I'm sure a lot of Sydneysiders are interested whether shopping at Costco is worth it. So I've collated a few prices of their items and it will somehow give you some leverage for comparison to prices of items in local supermarkets (all prices in AUD, recorded on 12 Aug 2011):
Colgate Plax Mouthwash, 2 x 1L - $13.29
Colgate Total Toothpaste, 4 x 160g - $11.48
Rexona/Dove Roll-on for Male & Female, 6 x 50ml - $18.59
Olay Total Effects, 3 x 50g - $65.99
Palmers Cocoa Butter Value Pack, 1L + 60g - $12.79
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion, 2 x 354ml - $17.89
Qtips Cotton Swabs, 1,875pcs - $11.99
Carefree Everyday Liner Breathable, 96 pcs - $8.99
Stayfree Day & Night pack - $20.99
Gilette Mach 2 Disposables, 14 pcs - $27.69
Gilette Mach 3 Turbo Cartridge, 20 pcs - $53.99
Dettol Liquid Hand Wash, 3 x 750ml - $12.99
Palmolive Hand Wash, 2 x 750ml - $7.29
Palmolive Shower Gel, 750ml pump + 750ml refill - $9.28
Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo, 2 x 200ml - $18.99
Herbal Essences Shampoo, 2 x 735m - $17.59
Kirkland Hydrating Shampoo, 2 x 1.3L - $8.99
Kirkland Hydrating Conditioner, 2 x 1.18L - $8.99
Tresseme Shampoo & Conditioner, 2 x 1.3 L - $13.99
Palmolive Bar Soap, 20 bars - $8.99
Dove Moisturising Bar Soap, 14 bars - $18.39
Ivory Bar Soap, 16 bars - $5.99
Johnson's Baby Bedtime Value Pack, 1.3L - $11.59
Johnson's Baby Top to Toe Bath Pack, 1.2L - $14.99
Johnson's Baby Powder, 4 x 600mg - $13.99
Johnson's Baby Wipes Scented, 960 pcs - $34.98
Huggies Nappies Infant, 192 pcs - $72.99
Huggies Nappies Newborn, 224 pcs - $57.59
Huggies Nappies Crawler, 184 pcs - $51.79
Centrum Select 50+ Multivitamins, 200 pcs - $26.99
Webber Naturals Fish Oils 180/120, 400 pcs - $14.99
Kirkland Omega 3 Fish Oil, 180 pcs - $31.99
Herron Blue Ibuprofen, 24 pcs - $2.69
Kikkoman Soy Sauce, 2L - $9.99
Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce, 1.75L - $4.79
Leggo's Tomato Paste, 12 x 290g - $12.89
John West Red Salmon, 4 x 210g - $19.79
John West Tuna in Olive Oil, 12 x 185g - $23.99
India Gate Premium Basmati, 20kg - $44.99
Grape Brand Thai White Rice, 10kg - $9.49
Golden World Jasmine Rice, 25kg - $35.99
Sun Rice Premium White Long Grain Rice, 5 kg - $7.49
Palm Corned Beef, 4 x 326g - $12.99
Spam Regular, 3 x 340g - $10.79
Kirkland Sea Salt Grinder, 368g - $4.39
Kirkland Pure Sea Salt, 850g - $3.79
Saxa Cooking Salt, 2 kg, $1.59
Sunshine Lemon Juice, 2 x 1L - $4.59
Mission Jumbo Taco Shells, 2 x 190g - $3.79
Mission Burrito Dinner Kit, 2 x 560g - $9.69
Red Island Canola Oil, 5L - $12.99
Kirkland Olive Oil, 5L - $19.99
Kirkland Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1L - $11.99
Bake One Cupcake Mix, 2.5kg - $9.99
Gem of the West Plain Flour, 12.5kg - $8.49
Gem of the West Self Raising Flour, 8 x 1kg - $7.39
Sunshine White Sugar, 25kg - $23.49
Splenda Sachets, 8 x 50pk - $19.99
Sanitarium So Good Soy Milk, 12 x 2L - 23.69
Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix, 60 x 28g - $7.99
Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows, 1.1kg - $4.79
Kirkland Japanese Green Tea, 100 bags - $15.69
Twinnings Infusions Variety Pack, 120pcs - $12.89
Tetley Leaf Tea, 4 pack x 400g - $7.49
Nescafe Blend 43, 500g - $15.99
Kirkland Guatemalan Whole Bean Coffee, 1.36kg - $21.69
Kirkland by Starbucks Whole Bean Roasted Espresso, 907g - $13.99
Kirkland Rwandan Whole Bean Coffee, 1.36kg - $15.99
Kirkland Monterey Jack Cheese, 907g - $6.29
Primo Cocktail Frankfurts, 1kg - $4.89
Primo Chorizo, 1kg - $12.59
Western Star Butter, 1.5kg - $9.99
Lurpak Unsalted Block, 3 pack - $10.29
Bertolli Olivio Spread, 1kg - $6.79
Lays Potato Chips BBQ, 425g - $5.98
Lays Potato Chips Classic, 425g - $6.49
Kirkland Lightly Salted Chips, 907g - $8.49
