14 Costco Essentials For $10 Or Less That Customers Love

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Costco is the ultimate shopping destination because whether you're on the hunt for must-have kitchen appliances or looking to replenish your vitamin stack, you're likely to find what you need. The warehouse is especially good for shopping in bulk, as Costco's lower unit prices and higher cost efficiency will save you money in the long run. But as great a deal as the toilet paper, beauty products, or pounds and pounds of your favorite meat may be — those bulk items can come with a larger price tag... and the bill can quickly add up.

So what if you're running to Costco and not looking to spend several hundred dollars? The good news is that there's plenty available at this massive warehouse (and always new Costco items to find) that'll cover all of your go-to items without breaking the bank. This list digs into the affordable, everyday products that you can buy for $10 or less at Costco — and the ones that are worth adding to your cart every trip.

The items you'll see are based on current Costco pricing and inventory from Los Angeles Costco locations, but each pick is backed up by customer opinions and commentary from across the U.S., confirming these are the low-cost grocery items that customers buy every time they shop. So next time you make a Costco trip, be ready to grab these no-brainer buys.

Prices are as of the date of publication and may vary based on region.

Eggs

Regardless of whether you prefer organic, free-range, or conventional eggs, Costco is one of the best places you can buy them. A 24-count of organic pasture-raised eggs costs $10, while free-range and conventionally raised cost around $6 and $4 respectively.  And if you want to save even more, Costco offers a pack of five dozen Kirkland Signature Large Eggs for only around $2 per dozen. Especially with the way egg prices have increased in recent years, that's bound to be a significantly better deal than at your typical grocery stores.

Of course, that's a lot of eggs to buy at once, so if it's just you or you have a small family, two dozen may seem like too many. But eggs can last up to three to five weeks in the fridge, and chances are you can tackle the two dozen by then. If you have a big family that can go through them fast enough or perhaps you use a lot of eggs for meal prep or baking, then buying them in bulk at Costco is a must for your wallet.

Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken

Everyone seems to be a big fan of Costco's Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken because you simply can't beat the near-$5 price tag. It will run almost double that, if not more, at many other grocery stores, making it a must-have essential whenever you make a trip to Costco.

The rotisserie chickens are seasoned and sold warm, so they make for an easy and delicious protein that you can have for lunch or dinner — and cut out any preparation or cooking you need to do at home. Lots of Costco customers love grabbing the rotisserie chicken because it's also great for leftovers and meal prep.

Not only can you enjoy some fresh for a meal, but you can pull the rest of the meat off the bones and save it for more meals throughout the week, whether you like it as a standalone protein or prefer to add it to salads, soups, and sandwiches. One customer on Reddit shared that they even put the bones to use, "I get a rotisserie chicken every time too, then freeze the bones every time. Once I get 2-3 I make stock, then repeat!"

Kirkland Signature Ultra Shine Liquid Dish Soap

Another great deal at Costco is the Kirkland Signature Ultra Shine Liquid Dish Soap. This one is particularly great because, although it comes in a 90-fluid ounce jug, it still makes sense to buy in bulk. It'll still most likely fit under your kitchen sink or in a storage cabinet somewhere, and it'll last you so much longer than what you'd get at the grocery store (at a fraction of the price — just $0.11 per ounce).

Costco customers agree that the Kirkland Signature dish soap is comparable to Dawn. One customer on Reddit gives Costco's dish soap a great review, saying, "I live alone and have had the same bottle for 3+ years, definitely worth the price and works well." So if you're getting low on dish soap, be sure to throw this one in your cart next time you're at Costco and you won't have to think about it again for a while!

Kirkland Signature Sea Salt

Salt is, without a doubt, one of the most essential items in your kitchen, whether you cook a lot or not. Costco is a great place to get a large quantity of it, and you won't need to pay an arm and a leg for a small shaker from the grocery store.

If you're a fan of sea salt, you're in luck! Kirkland Signature Sea Salt is fine grain, pure sea salt that comes in a 1-pound container and costs just $3.99 (most sea salt you'll find at the grocery store is around that same price for just a few ounces). Costco customers love this sea salt for it's convenient size and great flavor, with one Costco review stating, "I love the flavor. I usually ground my own pink sea salt. This is so much easier to monitor how much salt is actually going on the food."

