I took a trip to both Dollarama and Costco in Victoria, B.C. to see which identical items I could find in both stores to compare the prices. I stuck to beauty aisle essentials like shampoo, toothpaste and bodywash as well as vitamins and allergy medication.
Costco and Dollarama each have a reputation for offering cheap products, with Costco selling them in bulk and Dollarama selling them individually.
But which is the better deal?
Here are 16 items and how the prices compare at each store.
Extra Strength Tylenol Cold
Extra Strength Tylenol cold at Costco. Right: Asymina holding a pack of Extra Strength Tylenol cold at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
If you need cold medication, Dollarama has a 10-pack of Tylenol Extra Strength for $4, which works out to $0.40 per tablet.
Costco has the same Tylenol medication in an 80-pack for $19.99. That comes to $0.25 per tablet.
So, Costco has the cheaper option if you need a larger pack of Tylenol cold meds.
Reactine
Extra strength Reactine at Costco. Right: Asymina holding a Reactine box at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
Allergy season is ramping up in Canada so you may be searching for some relief.
Dollarama and Costco both sell Reactine, and the price difference is quite significant.
Dollarama sells a pack of 3 tablets for $4, which comes to $1.33 per tablet.
Costco has a pack of 175 tablets for $64.99. While that does seem like a significant amount of tablets, the price comes to $0.37 per tablet.
Dove original soap bars
Dove soap on sale at Costco. Right: Asymina holding a pack of Dove soap at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
Costco has a 16-pack of Dove Original soap for $17.99. That breaks down to $1.13 per bar of soap.
Dollarama sells the same soap in a two-pack for $3.50, which comes to $1.75 per bar.
It's important to note that the Dove soap bars weigh 106 grams each at Costco, while the Dollarama ones are 90 grams each, so you are getting a bit more product in each bar at Costco.
Glysomed hand cream
Glysomed hand cream at Costco. Right: Glysomed hand cream on sale at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
If you're dealing with dry skin, Costco has a three-pack of Glysomed hand cream on sale for $14.99 (a total of 550 mL in the three tubes). That breaks down to $1.36 for 50 mL.
The same brand is also sold at Dollarama for $3.50 per 75 mL bottle.
That comes to $2.33 per 50 mL, meaning Costco is the cheaper option for this product.
Listerine mouthwash
A two-pack of Listerine at Costco. Right: Bottles of Listerine for sale at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
Costco sells three litres of Listerine mouthwash for $15.99, which comes to $0.53 per 100 mL.
The same product, albeit a different flavour, is also sold at Dollarama.
The dollar store has 500 mL for $4, which breaks down to $0.80 per 100 mL.
Old Spice body wash
Old Spice NightPanther body wash at. Costco. Right: Old Spice After Hours body wash at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
If you want to save some money on body wash, Costco has a two-pack of Old Spice for $16.49. For 1.9 litres that comes to $0.87 per 100 mL.
At Dollarama, a 473 mL bottle of the same brand of body wash costs $5.
That's $1.06 per 100 mL so Costco's product is cheaper.
Always ultra thin pads
Always ultra thin pads at Costco. Right: Always ultra thin pads at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
If you need to stock up on pads, you may be looking for a cheaper option.
Costco has a 76-pack of Always ultra-thin overnight pads for $17.49, which is $0.23 per pad.
That same brand sells for $4.75 for a 16-pack at Dollarama, where you pay $0.30 per pad.
Dove shampoo
Asymina holding a bottle of Dove shampoo at Costco. Right: Bottles of Dove shampoo on sale at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
Dove shampoo is another item that has a pretty big price difference depending on where you go.
A 1.18-litre bottle of Dove shampoo sells for $9.99 at Costco, breaking it down to $0.85 per 100 mL.
Dollarama has the same shampoo in 400 mL bottles for $4.75.
The Dollarama version comes to $1.19 per 100 mL, so you're saving money if you get the larger bottle at Costco.