Kellogg's Sultana Bran, 1.36kg - $9.79
Kellogg's Cornflakes, 1.45kg - $9.99
Kellogg's Just Right, 1.45kg - $10.99
Kellogg's Nutri-Grain, 940g - $6.99
Skippy Peanut Butter, 1.36kg - $5.69
Isigny Brie, 1kg - $30.49
Dutch Edam Balls - $12.49/kg
Jindi Camembert - $24.99/kg
Happy Cow Cheese Slices, 800g - $6.89
White King Toilet Gel Lemon, 2 x 700ml - $5.98
Kirkland Free & Clear Liquid Laundry, 5.5L - $19.99
Softly Laundry Liquid Woolens & Delicates, 5L - $14.99
Kirkland Ultra Fabric Softener, 5.53L - $15.99
Downy April Fresh Fabric Softener, 3L - $16.58
Cuddly Fabric Softener, 5L - $11.99
Palmolive Regular Dishwashing Liquid, 5L - $18.99
Finish Lemon Powder, 3kg - $13.59
Panasonic Viera, 50" Plasma, 1080P Full HD TV - $949.99
Samsung Series 5/D550 51" Plasma 1080P Full HD TV - $1,149.88
Samsung Series D7000 WIFI 55" LED 200HZ 1080P Full HD 3D TV - $2,999.99
Again, these are only some of the prices I was able to collate on 12 August. Prices may change everyday or every week.
The big question really is, "Is it worth paying for the annual membership of AUD$60.00?", which my Husband and I also asked before we applied for membership. We still went on with the membership because we thought experiencing Costco will best answer that question. So for the whole year, we'll keep our receipts and keep tabs of all the savings we got from all the sales and at the end of the annual membership, we'll see if our AUD$60.00 was really worth it.
Colgate Total Toothpaste, 4 x 160g - $11.48
Rexona/Dove Roll-on for Male & Female, 6 x 50ml - $18.59
Olay Total Effects, 3 x 50g - $65.99
Palmers Cocoa Butter Value Pack, 1L + 60g - $12.79
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion, 2 x 354ml - $17.89
Qtips Cotton Swabs, 1,875pcs - $11.99
Carefree Everyday Liner Breathable, 96 pcs - $8.99
Stayfree Day & Night pack - $20.99
Gilette Mach 2 Disposables, 14 pcs - $27.69
Gilette Mach 3 Turbo Cartridge, 20 pcs - $53.99
Dettol Liquid Hand Wash, 3 x 750ml - $12.99
Palmolive Hand Wash, 2 x 750ml - $7.29
Palmolive Shower Gel, 750ml pump + 750ml refill - $9.28
Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo, 2 x 200ml - $18.99
Herbal Essences Shampoo, 2 x 735m - $17.59
Kirkland Hydrating Shampoo, 2 x 1.3L - $8.99
Kirkland Hydrating Conditioner, 2 x 1.18L - $8.99
Tresseme Shampoo & Conditioner, 2 x 1.3 L - $13.99
Palmolive Bar Soap, 20 bars - $8.99
Dove Moisturising Bar Soap, 14 bars - $18.39
Ivory Bar Soap, 16 bars - $5.99
Johnson's Baby Bedtime Value Pack, 1.3L - $11.59
Johnson's Baby Top to Toe Bath Pack, 1.2L - $14.99
Johnson's Baby Powder, 4 x 600mg - $13.99
Johnson's Baby Wipes Scented, 960 pcs - $34.98
Huggies Nappies Infant, 192 pcs - $72.99
Huggies Nappies Newborn, 224 pcs - $57.59
Huggies Nappies Crawler, 184 pcs - $51.79
Centrum Select 50+ Multivitamins, 200 pcs - $26.99
Webber Naturals Fish Oils 180/120, 400 pcs - $14.99
Kirkland Omega 3 Fish Oil, 180 pcs - $31.99
Herron Blue Ibuprofen, 24 pcs - $2.69
Kikkoman Soy Sauce, 2L - $9.99
Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce, 1.75L - $4.79
Leggo's Tomato Paste, 12 x 290g - $12.89
John West Red Salmon, 4 x 210g - $19.79
John West Tuna in Olive Oil, 12 x 185g - $23.99
India Gate Premium Basmati, 20kg - $44.99
Grape Brand Thai White Rice, 10kg - $9.49
Golden World Jasmine Rice, 25kg - $35.99
Sun Rice Premium White Long Grain Rice, 5 kg - $7.49
Palm Corned Beef, 4 x 326g - $12.99
Spam Regular, 3 x 340g - $10.79
Kirkland Sea Salt Grinder, 368g - $4.39
Kirkland Pure Sea Salt, 850g - $3.79
Saxa Cooking Salt, 2 kg, $1.59
Sunshine Lemon Juice, 2 x 1L - $4.59
Mission Jumbo Taco Shells, 2 x 190g - $3.79
Mission Burrito Dinner Kit, 2 x 560g - $9.69
Red Island Canola Oil, 5L - $12.99
Kirkland Olive Oil, 5L - $19.99
