Is Costco Actually Worth It? Real Math From a Mom Who Crunched the Numbers
Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room: that $60 Costco membership fee.
Every mom group I'm in has this debate at least once a month. "Is Costco worth it?" "I never go, should I cancel?" "Tell me I'm not crazy for driving 30 minutes for rotisserie chicken."
Real talk: I was skeptical for YEARS. The membership felt like a commitment. The quantities felt overwhelming. The lines felt like a punishment.
But then I actually did the math—and I'm gonna break it down for you because I think Costco is either a goldmine or a money pit depending on YOUR situation.
When Costco is 100% Worth It
1. You have the storage space
This is non-negotiable. If you're in a tiny apartment with no pantry, skip it. But if you've got a garage, basement, or even just a deep freezer? Game changer.
2. You buy diapers or formula
Huggies at Costco: $0.19 per diaper
Same Huggies at Target: $0.28 per diaper
With two kids in diapers, that's $50+ savings per box. The membership pays for itself in like 2 months.
3. You cook at home
That $4.99 rotisserie chicken? It's not just cheap—it's GOOD. I shred it for tacos, soups, salads. Two chickens = dinner for a week. The meat quality is legitimately better than grocery stores.
4. You have a big family OR you meal prep
Buying in bulk only works if you actually use it. I buy 5lbs of ground beef, portion it, freeze it. Saves me $3-4 per pound vs. regular grocery stores.
When It's NOT Worth It
1. You're tempted by everything
Costco is designed to make you spend. That $300 cart when you went in for milk? Yeah, that's the problem. If you can't stick to a list, the membership is costing you money, not saving it.
2. You live far away
I drive 15 minutes. Totally worth it. If you're driving 45 minutes each way, the gas and time doesn't make sense unless you're doing one big monthly trip.
3. You're single or have a small household
24 rolls of toilet paper expire eventually (yes, really). Giant bags of spinach go bad. If you can't use bulk quantities before they spoil, you're wasting money.
My Actual Monthly Savings Breakdown
Here's what I tracked for 3 months:
- Diapers: $35/month savings
- Formula (when I used it): $45/month savings
- Chicken/meal staples: $25/month savings
- Household basics: $20/month savings
- Gas (Costco is usually cheaper): $15/month savings
Total monthly savings: $140
Minus membership: $5/month
Net savings: $135/month
That's $1,620 per year. For my family, it's a no-brainer.
The Products That Are Actually Cheaper
Not everything at Costco is a deal. Here's what consistently beats grocery stores:
- Rotisserie chicken ($4.99 vs $7-9 elsewhere)
- Kirkland diapers (seriously, try them)
- Gas (usually 10-20¢ cheaper per gallon)
- Cheese (bulk shredded, freezes great)
- Paper products (toilet paper, paper towels)
- Batteries (Kirkland brand = Duracell)
Skip: Produce (goes bad too fast), branded cereal (not much cheaper), random gadgets (you don't need that air fryer, I promise).
My Honest Verdict
Costco is worth it IF:
- You have kids (diapers/formula = instant ROI)
- You cook at home regularly
- You have storage space
- You can stick to a list
- There's one reasonably close to you
It's NOT worth it IF:
- You're single or a couple with no kids
- You eat out most nights
- You have zero pantry space
- You're an impulse shopper
- The closest one is 45+ minutes away
There's no shame in either answer. I have friends who cancelled after a year and are happier shopping at Aldi. I have friends who swear by Costco like it's a religion.
The key is knowing YOUR family's needs and doing the actual math—not just assuming it's always a deal because it's bulk.
Have you crunched the numbers on your Costco membership? What's your biggest win—or biggest regret? Drop it in the comments!
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you sign up through my link, but all opinions are my own—I shop at Costco weekly and these are my honest thoughts!