With inflation on the rise and ongoing concerns about tariffs, I’ve become increasingly mindful of where I spend my grocery dollars—especially when it comes to fresh produce. As someone who shops regularly at both Costco and Sam’s Club, I wanted to see which warehouse club offers the best prices.
To find out, I did a side-by-side comparison of common fruits and vegetables from both stores. From berries to sweet potatoes, I looked at cost per pound, pack sizes, and whether items were organic or conventional. Some of the price differences were surprisingly large—especially on items like avocados. At one point, I even went back to double check the price at Sam’s Club because I couldn’t believe the price was that low.
After crunching the numbers, the results were clear: Sam’s Club consistently came out cheaper on most produce items. Here’s the full breakdown of how the two retailers stack up.
Organic Baby Spinach
When it comes to organic baby spinach, Sam’s Club offers a better deal. A 1 pound clamshell is priced at $4.28, while at Costco, you’ll pay $4.99 for a similar 1 pound bag. That’s a 71¢ savings per pound if you shop at Sam’s Club.
Winner: Sam’s Club
Organic Spring Mix
Organic spring mix is another item where Sam’s Club comes out ahead. You can get a 1 pound clamshell for $4.28, compared to $5.99 at Costco for the same quantity. That’s a $1.71 difference, making Sam’s Club the cheaper place to buy your spring mix.
Winner: Sam’s Club
Organic Baby Bella Mushrooms
For those who love cooking with mushrooms, both stores sell the same 24 ounce tub of organic baby bella mushrooms. Sam’s Club sells it for $4.98, while Costco’s version is priced at $5.99. With the size being equal and both labeled organic, Sam’s Club is the clear winner here, offering a full dollar in savings for the same quantity. It’s a small difference, but it adds up if mushrooms are a regular part of your grocery list.
Winner: Sam’s Club
Strawberries
Here’s where Costco finally takes the lead. For a 2 pound clamshell of strawberries, you’ll pay just $5.49 at Costco, compared to $6.62 at Sam’s Club. That’s a $1.13 savings, making Costco the better pick for strawberry lovers.
Winner: Costco
Red Seedless Grapes
If red seedless grapes are a staple in your cart, Sam’s Club offers the better deal by far. A 3 pound clamshell is $5.92, while Costco charges $7.99 for the same quantity. That’s a $2.07 difference, giving Sam’s a decisive win here.
Winner: Sam’s Club
Organic Green Beans
When it comes to organic green beans, both warehouse giants sell bulk options, but there’s a slight difference in price. Sam’s Club sells a 28 ounce (1.75 pound) bag for $5.28, which breaks down to about $3.02 per pound. On the other hand, Costco sells a 2 pound bag for $5.99, coming in at roughly $3.00 per pound. It’s a close race, but Costco takes the win here—just barely—with a slightly lower price per pound.
Winner: Costco
Blueberries
Fresh blueberries cost slightly more at Sam’s Club with a 16 oz clamshell priced at $7.44. At Costco, an 18 oz clamshell costs $7.99. That comes out to about 46¢ per ounce at Sam’s Club, while Costco’s price breaks down to roughly 44¢ per ounce. Costco is slightly cheaper per ounce.
Winner: Costco
Organic Baby Carrots
At Sam’s Club, a 3 pound bag of organic baby carrots goes for $6.57, which comes out to approximately $2.19 per pound. Costco sells a larger 4 pound bag for $6.99, making the price per pound just about $1.75. In this case, Costco is cheaper, offering a lower price per pound and a bigger bag for just a little more money. If you go through baby carrots quickly, Costco is the better buy.
Winner: Costco
Caesar Salad Kits
16.9 ounce kit for $3.96, while Costco’s kit is larger at 24 ounces and priced at $8.99. That’s about $0.23 per ounce at Sam’s Club versus roughly $0.37 per ounce at Costco. However, it’s important to note that Costco’s Caesar salad is organic, while Sam’s Club’s is not. So if you’re prioritizing price over organic ingredients, Sam’s Club is the cheaper option. But if organic is a must-have for you, Costco may justify the higher price.
