1. Produce

Let’s start with the bad news first: Costco hasn’t been a good source of fruits or vegetables for me. The produce section is limited, and the products aren’t always a stellar value. In fact, usually (for me), the least value is in the produce department. Plus, at my particular location, rotten produce has been huge problem (I’ve been told this isn’t an issue at other stores). There are only a few Costco produce items which make me consistently happy:

Romaine Lettuce

If you’ve been reading my reviews, you’ve probably noticed I eat a lot of salad. I’ve found it’s substantially cheaper to buy the 6-pack of Romaine lettuce from Costco — it’s currently around $4.50. My friends ask me how I manage to eat all the lettuce before it rots. The answer is that I plan a week or more of continuous salad-eating to power through the bag.

I’ve had poor results buying other salad greens from Costco, such as spinach or baby greens (they get slimy and rot almost immediately), but the romaine lettuce tends to stay good for 7-10 days. (Once, I got a solid 2.5 weeks from it! Whoo!)

I also like to soak my lettuce in a bowl of water to help any wilted areas revive (like Lazarus from the dead) before eating. The only downside to this giant bag of lettuce is that it’s strangely difficult to fit in the produce drawer in my fridge, and it’s essentially impossible to reseal the plastic bag once open. You can see my desperate attempt here, with small binder clips. Ha ha. We laugh to keep from crying.

Cherry or Grape Tomatoes

I buy either the Wild Wonders or Angel Sweet grape/cherry tomatoes in 2-pound packages. I enjoy these tomatoes more when they come from Mexico, rather than Canada (the taste is better — tangy and sweet), so if that matters to you, you can check the package for the country of origin before buying.

Typically, the 2-pound packages cost $6. Mine have a pretty impressive life span on my counter — usually, at least 2 weeks. But, I’ve occasionally stretched them as far as a month. The nice thing about tomatoes is that they usually taste better (more ripe) as they age. I do check the packages carefully in the store, because some batches have moldy tomatoes, and that would ruin the entire bunch.

I eat my tomatoes on my salads, in omelets, and as healthy snacks (with dips, such as this Aldi Mexicali Dip!). Tomatoes go with everything. Change my mind.

Lemons

The 5-pound bags of lemons at Costco are worth buying — mine usually have a long lifespan, often 2-3 months or more. I store mine in the refrigerator. I use lemons to make my own Caesar salad dressing, marinades, sauces, lemonade, and to garnish my fish. I once counted the lemons in my Costco bag, and I had gotten 20 lemons for $6, so that works out to about 30 cents each. Huzzah.

Garlic

Costco sells fresh garlic bulbs (from the USA) in 2-pound bags for $6. I keep mine in the refrigerator, and have managed to squeeze a good 8-9 months out of a single bag. I didn’t count them, but it’s a LOT of bulbs! I use fresh garlic in soups, pastas, hummus, sauces, and of course Caesar dressing.

Frozen Normandy Blend

I usually feel pretty “meh” about frozen vegetables, but Costco’s truly impressed me. This Kirkland Normandy Blend has broccoli, cauliflower, and two kinds of carrots. The spears of broccoli are huge and high quality, and the carrots don’t have that icky freezer texture. Plus, they’re gorgeous.

I cook my Normandy Blend in a skillet with a little butter until the veggies are tender and have a slight charring. Some garlic powder at the end really kicks up the flavor. The Organic Normandy Blend is currently around $11 for a 5.5 pound bag.

2. Fish

If you’ve been reading my reviews, you already know I LOVE fish, and I eat a lot of it. I buy a variety of frozen and canned fish from Costco, including:

Kirkland Sockeye Salmon

I reviewed this fish separately, and you can find the full review here.

“Kirkland” is Costco’s store-brand, and this fish is reliably good at a “fair” price, currently around $39 for 3 pounds. It’s not a stunning value — in fact, when sockeye salmon is in season, it’s much cheaper to buy it fresh by the pound. However, I appreciate the convenience and reliability of the individually vacuum-sealed fillets. I buy 1-2 bags of this per year.

Kirkland Mahi-Mahi

Likewise, Costco’s store-brand Mahi is actually quite good — I also wrote a separate review of this, which you can read here.

The only downside to the Kirkland Mahi-Mahi is that the fillets are vacuum sealed as two servings per fillet. This means you will always have to thaw/eat two servings at once. Since I’m a single person, this is less than ideal.

The Kirkland Mahi-Mahi is currently around $22.50 for a 3-pound bag. I buy 1-2 bags per year.

