Costco Food Products You Can Buy For $5 Or Less

Costco has built a global brand on its competitive pricing. The wholesaler's unique subscription-based, big-box model has allowed it to offer considerable discounts since its founding in 1983. A Harvard report backs up this reputation, revealing that Costco beats out Walmart's pricing by 10% on average. That translates to some serious savings for consumers who are increasingly feeling the pinch from rising grocery bills as a result of stubborn inflation.

According to Consumer Affairs, grocery prices have surged by 25% in the past two years alone, rapidly outpacing the average annual wage growth of only 5%. The soaring cost of living is reflected in Costco's expanding membership numbers. In 2024, the wholesale giant had 136.8 million members around the world, with the vast majority concentrated in the United States. The total number of Costco cardholders nearly doubled over the past 10 years.

At Costco, you don't have to consider the best days to shop for groceries to save money; the savings are already baked into the price tag. Although the store is known for offering bulk discounts, you can still reduce your bill by targeting low-cost items. The chain offers plenty of individual products that give you affordability without forcing you to buy more than you need, including these food products you can buy for $5 or less.

Bananas are an affordable grocery staple. No matter where you're shopping, you can reliably find a bunch for roughly a dollar. Data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows the remarkable stability of banana prices. Over the past 20 years, the average cost for bananas has only risen from around 50 cents to 65 cents — a mere 1.3% annual increase. This high-fiber fruit aids in digestion while helping you feel fuller, making its cheap price tag even more appealing.

With bananas already discounted so heavily compared to other produce, what does Costco have to offer that you can't get at any other store? A three-pound bunch of Del Monte bananas for at or near $1.49. That mouth-watering deal clocks in at less than 50 cents per pound. In other words, Costco is selling bananas at 2005 level prices. You'd be hard-pressed to find such historic (and historical) prices on any other item or anywhere else. Trader Joe's was competing with this unbeatable deal for a few years before the store was forced to elevate its price.

Costco's affordable baguettes will make you want to dust off that high school French and say oui, oui to this stellar slash. For $4.99, club members can get their hands on not just one but two Kirkland Signature Artisan Baguettes. The name might be fancy, but the price is just right. Kirkland Signature is actually Costco's in-store brand. Beyond the obvious deal, members rave about the baguettes' crispy shell and delicate interior. With two 24-ounce baguettes, you'll have enough to feed the family or have leftovers.

Unless you enjoy a chewing challenge or plan on making croutons, timing is essential when picking up these bargain baguettes. These delicate breads are at their absolute prime early in the morning, when they come right out of the kitchen and onto the display. Kirkland Signature baguettes arrive at Costco par-baked — that's "partially baked" — and frozen. Each location is responsible for heating its batches of baguettes to that characteristic crispiness. You'll also beat the huge crowds that tend to form later in the day, saving yourself valuable time and money.

The Pew Research Center reveals that a shocking 69% of Americans say elevated food costs are an obstacle to a healthy diet. Costco is convincingly pushing back against the widespread misconception that eating healthy has to be expensive. The wholesale chain offers both baby spinach and a spring salad mix for less than $5 each. The organic baby spinach comes in a 16-oz container and only costs $3.89, significantly more affordable than organic varieties at other stores. If you prefer the generic salad mix, Costco offers a leafy green blend for under $5 in a super-sized container.

Whether you're mixing a salad, grinding up a smoothie, or sprucing up a sandwich, these healthy greens are the perfect low-cost addition. Baby spinach has been shown to help reduce blood pressure, support cognitive functioning, and promote gut health, according to the Cleveland Clinic. For their part, salad leaves are rich in various nutrients, including fiber, calcium, phytonutrients, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C. The quickest and cheapest way to enjoy these nutritious greens is to grab some of Costco's affordable vegetables and toss a simple, yet tasty salad.

If you prefer your carbs more on the American side than the French, head away from the bakery and toward the bread aisle to snag Costco's discount burger buns. The wholesaler offers plenty of options below the $5 mark, giving shoppers hardy deals on filling fare. Within this realm of reasonably priced bread, the large packs of Francisco International deli hamburger buns should catch your attention. For under $5, shoppers can leave with 16 perfectly round, golden-crusted, and delectable-tasting buns. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more economical deal in the cost-per-calorie metric.

Generally, bread is regarded as one of the most affordable groceries, especially given how filling it is. However, data from the BLS shows bread prices have increased substantially over the past few years. Between 2021 and 2023, bread prices have risen by 23%. Although the rise in grocery prices has abated recently, many people still can't believe their eyes when checking price tags. Costco's less-than-$5 hamburger buns are enough of a steal to make it feel like you're actually stealing.

Craving that juicy succulence only blackberries can offer, but don't want to spend a fortune? Driscoll's blackberries are the sweet answer to your fruity dilemma. Costco sells a 12-ounce pack for a mere $3.85 — a fantastic price for a berry that's usually the standout expense on a grocery bill. Some people have even seen organic versions going for less than $5. Health-conscious and price-aware shoppers won't have to wonder if organic or non-organic groceries are cheaper. Blackberries treat you to an explosion of flavor with every bite, but they're also a versatile addition to several dishes: fruit smoothies, overnight oats, and even pancakes.

