Trader Joe’s is known for their low prices on natural and organic products. But, as Costco continues to add more and more organic options, is Trader Joe’s remaining competitive enough?
I took a trip to both Costco and Trader Joe’s and checked out their prices on the most common organic staple products to compare.
There really are no stores that beat Costco’s prices, other than Aldi which comes close. But, how much cheaper is Costco than Trader Joe’s?
After checking prices on organic quinoa, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic whole wheat bread, organic eggs, organic milk, organic butter, organic whole chicken and organic chicken breasts, Costco was the lowest in every category over Trader Joe’s, except for their organic milk (although I’ve heard prices on their milk can vary by region).
Not only was Costco cheaper, but they were significantly lower priced, especially on the items like organic chicken breasts, organic eggs, organic butter and organic quinoa.
Some things to keep in mind…. Costco sells products in bulk, so you may end up with more than you need. They also have a yearly membership fee of $55, so be sure you’ll save at least that by shopping there over other stores.
Neither Costco, nor Trader Joe’s offer sale prices, but Costco does offer monthly instant rebates and often times natural and organic products are included. Trader Joe’s doesn’t offer sales or coupons, but does accept manufacturer coupons (while Costco does not).
Organic produce is hard to compare prices on as it’s seasonal, but in general Costco offers lower prices on organic produce than Trader Joe’s, but has less of a selection than Trader Joe’s does.
What are your thoughts? Is buying a Costco membership worth the savings over Trader Joe’s for you?
Looking to save more on natural and organic products? Sign up for my free daily newsletter here.
My executive Costco membership pays for itself plus I get another hundred bucks or so back. On top of that their credit card has some great perks, especially for travelers with insurance. Their meat prices are phenomenal and their roast chickens are probably my favorite loss leader of all time. It’s quite easy to fall into shopping habits that end up in no wasted food. Especially considering their great prices on storage containers and the Food Saver. I like TJs ok. Perhaps when I can get a totally decent couch there for $225 for the floor model I’ll be in more often.