Kirkland Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1L - $11.99
Bake One Cupcake Mix, 2.5kg - $9.99
Gem of the West Plain Flour, 12.5kg - $8.49
Gem of the West Self Raising Flour, 8 x 1kg - $7.39
Sunshine White Sugar, 25kg - $23.49
Splenda Sachets, 8 x 50pk - $19.99
Sanitarium So Good Soy Milk, 12 x 2L - 23.69
Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix, 60 x 28g - $7.99
Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows, 1.1kg - $4.79
Kirkland Japanese Green Tea, 100 bags - $15.69
Twinnings Infusions Variety Pack, 120pcs - $12.89
Tetley Leaf Tea, 4 pack x 400g - $7.49
Nescafe Blend 43, 500g - $15.99
Kirkland Guatemalan Whole Bean Coffee, 1.36kg - $21.69
Kirkland by Starbucks Whole Bean Roasted Espresso, 907g - $13.99
Kirkland Rwandan Whole Bean Coffee, 1.36kg - $15.99
Kirkland Monterey Jack Cheese, 907g - $6.29
Primo Cocktail Frankfurts, 1kg - $4.89
Primo Chorizo, 1kg - $12.59
Western Star Butter, 1.5kg - $9.99
Lurpak Unsalted Block, 3 pack - $10.29
Bertolli Olivio Spread, 1kg - $6.79
Lays Potato Chips BBQ, 425g - $5.98
Lays Potato Chips Classic, 425g - $6.49
Kirkland Lightly Salted Chips, 907g - $8.49
Kellogg's Sultana Bran, 1.36kg - $9.79
Kellogg's Cornflakes, 1.45kg - $9.99
Kellogg's Just Right, 1.45kg - $10.99
Kellogg's Nutri-Grain, 940g - $6.99
Skippy Peanut Butter, 1.36kg - $5.69
Isigny Brie, 1kg - $30.49
Dutch Edam Balls - $12.49/kg
Jindi Camembert - $24.99/kg
Happy Cow Cheese Slices, 800g - $6.89
White King Toilet Gel Lemon, 2 x 700ml - $5.98
Kirkland Free & Clear Liquid Laundry, 5.5L - $19.99
Softly Laundry Liquid Woolens & Delicates, 5L - $14.99
Kirkland Ultra Fabric Softener, 5.53L - $15.99
Downy April Fresh Fabric Softener, 3L - $16.58
Cuddly Fabric Softener, 5L - $11.99
Palmolive Regular Dishwashing Liquid, 5L - $18.99
Finish Lemon Powder, 3kg - $13.59
Panasonic Viera, 50" Plasma, 1080P Full HD TV - $949.99
Samsung Series 5/D550 51" Plasma 1080P Full HD TV - $1,149.88
Samsung Series D7000 WIFI 55" LED 200HZ 1080P Full HD 3D TV - $2,999.99
Again, these are only some of the prices I was able to collate on 12 August. Prices may change everyday or every week.
The big question really is, "Is it worth paying for the annual membership of AUD$60.00?", which my Husband and I also asked before we applied for membership. We still went on with the membership because we thought experiencing Costco will best answer that question. So for the whole year, we'll keep our receipts and keep tabs of all the savings we got from all the sales and at the end of the annual membership, we'll see if our AUD$60.00 was really worth it.
We also have these reasons: (1) We have families in the Philippines and shopping at Costco seems more cost effective for us and (2) Buying dry products in bulk will save us money and time.
If we found out that the annual membership is not worth it, we won't avail of the Costco membership for the next year.
Reasons Why the Costco Membership May Be Good For You
(1) You have a big family
(2) You have a business
(3) You regularly have parties at home/organise parties
(4) You send care packages to your families abroad
(5) You love big savings on grocery items
(6) You have ample storage space at home
With that said, we also have to understand that Costco is not the be-all and end-all in grocery shopping. There are some items that they don't have (yet). Some items are cheaper in Coles and Woolworths. We may find cheaper appliances at JB Hi-Fi, Bing Lee or Harvey Norman. I still believe that grocery shopping in local supermarkets is enough to cater to a household's basic needs. Costco may be a good option to many families in Australia but it is definitely not the only option to all families living here.
