If you shop at Costco all the time, you probably know that the wholesaler offers bigger items at lower prices.
Even though I don't like shopping at the retailer, there are a few products that I'll always buy at Costco rather than at a grocery store.
That's especially true with how expensive prices are at grocery stores in Canada now.
Despite having a membership, I don't shop at Costco often and prefer the grocery store over the wholesale retailer for most of my grocery shopping.
It's not just because of overzealous shoppers, the warehouses that seem neverending, and the oversized items but also because the same products aren't on the shelves every time I go into a store location.
However, there are some items I look for and add to my cart whenever I shop at the wholesale retailer.
In fact, I get those products at Costco instead of buying them at the grocery store.
That's because of the cheaper prices and how much bang I get for my buck on the items I need.
Whether you're looking for recommendations or are just curious about what another shopper's must-haves are, these are the products I'll always buy at Costco rather than grocery stores in Canada.
Sharpie permanent markers
Sharpie permanent markers at Costco.
Lisa Belmonte | Narcity
I like writing in permanent marker so because of that and the fact that I always seem to lose one when I buy a small pack, I tend to add this to my cart when shopping at Costco.
Plus, there is a bonus silver permanent marker so it actually comes with 25 permanent markers, not 24.
It costs $18.99 for a pack of 25 permanent markers which breaks down to $0.75 per marker.
Kirkland Signature muffins
Packs of Costco muffins.
Lisa Belmonte | Narcity
It costs $9.99 for two packs of muffins and each comes with six which means you get a dozen muffins.
That works out to $4.99 per pack and just $0.83 per muffin!
Having to buy two packs with six muffins each might seem like a lot but since it's mix and match, I get two flavours and freeze half of each for whenever I don't feel like making breakfast.
Starbucks Cafe Verona coffee
Starbucks Cafe Verona coffee at Costco.
Lisa Belmonte | Narcity
If you shop at Costco often, you probably know that the Kirkland Signature coffee is roasted by Starbucks.
But I like the Starbucks coffee better than the Kirkland Signature coffee even though it's roasted by Starbucks and cheaper than the name brand.
So, I add a bag of Starbucks Cafe Verona coffee to my cart whenever I'm shopping at Costco.
It has a price tag of $23.99 for a 1.13-kilogram bag of coffee beans. That's $2.12 per 100 grams.
Kirkland Signature cookies
Packs of Costco cookies.
Lisa Belmonte | Narcity
It costs $9.99 for this pack of Costco cookies with three flavours, double chocolate, chocolate chunk and white chocolate chunk.
There are usually seven cookies of each flavour so the cost breaks down to $0.47 per cookie.
I really only get this for the double chocolate cookies but Costco's chocolate chunk cookies are famous.
So, the next time I go shopping at the retailer I'll have to get a pack and try the chocolate chunk cookies at home.
Scotch-Brite lint rollers
Scotch-Brite lint rollers at Costco.
Lisa Belmonte | Narcity
Lint rollers are a must-have for me to get lint, hair, pet fur and more off clothes and fabrics.
For some reason, I can never find a single roll let alone a five-pack of lint rollers at the grocery store.
That's why I go shopping at Costco every once and a while, I get this pack of five Scotch-Brite lint rollers with 95 sheets each.
It costs $15.99 which breaks down to $3.19 per roller.
Mutti passata
Pack of Mutti passata jars at Costco.
Lisa Belmonte | Narcity
It costs $15.99 for a box of six Mutti passata jars that are each 796 millilitres.
The price breakdown is $2.66 per jar and $0.33 per 100 millilitres.
These are must-haves for me even though I don't like shopping at Costco because the jars are bigger than the individual jars that are available at grocery stores.
Since I use Mutti passata often to make sauce, getting the oversized product at a lower price from Costco just makes sense.
Nutella
Pack of Nutella at Costco.
Lisa Belmonte | Narcity
Nutella, in my opinion, is without a doubt better than the Kirkland Signature hazelnut spread and it's cheaper at Costco than at grocery stores.
A pack of two Nutella jars that are both one kilogram costs $15.99 at the wholesale retailer.
Breaking that down, the price is $7.99 per jar and $0.79 per 100 grams.
Kirkland Signature ground cinnamon
Costco Kirkland ground cinnamon.
Lisa Belmonte | Narcity
It costs $6.99 for a 303-gram tub of Kirkland Signature ground cinnamon at Costco.
That's $2.30 per 100 grams.
While the price breakdown for what you get isn't the cheapest, it's not always easy to find value packs like this at a grocery store.
So, it's something I get at Costco whenever I shop there.
Clif bars
Clif bars at Costco.
Lisa Belmonte | Narcity
These Clif bars are a product I'll buy whenever I go to Costco because they're good to have handy in the pantry for snacks.
It costs $24.99 for a box of 22 Clif bars that are 68 grams each which breaks down to $1.13 per bar and $1.67 per 100 grams.
This pack comes with two flavours of energy bars, chocolate chip and crunchy peanut butter.
Terra Delyssa extra virgin olive oil
Terra Delyssa extra virgin olive oil at Costco.
Lisa Belmonte | Narcity
Every time I go to Costco it seems like there's always a different name-brand olive oil available and only the Kirkland Signature bottles are constantly on shelves.
Since I don't prefer the Kirkland Signature olive oil, I'll try whatever name brand is being sold at the wholesale retailer like this Terra Delyssa extra virgin olive oil.
A pack of two one-litre bottles costs $28.99 which works out to $14.49 per bottle and $1.44 per 100 millilitres.
That's actually cheaper than the Kirkland Signature extra virgin olive oil which costs $32.99 for a two-litre bottle!
Kirkland Signature nut bars
Kirkland Signature nut bars.
Lisa Belmonte | Narcity
Kirkland Signature nut bars — which are dupes of Kind bars — are another must-have whenever I shop at Costco.
It costs $15.99 for a box with 24 bars that are 40 grams each.
The price breaks down to $0.66 per bar and $1.66 per 100 grams.
Earlier this year, I blind-taste-tested Kirkland products and name-brand versions, including these nut bars.
I thought Costco's knockoff was much better. Plus, it's cheaper!
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.