Winner: It Depends
Avocados
Avocados can get pricey, so buying them in bulk can offer some savings. At Sam’s Club, a bag of five avocados costs $8.67, breaking down to about $1.73 per avocado. Costco sells a six-pack for $11.99, or roughly $2.00 each. With the lower per-avocado cost, Sam’s Club wins this round, offering better value per fruit. If avocados are part of your daily diet, Sam’s is the place to buy it at.
Winner: Sam’s Club
Sweet Onions
If you’re cooking in large batches or love caramelized onions on everything, buying in bulk makes sense. Sam’s Club sells a 4 pound bag of sweet onions for $5.47, while Costco sells a 5 pound bag for $5.99. That breaks down to about $1.37 per pound at Sam’s Club compared to $1.20 per pound at Costco. Costco has the better deal here, giving you more onions for just a little more money and a lower price per pound overall.
Winner: Costco
Mixed Bell Peppers
Colorful bell peppers are a kitchen staple for everything from fajitas to salads. Both Sam’s Club and Costco sell 6 count bags of mixed bell peppers, but pricing differs. Sam’s Club has them for $6.96, while Costco’s version rings up at $8.99. That’s over $2 more for the same quantity. Sam’s Club is the clear winner here with a cheaper price for the exact same count.
Winner: Sam’s Club
Cucumbers
Sam’s Club sells a 3 pack of cucumbers for $3.96, while Costco’s 3 pack is $6.99. At first glance, Sam’s seems like the clear winner, but there’s a key difference—Costco’s cucumbers are organic, while Sam’s Club’s are not. So if you’re looking purely at price, Sam’s Club is cheaper. But for shoppers who prioritize organic produce, Costco’s higher price may be worth the extra cost.
Winner: It Depends
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Honeycrisp Apples
Both stores sell 4 pound bags of Honeycrisp apples. At Sam’s Club, the bag costs $8.27, while Costco sells it for $8.99. That’s a difference of 72 cents for the same weight. Sam’s Club is cheaper than Costco.
Winner: Sam’s Club
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Clementines
Clementines are a go-to snack at my household. Sam’s Club sells a 5 pound bag for $6.96, while Costco’s 5 pound bag comes in at $8.99. When it comes to clementines, Sam’s Club is cheaper.
Winner: Sam’s Club
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Watermelon
When it comes to giant watermelons—just in time for summer cookouts—there’s almost no difference in price. Sam’s Club sells one for $9.87, while Costco’s is priced at $9.99. That’s just a 12 cent difference, and both are similarly sized. Sam’s Club is technically cheaper, but in this case, it’s so close that your choice might come down to convenience rather than cost.
Winner: Tie
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Mangoes
Mangoes are a bit tricky to compare directly. Sam’s Club sells an 11 pound case for $11.47, which breaks down to just $1.04 per pound—a great deal if you’re buying in bulk. Costco, on the other hand, sells a 6 count pack for $8.99, averaging about $2.72 per pound.
However, Costco’s mangoes are organic, while Sam’s Club’s are not. Plus, Sam’s Club requires a higher upfront cost since you’re buying an entire case. If you’re focused strictly on price, Sam’s Club is the better value. But if you prefer organic produce or want a smaller quantity, Costco may be worth the premium.
Winner: It Depends
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Bananas
I never leave Sam’s Club or Costco without buying a bunch of bananas—they’re just too cheap to pass up. But which warehouse giant offers the better deal? Sam’s Club sells a 3 pound bunch for $1.47, while Costco charges $1.99 for the same amount. With a 52 cent savings, Sam’s Club takes the win.
Winner: Sam’s Club
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Yellow Potatoes
A 10 pound bag of yellow potatoes costs $6.68 at Sam’s Club and $6.99 at Costco. That’s just a 31 cent difference, even if the savings are small, it still counts. Sam’s Club is the cheaper option for yellow potatoes. For regular potato buyers, those little price differences can add up over time.
Winner: Sam’s Club
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Sweet Potatoes
When it comes to sweet potatoes, it’s hard to make a direct comparison. Sam’s Club sells a 5 pound bag of organic sweet potatoes for $6.98. Costco’s 5 pound bag costs less at $5.99, but it’s not organic. So this comparison comes down to your priorities. If you’re looking for the lowest price, Costco is cheaper. But if organic is a must, Sam’s Club is where you should buy your sweet potatoes.
Winner: It Depends
Check out Costco vs Sam’s Club: I Compared 21 Food Prices- See Who’s Cheaper