Costco also sells a 20-ounce tub of Maldon Sea Salt Flakes and 5-pound tubs of Kirkland Signature Pink Salt and Olde Thompson Kosher Flake Sea Salt — all for great prices — so whichever type of salt you prefer, you're likely to get much more bang for your buck at Costco.

Cheese

Costco is often known by its loyal customers for being a great destination to buy cheeses of all kinds, because its prices per pound are pretty hard to beat at other grocery stores. If you need to build a big cheese or charcuterie board, your family goes through a lot of casseroles and quesadillas, or if Parmiggiano Reggiano is a staple in your house, you are better off buying your cheese at Costco.

There is a ton of variety available when it comes to cheese at Costco, and while some cheeses will certainly run higher than others as far as price, the large majority is more cost-efficient at Costco than it is elsewhere. Some customer favorites that are in the $10 range or less include the Boursin Garlic & Herb Cheese, Kirkland Signature Goat Cheese, President Crumbled Feta, and Kirkland Signature Fresh Mozzarella. Costco's totally the place to be for cheese.

Kirkland Signature Roasted Pine Nut Hummus

Costco's Kirkland Signature Organic Roasted Pine Nut Hummus is a steal at around $6 for a 34-ounce tub. It's a great item to grab if you're hosting a party, packing lunches for the kids, or just want something yummy and snack-able to keep in the fridge.

This hummus isn't just a great deal, though; it's also organic, packed with nutrients, and decidedly delicious. Costco customers are huge fans of this product. Many agree that it tastes much better than other popular brands you'll find at the store. One Reddit user even said, "It's closer to more homemade hummus I feel because of the garlic and ratio of tahini."

The Roasted Pine Nut variety has some more flavor and a bit of topping on it, which makes it great for serving or dunking into. But Costco also sells a 20-pack of Kirkland Organic Hummus for under $10; it's a solid option for snacking on the go.

Kirkland Signature Butter Croissants

A croissant can cost you upwards of $5 at a coffee shop or bakery these days, so no one is going to be mad that Costco sells a 12-pack that sells for under $8. Costco's Kirkland Signature Butter Croissants are a must-grab essential because they've got everyone beat on price, and one package can provide breakfasts and snacks for the whole family all week.

Sure, Costco's croissants may not be as flaky and decadent as that French bakery's down the street, but the consensus is that they're also better than the ones you'll find in your run-of-the-mill grocery store's baked goods section. They're buttery, soft, and do the job just fine if you're in the mood for a pastry.

Aside from just enjoying them on their own, Costco customers love using the croissants for everything from turkey sandwiches and cheesy paninis to avocado toast and vehicles for Nutella. "Honestly stopped buying them because they are so good," one customer commented. "Normally self control isn't an issue for me, but with these? Non existent." Pro tip: These croissants actually freeze and reheat well, so you can stock up and save most of the pack in the freezer for weeks to come.

Kirkland Signature Kettle Brand Pink Salt Potato Chips

Costco always has a plethora of snacks to explore, and luckily these Kirkland Signature Kettle Brand Pink Salt Potato Chips have taken up residence in the snack aisle. The salty, satisfying chips come in a large, 32-ounce bag for about $7, which means you'll get at least double the amount you would at your local grocery store for around the same price.

These Kirkland Signature chips are kettle-cooked and crinkle-cut for extra crispiness, then seasoned with pink salt. This bag of chips has become a quick favorite among Costco customers, with some fans getting creative with the chips and adding them to a batch of chocolate chip cookies to take them to the next level.

If kettle-cooked potato chips aren't your style, Costco also offers some great deals on other types of chips, like its 40-ounce bag of Kirkland Signature Organic Tortilla Chips and 16-ounce bag of Jackson's Sweet Potato Chips. And you can often find delicious varieties from Miss Vickie's, Siete, and Cape Cod, all for under $10.

Kirkland Signature Organic Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is a must-have item in so many households, and it can be quite costly. The Kirkland Signature Organic Nonfat Greek Yogurt comes in a 3-pound tub and costs around $8. It'll last longer than a smaller container and cost less per ounce.

This nonfat Greek yogurt is an essential to buy at Costco because it's not only a high-protein, low-fat food, but it's also incredibly versatile. Whether you like yogurt for breakfast, use it in sauces and marinades while cooking, or even bake or freeze it into delicious desserts, you'll get plenty of use out of it. "I have made a trip to Costco specifically, and only, for that yogurt," says one customer. If you are looking for breakfast with even more protein, you may be able to snag a 40-ounce container of Chobani 20g Protein Low Fat Yogurt at Costco, depending on your location.