With so many fruits clocking in below the $5 threshold, shoppers might overlook how sweet this deal really is. In general, berries tend to be one of the more expensive products, usually pricing out other fruits on a cost-per-ounce basis. Behind these bite-sized goodies is a costly operation. Berries only grow in a few places in the U.S. with moderate climates, hiking up the cost of land for blackberry farms. Furthermore, blackberries can't be harvested in the winter. Add in the cost of hand-picking, and you've got a justifiable premium. Somehow, Costco finds a way around it to offer high-quality blackberries at a fraction of the usual cost.

French baguettes aren't the only foreign baked goods you can get at Costco for less than $5. The Papa Pita flat bread offers shoppers a scrumptious Greek staple at an appetizing discount: $3.99 for 12 wraps. Grab some shredded beef — or lamb for peak authenticity — and a handful of tomatoes, onions, and garlic before leaving the store to make homemade gyros. Don't forget some tzatziki sauce to give this Balkan dish that unmistakably herbaceous, creamy flavor. With a dozen wraps, you'll have more than enough left over, even after staging a Greek buffet.

That's when you can start to see the culinary genius behind the pita bread's versatility. In its standard form, it's the perfect wrap for a variety of meals: tacos, cold cuts, and even small pizzas. Pita bread also works piecemeal as a side for soups or an accompaniment to meat and cheese platters. Experienced pita connoisseurs will sometimes slice open the wraps to create a pocket that can be filled with other Greek delicacies such as hummus, Kalamata olives, and more tzatziki, or anything else you've got lying around the house. If you can't get through the whole Papa Pita bag before they start hardening up, get creative by making pita chips.

Costco's cost-saving power continues in the fruit and vegetable aisle with economical Campari tomatoes. Just making the less-than-$5 cut, these juicy tomatoes go for $4.99 per two-pound pack. You heard that right: 32 ounces of ripe tomatoes for less than it costs for a Big Mac. The Campari variety lands in the sweet spot between massive Roma and tiny cherry tomatoes, making them easy to handle without taking up an obnoxious amount of space in your fridge or dish. Their medium size translates to a sweet flavor with mild acidity. This two-pounder of Campari tomatoes isn't only affordable in the context of tomatoes; it's a fantastic deal for fresh produce in general. 

It lends itself well to affordable meals, too, working well in quick-to-make salads, made-from-scratch pasta sauces, and even tomato-based soups. Sure, canned tomatoes can get the job done, but they'll leave your taste buds wanting. If you can't get through your mountain of tomatoes in time, toss them in the freezer to extend their lifespan. Keep in mind, this usually renders them suitable for soups and sauces only. Costco often honors its best deals year-round, but shoppers can extend those savings by buying produce that's in season. Seeking out fruit or vegetables that are out of season is a common produce mistake that's draining your grocery budget.

Similar to bread, pasta is a dependable grocery store deal. It's filling, cheap, and dynamic. Once again, Costco goes above and beyond the standard savings with a 4.6-pound package of pasta for $4.97. As if one type of noodle wasn't enough, the Di Bari Pasta Box features six different versions: orecchiette, fusilli, cicatelli, pettini tricolore, gnocchetti tricolore, and maccheroni. This way, you don't have to buy half a dozen different boxes of pasta to cover all your noodle-based meals. You've got everything you need for just over a dollar per pound. A huge pasta package like this proves that keeping a stocked pantry can save you money. 

Unless Italian is your second language or you've maxed out your Italian recipe book, you might need a little cheatsheet to work around these arcane pasta varieties. Orecchiette, which literally translates to "little ears" due to its cavernous shape, is commonly used in sauce-heavy dishes. The spiral, corkscrew-shaped noodles are fusilli, most often included in tandem with thicker sauces such as pesto or cream-based dishes. Shaped like an elongated conch shell, cicatelli is a common inclusion in seafood recipes with watery sauces. Both pettini and gnocchetti come in tri-color mixes, used for standard Italian meals. Maccheroni is the Italian version of the Americanized macaroni noodle, yet it works great with cheesy sauces, too. 

Shoppers won't be surprised to find salt on the cheap, but affordable sea salt is enough to make even the most seasoned Costco members do a double-take. Kirkland Signature Sea Salt goes for an eye-popping $3.39. We're not talking about a small salt shaker, either. This 30-ounce jumbo container should last you for months. If not, you might consider your sodium consumption. What's more, this nifty Kirkland Signature container comes with built-in pour holes, so you don't have to go through the hassle of transplanting the sea salt into another shaker. This reinforces that Costco is one of the best budget-friendly stores for stocking up on household essentials.

