Maximize Your Savings: How Costco Membership Covers Pet Food and Diaper Expenses
The ‘Barron’s Roundtable’ panel discusses how big-box retailers are outperforming competitors through value, innovation, and revenue models.
A recent report highlights how a few discounted staples can effectively offset the cost of a Costco membership. The club’s $65 annual Gold Star Membership or $130 Executive Membership may seem steep for budget-conscious shoppers, but the math can quickly turn in your favor: just a few well-chosen purchases can cover the membership cost.
This topic gained traction on Reddit when a potential member asked, “What items (other than gas) do you get to justify the membership if you’re not a bulk buyer?” The poster expressed concern about whether basic items would provide enough discounts to make the membership worthwhile. “I know the excitement of seeing good deals on random items will want me to buy more, but if I really only need basics, what would you recommend?”
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Customers look over food items at a Costco store in Colchester, Vermont. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Reddit users quickly chimed in, suggesting over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and antihistamines, paper goods, and the ever-popular rotisserie chicken as items that justify the membership. One user even claimed that smoked salmon alone makes the fee worthwhile, while another highlighted the savings on diapers.
To quantify these claims, Business Insider analyzed which Costco items provide enough savings to offset the $65 membership fee.
COSTCO SHATTERS RECORDS WITH MASSIVE PIZZA AND PIE SALES DURING HOLIDAY SEASON
A shopper loads items into a vehicle at a Costco store in Vallejo, California, on May 29, 2025. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg / Getty Images)
The publication focused on shelf-stable items commonly used throughout the year, comparing prices at Costco with those at retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart. Business Insider utilized ChatGPT to estimate annual usage for a two-person household.
The analysis assigned a “payback score” to each product, indicating how much of the membership fee could be offset by purchasing that item at Costco over a year. A score of 100 means the savings match the membership cost, while a score of 200 indicates savings are double the fee. A score of 50 means the product recovers half the cost.
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Everyday Costco staples like pet food, diapers, and coffee can quickly offset the $65 membership fee, according to a new analysis of annual savings. (Marlene Awaad/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Pet food emerged as a significant value. A 38-pound bag of Blue Buffalo dog food costs about $65 at Costco, compared to roughly $111 at typical retailers, meaning just two purchases can exceed the annual membership fee. This dog food received a payback score of 713, indicating that the savings would offset the membership cost more than six times.
Diapers and baby wipes also showed strong value, with a payback score of 373. A jumbo pack of Huggies diapers costs around $50 at Costco, compared to about $70 elsewhere, allowing the membership fee to be recouped in fewer than four purchases.
Formula provided similar savings, with a large container of Similac priced at about $55 at Costco versus approximately $68 at other retailers. The analysis indicated that the membership cost could be recovered after about five purchases, earning a payback score of 240.
Two-pound bags of Starbucks’ Pike Place roast coffee beans are priced at about $8.40 per pound at Costco, compared to roughly $12 elsewhere. Based on an annual usage of 30 pounds, the coffee received a payback score of 166, with the membership cost recouped after about 18 pounds.
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Savings on toilet paper were less significant. A 30-pack of Charmin costs about $1.10 per roll at Costco, which is around 37 cents less per roll than at other retailers, yielding a payback score of 67 if four packs are purchased in a year.
Business Insider noted that “this analysis assumes no other purchases at Costco, which in our experience is extremely unlikely.”
The ‘Barron’s Roundtable’ panel discusses how big-box retailers are outperforming competitors through value, innovation, and revenue models.
A recent report highlights how a few discounted staples can effectively offset the cost of a Costco membership. The club’s $65 annual Gold Star Membership or $130 Executive Membership may seem steep for budget-conscious shoppers, but the math can quickly turn in your favor: just a few well-chosen purchases can cover the membership cost.
This topic gained traction on Reddit when a potential member asked, “What items (other than gas) do you get to justify the membership if you’re not a bulk buyer?” The poster expressed concern about whether basic items would provide enough discounts to make the membership worthwhile. “I know the excitement of seeing good deals on random items will want me to buy more, but if I really only need basics, what would you recommend?”
COSTCO TO OPEN NEW WAREHOUSE UNDER AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES
Customers look over food items at a Costco store in Colchester, Vermont. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Reddit users quickly chimed in, suggesting over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and antihistamines, paper goods, and the ever-popular rotisserie chicken as items that justify the membership. One user even claimed that smoked salmon alone makes the fee worthwhile, while another highlighted the savings on diapers.
To quantify these claims, Business Insider analyzed which Costco items provide enough savings to offset the $65 membership fee.
COSTCO SHATTERS RECORDS WITH MASSIVE PIZZA AND PIE SALES DURING HOLIDAY SEASON
A shopper loads items into a vehicle at a Costco store in Vallejo, California, on May 29, 2025. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg / Getty Images)
The publication focused on shelf-stable items commonly used throughout the year, comparing prices at Costco with those at retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart. Business Insider utilized ChatGPT to estimate annual usage for a two-person household.
The analysis assigned a “payback score” to each product, indicating how much of the membership fee could be offset by purchasing that item at Costco over a year. A score of 100 means the savings match the membership cost, while a score of 200 indicates savings are double the fee. A score of 50 means the product recovers half the cost.
COSTCO FILES FEDERAL LAWSUIT CHALLENGING TRUMP’S EMERGENCY TARIFF ORDERS ON IMPORTED GOODS
Everyday Costco staples like pet food, diapers, and coffee can quickly offset the $65 membership fee, according to a new analysis of annual savings. (Marlene Awaad/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Pet food emerged as a significant value. A 38-pound bag of Blue Buffalo dog food costs about $65 at Costco, compared to roughly $111 at typical retailers, meaning just two purchases can exceed the annual membership fee. This dog food received a payback score of 713, indicating that the savings would offset the membership cost more than six times.
Diapers and baby wipes also showed strong value, with a payback score of 373. A jumbo pack of Huggies diapers costs around $50 at Costco, compared to about $70 elsewhere, allowing the membership fee to be recouped in fewer than four purchases.
Formula provided similar savings, with a large container of Similac priced at about $55 at Costco versus approximately $68 at other retailers. The analysis indicated that the membership cost could be recovered after about five purchases, earning a payback score of 240.
Two-pound bags of Starbucks’ Pike Place roast coffee beans are priced at about $8.40 per pound at Costco, compared to roughly $12 elsewhere. Based on an annual usage of 30 pounds, the coffee received a payback score of 166, with the membership cost recouped after about 18 pounds.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Savings on toilet paper were less significant. A 30-pack of Charmin costs about $1.10 per roll at Costco, which is around 37 cents less per roll than at other retailers, yielding a payback score of 67 if four packs are purchased in a year.
Business Insider noted that “this analysis assumes no other purchases at Costco, which in our experience is extremely unlikely.”