Orca Bay Keta Salmon

I buy this fish most often, mainly because it’s substantially cheaper than other salmon options. The taste and texture takes some getting used to, but I have some cooking tips in my full review, which you can read here.

The Orca Bay Keta Salmon is usually $23 for a 3-pound bag. I buy 2-3 bags per year.

Trident Ultimate Fish Sticks

Not the healthiest choice, but sometimes you just need some tasty fish sticks! These are some of the best I’ve had. I wrote a separate review here.

I buy about 1 bag per year. It runs around $15 for 4 pounds.

I’ve tried other Trident Seafood products, such as their Salmon Burgers (you can read my snarky review here), and although they weren’t “bad,” they weren’t something I purchased a second time.

Canned Tuna and Sardines

For this, I buy what is on sale. And I will wait as long as it takes for that sale. I’ve tried a few different brands/varieties, and none of them were bad. Costco sells a number of imported varieties that are packed in olive oil, if that’s your jam.

3. Poultry

Here are the chicken and turkey meats I buy regularly from Costco:

Bare Chicken Breast Chunks

If you haven’t tried Bare Chicken products, you must be living under a rock. If you HAVE tried them, then you KNOW. These are the best chicken nuggets. Period-t. They taste like Chick-fil-A, sort of. The meat is high quality with a natural texture and juicy flavor. The breading is thin, but crispy and full of seasoned richness. Probably can’t go wrong with these. But you can try. Go ahead. Try to go wrong. Hmmph!

I eat my Bare Chicken Breast Chunks on my salads, over pasta, and sometimes as an entire meal (with naughty things, like air-frier baked french fries, onion rings, or hash browns). I cook mine in my countertop air fryer toaster oven for about 15 minutes.

Costco sells these in huge 4-pound frozen bags for around $18. A bag typically lasts me 1-3 months, depending on what else I’m eating.

As a single person, this is a highly convenient item — I can take out exactly as many nuggets as I need from the bag, without any waste. Since they are frozen, I don’t have to worry about opening a package that will expire before I can eat it. This is the kind of product that “makes sense” for me to buy in bulk. I need more of this!

Kirkland Oven Browned Turkey Breast

Ok, I’ve only bought this once (so far), but I WILL be buying it again, it was great! You can read my detailed review of it here. It makes happy sandwiches.

I loved how natural and wholesome the ingredients are, and the turkey meat was high-quality and versatile. Plus, at $4.69 per pound, this offers a significant value. The only downside is that I have trouble eating the entire (3-4 pound) package at once.

Deli Rotisserie Chicken

I know people rave about Costco’s Deli Rotisserie chicken, but for me it’s more “meh.” I buy it once or twice a year when I need a bunch of cheap pre-cooked chicken meat — like for chicken salad, or a casserole, or soup. It’s not something I eat regularly.

Unlike other shoppers, I just haven’t had the best “luck” with my rotisserie chickens — they often seem to have a weird, spongy meat texture and are far too oily. It’s not a product I get excited about. Lots of other people do, however.

But, for $5 each, I’ll probably keep (occasionally) buying them.

4. Dry Goods

The best Costco values are usually in the bulk dry/canned goods. Here are some things I regularly buy:

Coconut Oil

True story: when I first joined Costco, I tried to prove to my parents that it was actually worth the membership fee, and one of the ways I did that was by comparing the cost of coconut oil! Yes, I am really this boring.

I use this Kirkland Organic Virgin Coconut Oil for cooking and baking, but also for skin and hair care. I buy 1-2 jars per year. It’s a great value at $13 per 84 ounces.

I was hesitant to buy this, initially — because it was such a yuge container. I was worried it would taste terrible and be low quality. Fortunately, it turned out fantastic — it has a rich coconut aroma, and appropriately semi-solid consistency at temperatures below 78 degrees. In my hot Florida home, it is usually completely clear liquid.

P.S. All my efforts to recruit family members to the Costco club have failed. I am still the only person in my large, extended family who is a member. And no, they don’t borrow my membership card. They truly do not want to shop there. Alas.

Royal Basmati Rice

One of the first things I did after joining Costco was purchase a huge 20 pound bag of this Royal Basmati Rice. I was delighted to find it tastes much better than the basmati brand I used to buy, at a fraction of the cost. It’s very flavorful rice, and it cooks up wonderfully light and fluffy. I’m a fan.

People laughed at me for buying so much rice at once, but I ate it all in about 2 years. I’ve since purchased another bag, which will likely last me another 2 years. At least. It currently costs about $20 for a 20 pound bag.

