- Amazon and Costco sell just about everything.
- Both stores sell in bulk, offer free two-day shipping with membership, and sell inexpensive private-label products.
- We compared prices across a few categories at both stores and found Costco was generally less expensive. Here’s how they stack up.
Amazon and Costco sell just about everything.
The two companies have a lot in common, including their membership programs, two-day delivery on online orders, and selling in massive bulk quantities.
Both online stores also sell a ton of private-label products. Costco has its beloved Kirkland Signature brand to help keep prices low, and Amazon offers more than 80 of its own private-label products.
While Costco requires a membership to shop in its stores, it doesn’t require one to shop online. Both Amazon Prime and Costco’s membership offer free two-day shipping for online orders. Prime costs $119 a year, and a basic Costco membership costs $60 a year.
When we compared shopping online at each store, we found that Amazon had lower prices on home cleaning supplies like paper towels and dish soap, but almost everything else was less expensive at Costco.
Here's how the two compare:
A 12-pack of Bounty paper towels is listed on Amazon for $28.92. At Costco, it costs $29.99.
Amazon price: $28.92
Costco price: $29.99
Verdict: Amazon.
Amazon was also less expensive for cleaning supplies. An 8-count pack of Dawn dishwashing soap was listed at $39.40 on Amazon, and Costco charged $41.19 for the product.
Amazon price: $39.40
Costco price: $41.19
Verdict: Amazon.
Costco and Amazon don't always list the exact same products. Costco carried a 140-count pack of 13-gallon trash bags for $18.99, and Amazon carried an 80-count pack for $15.54. For a few dollars more, you can get double the amount at Costco.
Amazon price: $15.54 for an 80-count box
Costco price: $18.99 for a 140-count box
Verdict: Costco.
A 200 oz. container of Tide laundry detergent costs $28.99 at Costco. On Amazon, you can buy two 100 oz. containers of Tide detergent for $26.20.
Amazon price: $26.20
Costco price: $28.99
Verdict: Amazon.
Beauty products also were generally less expensive on Amazon. A two-pack of Aveeno lotion was $15.49 at Costco, but buying two single bottles of the same product on Amazon totals $14.38.
Amazon price: $14.38
Costco price: $15.49
Verdict: Amazon.
Costco sells a 180-count pack of its Kirkland makeup wipes for $15.99. On Amazon, a 50-count pack of Neutrogena wipes is $8.89. Costco offered a better deal in this case.
Amazon price: $8.89 for a 50-count box
Costco price: $15.99 for a 180-count box
Verdict: Costco.
Groceries were generally cheaper at Costco. At Costco, 60 Starbucks Pike Place coffee K-Cups cost $36.99. On Amazon, the exact same product was priced at $42.71.
Amazon price:$42.71
Costco price: $36.99
Verdict: Costco.
At Costco, two 48 oz. jars of peanut butter cost $11.49. The exact same product at Amazon was $13.72.
Amazon price:$13.72
Costco price: $11.49
Verdict: Costco.
Amazon sells a few of Costco's private-label Kirkland products, but they are more expensive on Amazon. An 84 oz. jar of coconut oil was almost half the price at Costco compared with Amazon.
Amazon price: $29.96
Costco price: $16.99
Verdict: Costco.
Kirkland unsalted nuts from Amazon were $23.49. At Costco, the same product was $20.49.
Amazon price: $23.49
Costco price: $20.49
Verdict: Costco.
After we compared prices across a few categories, including cleaning supplies, beauty products, and groceries, Amazon had lower prices on most cleaning and home products.
But Costco had better deals on bulk quantities, and the groceries and Kirkland products were significantly cheaper at Costco than on Amazon. It didn't have as big of a variety in terms of brands, but Costco had lower prices a majority of the time. A Costco membership is also much cheaper than a Prime membership, making Costco the winner here.
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