What's the difference between sea salt and table salt, you ask? After all, shouldn't you just opt for the cheaper standard version? In reality, there are some considerable processing, flavor, and health differences between the two. Unlike sea salt, which is harvested from evaporated saltwater, table salt is mined. To prevent the microscopic granules from coagulating, table salt is often infused with iodine and other additives. They're relatively harmless, but many ingredient-conscious shoppers prefer the more natural sea salt. Plus, the ocean-derived variety offers a more refined, longer-lasting taste.

Kirkland Signature spices up its money-saving offers with its crushed red pepper for just $3.99. While slightly smaller than the sea salt mega-sized container, this hot deal still impresses with a sizable 10 ounces. Contrary to popular culinary belief, red pepper flakes aren't reserved for those fire-breathing foodies who make a virtue out of numbing their taste buds. A dish doesn't have to be overtly spicy to call for a bit of crushed red pepper. Think pizzas, roasted vegetables, tacos or fajitas, pasta sauce, stir-fries, and chili. These dishes, and a host of others, lose their oomph without a slight kick.

Besides, including red pepper flakes in your recipe repertoire isn't merely a matter of taste preference. Believe it or not, this zesty spice offers some health benefits, too. Harvard Health reports that chili peppers could actually help improve heart health and work to minimize the risk of heart-related illnesses. A study involving 22,000 people in Southern Italy found that those who consumed chili peppers over four times weekly were about 33% less likely to fall victim to heart disease compared to those who sparsely or never ate hot peppers. Admittedly, seasoning flakes aren't the same as full-blown red peppers, but even a fraction of those health benefits is icing on the cake of a solid deal.

At any other store, you'd be justified in trying to tackle impulse spending effectively. However, some of Costco's near-checkout deals are too good to pass up. Among the more affordable options is the saliva-inducing display of tender rotisserie chicken bags. These multi-tiered showcases tempt with golden, crispy chicken dripping with flavor. Before you forcefully avert your eyes, that $4.99 price tag will eliminate any impulse-buying guilt. Fully seasoned and weighing several pounds, these Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken bags are the perfect grab-and-go meal. With a quick side such as instant rice or some fresh veggies, you've got a healthy, economical meal ready in minutes. One of these chickens could easily feed a family of four, with everyone feeling full.

While the $5 price tag is impressive on its own, the savings are really driven home when compared to the average price of chickens across the country. Costco has managed to keep the lid on its chicken prices throughout bouts of sticky inflation and rampant bird flu outbreaks, which drove up chicken costs nationwide. Since 1997, the average cost of chicken has nearly doubled, jumping 100% over the past nearly three decades. The real reason Costco's rotisserie chicken is so cheap is more surprising than you might think. 

In an apples-to-apples comparison, these red delicious fruits would come out on top as the most consistently affordable of grocery store produce. It's standard practice for places to price various types of this essential fruit for just a few bucks. Costco follows this trend by offering several packs of crispy apples for less than $5. Instead of making you sort through a stack, the members-only store conveniently sells apples by the bag, with many weighing several pounds.

The New York Times heralds apples as the most popular fruit in the U.S., citing Mother Nature's natural snack food as a healthy source of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. Whether you're eating them once a day to keep the doctor away or you're saving them for a scrumptious apple pie, apples pack a one-two punch of affordability and unbeatable juiciness.

Mushrooms are an often overlooked and widely underutilized vegetable. They're super healthy, dynamic, tasty, and, at least at Costco, they're very reasonably priced. This edible fungi goes for $4.99, just making it onto this list of sub-$5 deals. The words "organic" and "affordable" don't usually go hand-in-hand at a grocery store, yet the famed wholesaler has found a way to make it happen with its organic mushrooms. In a 24-ounce container, you'll have enough for at least a few meals or one large feast. These organic mushrooms come whole, which gives you more range in choice when it comes to picking a target dish.

As a less-popular ingredient, mushrooms are sometimes skipped over because home chefs simply don't know how to incorporate them into a meal. These savory vegetables give volume and a meaty texture to any dish. They're fantastic as meat replacements in pasta sauces, stir-fries, soups, and omelets. If you're not a vegetarian or vegan, mushrooms work equally well alongside various meats, taking on the flavor of whatever they're cooked in. Fortunately, these organic mushrooms are not one of the Costco grocery items expected to skyrocket in price soon. 

Costco has always offered its famous $1.50 hot dog for, well, $1.50. Plus, the chain tosses in a soda on the side without raising the price. For context, the dollar's buying power has fallen by 225% since the company's founding in the early 1980s. Throughout several economic crashes and periods of record inflation, the company's founders have zealously committed to maintaining the original price on their hot dog and soda meal deal.

Maintaining that fixed price is more than just a budgeting issue; it's a matter of life and death, with Costco's leadership saying he'd rather die than break the affordable trend. The biggest change the company has made in this space is swapping out Pepsi for Coca-Cola and back to Pepsi. The chain's hot dog deal has been so successful that the company has opened two of their own manufacturing plants in the U.S. — one in Los Angeles and a second in Chicago.