Maple Syrup

I don’t eat TONS of maple syrup, but I do love the flavor. I enjoy it as a sweetener in my coffee and on some desserts. A jug of this Kirkland Organic Maple Syrup lasts me 6 months to a year. It’s currently about $13 for a 1 liter jug.

As a sad side note, my first bottle had a rich, deep flavor and color, but my most recent jug is very pale and more subtle. I like my maple syrup as dark as possible! As dark as my soul.

Vanilla

This weird, unbranded vanilla made me a little suspicious, but it ended up pretty decent. It has a deep, rich, sweet aroma. I use it for baking, and in my coffee lattes and hot chocolate. It’s $10 for 16 ounces. At the rate I’m going, it will last me a few years.

Himalayan Salt

If you’ve been reading my reviews, you probably already figured out that I eat tons of salt. I have Dysautonomia, which is a form of Autonomic Dysfunction, and requires extra salt (and fluid) intake.

I used to buy Real Salt, but it was significantly more expensive, even in bulk.

I’ve actually already used at least 2 tubs of this Himalayan Pink Salt from The Salt Lab. I’ve had some minor quality control issues, with some gritty sand being mixed into my first tub. The second tub has been better, although I still get some annoying grit. It’s a good value, however. Currently, it is $7.50 for a 5 pound tub.

Bone Broth

I use this Kirkland Organic Bone Broth to make soup and gravy. A case of 6 quarts lasts me about a year. Although the label describes it as “sipping broth,” I don’t actually enjoy the flavor as-is — it’s bland and uninspiring. But, it’s great for adding to recipes! I wish it didn’t have “Natural Flavor” added. This stuff isn’t cheap — 6 quarts will set you back an eye-watering $20.

Coffee

I’ve seen online Costco shopping guides that claimed coffee was not a worthwhile purchase at Costco. I beg to differ. So far, it’s been the most economical way to buy whole bean coffee. And generally, very good quality. I like to buy what is on sale. There’s usually at least one brand each month that is a “deal.”

But, if nothing is on sale, I buy the Kirkland French Roast. I prefer the whole bean, so that I can inspect the quality of the beans, and grind it freshly at home. Whole beans stay fresh longer. I can usually get a 2-2.5 pound bag for $11-14

Costco offers an assortment of organic and conventional coffee varieties. They also have K-Cups, but no Nespresso pods (Since I have a Nespresso machine, I have to buy the pods on Amazon! Grrr.)

Nuts

I wasn’t a huge fan of Costco’s Pecan Halves (you can read my review here), but I do regularly buy the Kirkland Organic Brazil Nuts. I wrote a (very silly) review of them here. I’ve had better Brazil Nuts, but Costco’s get the job done for a “good” price.

Dried Fruit

I’ve tried a few dried fruits from Costco, including figs and cherries. The non-organic versions tend to be made with sulphur dioxide, which I have to avoid due to sulfite sensitivity. Fortunately, Costco carries a variety of organic dried fruits, too — which do not contain added sulfites. For me, these are typically only a good value if I actually need that much dried fruit. And, I usually don’t.

The exception is the Ocean Spray Whole Cranberries. These usually go on sale in November for around $6 for 4 pounds. I’ve found a gazillion uses for them (such as these Cranberry Orange Scones), and they last at least a year in my refrigerator. Although these are made with added sugar, they don’t have any preservatives or added sulfites or other “ick.” A worthwhile buy! If you’re looking for more ideas, I wrote a review here.

5. Refrigerated Stuff

For me, there’s a slim savings on refrigerated staples. I used to find more “deals” on refrigerated meal items when things were on sale, but either there haven’t been as many sales at my location, or I’ve missed them. Alas.

Eggs

I used to religiously buy the Heirloom Blue eggs from Costco. They are good — I love the orange yolks! I haven’t been buying them lately — we’ve had some pervasive egg stocking issues at my store, and it’s just been too much of a headache. I can (usually) get cheaper eggs at Aldi, and not have to wonder if they’ll be in stock or not (this was before the recent bird flu shortages). A box of 18 Heirloom Blue Eggs at Costco cost around $7.

Milk

I do buy organic whole milk from Costco. It comes in a box of 3 separate half-gallons. This isn’t my favorite milk (I prefer the flavor and texture of Publix Greenwise Whole Milk), but it’s not bad. And it saves a small amount of money. Not much. It’s usually about $11 for 3 half-gallons. I wouldn’t join Costco just to save money on milk, that’s for sure!

Butter

I also buy a couple different kinds of butter from Costco, including the Kirkland Grass-Fed New Zealand Butter, and the Kerrygold unsalted Irish Butter. There are moderate savings, which is worthwhile for me, since I eat an ungodly amount of butter.