Irish Spring soap
A 20-pack of Irish Spring soap at Costco. Right: Irish Spring soap at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
Costco sells a 20-pack of Irish Spring soap bars for $15.49, which comes to $0.77 per bar.
That same item is sold at Dollarama in a 6-pack for $5. The cost at that store comes to $0.83 per bar.
Colgate Total Whitening toothpaste
Colgate Total Whitening toothpaste at Costco. Right: Colgate Total Whitening toothpaste at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
Toothpaste is something we use daily so you may be wondering where you can score the cheapest option.
While you may assume Dollarama is the way to go, it's Costco that will save you money when it comes to Colgate Total Whitening toothpaste.
Costco sells a five-pack for $14.99. With 850 mL of product in total, that breaks down to $1.76 per 100 ml.
The same item is sold in 120 mL tubes at Dollarama for $3.50, which comes to $2.92 per 100 ml.
Jamieson B12 supplements
Jamieson B12 vitamins at Costco. Right: Jamieson B12 vitamins at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
If you're in need of vitamin B12 supplements, both Dollarama and Costco sell the Jamieson brand in-store.
Costco sells a pack of 200 tablets for $21.99, which comes to $0.11 per tablet.
The Dollarama bottle has 35 tablets for $4. That also breaks down to $0.11 per tablet.
While the cost per pill is the same, keep in mind that the Costco tablets are 1,200 mcg and the Dollarama ones are 250 mcg. That means you're getting more B12 with the Costco option.
Batiste dry shampoo
Asymina holding a two-pack of Batiste dry shampoo at Costco. Right: Batiste dry shampoo at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
If you use dry shampoo, you can get the Batiste brand at both Costco and Dollarama.
Costco sells a two-pack of 300-mL bottles for $17.99. That cost comes to $3 per 100 mL.
The same item is sold at Dollarama, albeit in a smaller bottle at 200 mL.
The Dollarama item is sold at $5 per bottle, which means it's $2.50 per 100 mL and the cheaper option in the end.
Score one point for Dollarama!
Vaseline healing jelly
Asymina holding a multi-pack of Vaseline Healing Jelly at Costco. Right: Asymina holding a tube of Vaseline Healing Jelly at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
Costco sells a pack of three tubs (375 grams each) of Vaseline healing jelly for $10.99. That breaks down to $0.49 per 50 grams.
Dollarama sells a much larger version of the same product for $3.25 for 50 grams.
In the end, you're saving quite a bit of money if you end up buying it at Costco.
Softsoap body wash
A multi-pack of Softsoap body wash at Costco. Right: Softsoap body wash at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
When it comes to Softsoap body wash, Costco has a four-pack (591 mL per bottle) that sells for $13.99. That comes to $0.59 per 100 mL.
Dollarama has a similar version of the body wash, in the same size, for $3.25. That means the Dollarama version sells for $0.55 per 100 mL and is slightly cheaper.
Head & Shoulders shampoo
A two-pack of Head & Shoulders Classic Clean shampoo at Costco. Right: Asymina holding a bottle of Head & Shoulders Classic Clean 2 in 1 shampoo.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
You can save some money on Head & Shoulders shampoo if you shop at Costco.
The two-pack at Costco (950 mL per bottle) comes to $22.99, which means it's $1.28 per 100 mL.
A similar version of the shampoo sells for $4 for 250 mL at Dollarama. That breaks down to $1.60 per 100 mL.
Vaseline dry skin repair body lotion
Vaseline dry skin repair body lotion at Costco. Right: Vaseline dry skin repair body lotion at Dollarama.
Asymina Kantorowicz | Narcity
If you're looking for a moisturizer, Vaseline Dry Skin Repair is available at both Costco and Dollarama.
Costco sells it in a three-pack at 600 mL per bottle for $15.99. That breaks down to $0.89 per 100 mL.
Dollarama sells a 400 mL bottle of the same body lotion for $4, which comes to $1 per 100 mL.
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
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