Costco Posts Lowest 5-Item Grocery Bill at $19.93 as Store Prices Cluster Tightly
Updated
Updated · KABC-TV · May 25
Costco Posts Lowest 5-Item Grocery Bill at $19.93 as Store Prices Cluster Tightly
5 articles · Updated · KABC-TV · May 25
$19.93 bought five staples at Costco, the lowest total in a 7 On Your Side comparison of potatoes, chicken breast, eggs, bread and 2% milk.
Amazon Fresh totaled $21.52, Grocery Outlet $23.25 and Ralphs $25.26, showing the baskets were all priced within a relatively narrow range.
Item-level differences shifted by store—Grocery Outlet had cheaper potatoes while Ralphs had cheaper eggs—so higher prices on one product were often offset by lower prices on another.
Costco's lower total came with tradeoffs: larger package sizes and a membership fee, while Amazon Fresh required a minimum order to avoid delivery charges.
For shoppers weighing bargains, the report said weekly circulars can help, but high gas prices may limit the value of driving to multiple stores.
Beyond the sticker price, is Costco's bulk-buy model truly cheaper after factoring in membership, gas, and food waste?
With egg prices falling but milk costs soaring, how can consumers navigate such volatile food markets to save money?
As AI optimizes grocery inventory, will shoppers see lower prices or will retailers just pocket the savings?