I buy 2 pounds of butter about every other month. Maybe six times a year. I guess that’s 12 pounds of butter. Yikes. Maybe that is bad. *shrugs* A 2-pound box of Kirkland Grass-Fed New Zealand Butter costs $10.

Cheese

Costco doesn’t have a huge variety of cheeses, but the stuff they do have has been good quality so far. I typically buy my parmesan cheeses (for my Caesar salads) on repeat — because I use a lot of it, and I am certain to save money. Everything else has been more hodge-podge — and frustrating. If you find something you already use a lot of, it can be a good value.

But. Browsing the cheese case tends to be a confusing jumble, and there are shoppers (with their enormous Costco shopping carts) crowded around it — my store made the decision to squash the cheese area in a narrow place between the seasonal stacks of stuff and plants. It’s difficult for me to really look carefully and decide. If you have Sensory Overload, this is an excruciating experience. Usually, I squeeze in there as quickly (and politely) as I can, grab something, and scamper away. Not enjoyable at all.

Because the cheese packages are BIG — usually 1-2 pounds — Costco cheese is a hefty investment for me, and quickly eats up my small grocery budget.

Also. If you find a cheese you like, you may never see it again. This is one of the big things Costco members love to complain about — lack of reliable product availability.

6. Frozen Prepared Food

The second-biggest value at Costco is the frozen food items. And these are often a lot of fun. The downside is that some of the available items tend to be unreliable/seasonal/not stocked more than once a year, etc. It’s difficult to plan meals within a budget if you don’t know what is there.

I plan as much as I can around what is on sale — Costco mails out a little printed sales booklet every month, and this is usually where the best deals are found. I often find new things I want to try by perusing the sales booklet. Here are a few of the items I’ve purchased more than once:

Kirkland Lasagna

I wouldn’t rave about this lasagna, but it gets the job done. I prefer the spicy Italian Sausage variety over the Beef variety (yes, I wrote a review). The bad news is, you have to buy 6 pounds at once. If you’re single, like I am, that’s a big lasagna commitment! Not as much as a marriage proposal, but, ya know. A commitment. A twin-pack of 3-pound trays will set you back around $17.

Del Real Tamales

Actually, these aren’t frozen. But, whatever. I wrote a separate review of these Del Real Tamales here, which includes microwaving results, and leftovers. There’s not much chicken, but I loved the savory tamale shell.

What I love about these tamales is how quick and reliable they are to prepare. I’ve also frozen a bag that was close to expiring — and they’re easy to cook from frozen, too. The bad news is, these are only available seasonally at my store.

Sukhi’s Indian Food

These aren’t frozen, either. Sorry. Someone needs to fire me. Sukhi’s makes a Mango Chicken Curry and a Chicken Tikka Masala variety (which I reviewed here). The curry is full of mostly-decent-quality chunks of chicken breast, and you get four individually-sealed pouches per package. These are ready-to-eat meals — you just have to heat and add your own rice or naan bread. A 36 ounce package typically costs $15.

7. Household Supplies

I regularly buy toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex, parchment paper, garbage bags, dishwasher pods, and aluminum foil from Costco. But, I usually try to get these on sale. Otherwise, the savings isn’t as significant. Also, if you’ve already been buying off-brand items in bulk, you may find the prices at Costco aren’t as stellar as you’d hoped. Sometimes I have to wait a whole year for the item I need to go on sale, so this takes some planning and dedication!

8. The Bakery

Oh mercy. The Costco Bakery. If you’ve seen my reviews, you know I enjoy the bakery. Far too much. It’s rare to find a Bakery item that I truly dislike. Most things I don’t buy on repeat. But here are a few that I do:

Croissants

I use these to make egg sandwiches. And chicken salad sandwiches. And sometimes, I just eat them. These croissants are made with butter, and they’re especially nice if you toast them or re-bake them right before serving. A huge box of one dozen croissants costs $6.

Danishes

I just eat these. I stuff them in my gullet. ‘Nuff said. I love that these are made with butter. The pastry texture is “very good.” There are usually 3-4 flavor options to choose from: Cheese, Cherry, Almond, and sometimes Apple.

My favorite are the Cheese — they’re barely sweet, but very tangy and flavorful. I like to add my own fresh fruit toppings over the cheese. You can also drizzle them with maple syrup, or even add something savory like crumbled bacon. Endless possibilities!

The best way to eat these is to toast them gently in a skillet on the stove — so that the bottoms get crisp, and the rest of the pastry warms slightly.

The downside to these danishes is that you have to buy two boxes at once. You CAN mix and match flavors, but you have to buy two. It is the law. Two boxes is currently $12.

Artisan Rolls

The texture of these Kirkland Artisan Rolls is a bit like an English Muffin. They have a great flavor and dense-but-soft crumb. These are lovely for egg sandwiches, or as buns for a hamburger (or salmon burger).

I’ve also been known to butter them and eat them like an English Muffin. They freeze well and last a long time. A bag of 1-dozen costs $6. (If you’re wondering about that melted cheese on my sandwich, it’s Aldi’s imported English Truffle Cheddar, which I reviewed here.)

Tuxedo Cake

Gah. I wish I didn’t keep buying this. But, it’s so good! I have to. You can read my full review of Costco’s Tuxedo Cake here. Or just buy it. Just blindly buy it. Don’t even think about it, just close your eyes and put it in your shopping cart.

Cheesecake

This is a fabulous cheesecake, and excellent for entertaining. The plain cheesecake is usually available year-round, and costs $20 — I wrote a review of it here.

Seasonally, Costco offers either a cherry-topped cheesecake, or a mixed-berry-topped cheesecake. There are sometimes special cheesecakes, like this Lemon Meringue Cheesecake, or the slightly more controversial Orange Dreamsicle Cheesecake. My favorite is still the plain cheesecake, however.

Apple Pie

Probably the best grocery store apple pie out there, although not the cheapest. These taste best if you re-bake them at home. You can read my detailed review here. My store only carries these seasonally, and they typically cost about $13.

Bonus: Stuff that hasn’t been very worthwhile (for me)

The funnest part of shopping at Costco is (hands-down!) the treats and snacks. There’s always a dizzying, maze-like display of new goodies to try. Unfortunately, these have proved the lowest value purchases for me.

It’s not because they aren’t priced competitively — they are! It’s that I rarely manage to eat the whole package. In fact, there are many times I eat less than half the package before it goes bad. I have a pantry full of huge, abandoned, stale snack packages. It’s a bit tragic.

I finally made myself pull back on snack buying, simply because the waste was unconscionable. You might have a very different experience, based on your eating patterns or additional household members.

Anyway. It was fun while it lasted.

I also skip the Food Court.

I also don’t eat at Costco’s in-store food court. I know this is some kind of blasphemy. I know it. But, I just don’t really want that food. I don’t care how good of a deal it is. I bought a pizza once, and it was “meh,” and I’ve never bothered going back. There isn’t anything that tempts me enough to endure the hassle of the kiosk ordering and waiting in the lines. Not even that $1.50 hotdog combo deal. Nope.

Stuff I don’t buy at all, ever

Alcohol. We have a separate liquor store at my Costco location, but I’m a teetotaler, so I only went inside once, to see if they had bitters syrup. They did not. The End.

Most Costco household goods don’t tempt me. I have bought a few items, like a fire extinguisher, and a laptop computer. And an air fryer and Woozoo fan, as gifts for family members. I bought a plant (that promptly died). That’s pretty much it.

Clothes. Sorry, no. Nope. There isn’t a place to try them on, so you are just blindly buying stuff. I know Costco has a generous return policy, but that isn’t worth the hassle for a $10 top. Plus, unless it’s something very special, I can get better deals from other retailers, especially during sales events. And I can try them on.

How do I stay within my budget?

I don’t always manage to stay within my $50 budget every week. But I definitely try. I am absolutely over budget when I have to buy a giant package of toilet paper or five bazillion yards of aluminum foil. Ha.

What works best for me is only shopping once per month at Costco. I buy more fun stuff and shop more often (and spend more!) around the holidays, but the rest of the year, I try to visit about once a month. If I can spend less than $150 at Costco per month, it leaves $50 to buy the other stuff I need from Aldi or Publix.

It also helps that I literally do not have enough freezer space to buy all the stuff I want to buy. I don’t own a separate chest or garage freezer. I just have the side-by-side freezer on my kitchen fridge, and once it is full, I know I can’t buy anything else until I eat up what is there. This is pretty effective deterrence.

Dramatic Conclusion

Although Costco isn’t ideally suited to the needs of a single person on a limited budget, it can work. A Costco membership costs $65 per year. To make it worthwhile, I figure I have to save at least $5.50 per month by shopping there. So far, this has worked out for me. However, for some products, the prices at Aldi are pretty strong contenders to Costco prices, and without the burden of the annual membership fee. Or buying five bazillion yards at once. You know.

The End.

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