Kirkland Signature Extra Crispy French Fries

Costco is one of the best places to grab tasty and affordable frozen food finds for the whole family, whether you tend to keep a bag of frozen berries in the freezer for morning smoothies or a big bag of mixed vegetables for easy dinner sides. But when it comes to the frozen foods section, one of the must-buys you'll find at Costco for under $10 is definitely the Kirkland Signature Extra Crispy French Fries.

These frozen french fries don't just come at a great value for a quick addition to weeknight meals; they're also extremely tasty. Costco customers give this product raving reviews, "They get super crispy in the air fryer and remind me of twice fried restaurant style fries," says one customer on Reddit.

The light coating of cornstarch and rice flour also helps them crisp up nicely, regardless of whether you bake them in the oven or the air fryer. You get 5 pounds of crispy, crunchy goodness for around $7.

Cereal

Why should you consider buying your cereal at Costco? It is undeniably a household essential for so many families, and it is significantly cheaper to buy it at Costco — with the price per ounce for most available varieties beating out many other competitor grocery stores.

Some of the best buys you'll find in the cereal aisle at Costco for under $10 are tried-and-true products that have been popular for decades: Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cheerios (Original and Honey Nut), Honey Bunches of Oats, and Frosted Flakes. They are all available in two-packs ranging from 20 to 30 ounces per box, so the buy will last you a good long while. While some may exceed $10, Costco is also a great place to find some more unique cereal brands outside of the classics, like Cascadian Farms and Catalina Crunch. Check out your local Costco and see the sweet cereal deals for yourself.

Milk

The next time you are shopping at Costco, in addition to the previously listed items, do not forget to pick up a jug of milk. Whether your household prefers whole or 2% milk, you can get a gallon of the Kirkland Signature brand milk for under $4. Perfect! And a gallon is not an unreasonable amount to have to store in your fridge, either, so you're winning all around.

You can also grab other types and sizes of milk at Costco, many of which hover right around or under $10 and are well worth the price for the amount you get. You will find Kirkland Signature Organic Almond Milk for just under $10, which comes in a six-pack of 32-ounce cartons, or, if you happen to be lactose-free, you can get a 96-ounce jug of Lactaid 2% Milk for around $6. And, depending on the type of milk you choose, you can get a better deal at Costco than at many other grocery stores.

Sugar

If you bake a lot, or if you just want to stock up on the essentials to get you through the year, Costco is a great place to shop for your ingredients. You will find big bags of sugar at a low cost per ounce, perfect for baking or cooking or having on-hand. You will find a 10-pound bag of Fine Granulated Cane Sugar for under $8, around $0.05 per ounce, and a 7-pound bag of Light Brown Sugar for around the same price.

Sugar is one of those essential items that you always want to have in the kitchen, so buying a larger bag and storing it appropriately is a smart move. It will save you from having to run to the grocery store when you realize way too late that the small bag you had in the cabinet is empty. You can avoid that crisis by getting a bigger bag if you have the pantry space.

Spices

Costco has a strong spice game, so you should definitely consider adding some of your go-to cooking spices and seasonings to your shopping list. Granted, many of its seasonings and spices come in larger sizes, so you may need to be a fairly avid cook to make good use of them, but for those who are, the savings definitely pay off.

Costco has a plethora of spices and seasonings to choose from, most of which you can find for under that $10 price point. Kirkland Signature-branded options include black pepper (fine-ground, coarse-ground, and whole peppercorns), granulated garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, organic chopped onion, everything bagel seasoning, ground turmeric, organic ground cinnamon, and more — all available in containers between 10 and 15 ounces.

Outside of Kirkland Signature, you'll see other popular spice brands at Costco, like McCormick, Kinder's, Spice Islands, and Lawry's. "Every day we use these," one customer shares with a photo of their spice cabinet, "And every day I'm thankful for how cheap I can get them at Costco." You can grab anything from steak seasoning and dried herbs to sesame seeds and unique spice blends, all of which are a great value.

Methodology

These items are all priced at or below $10 at warehouses in the Los Angeles area. They were chosen based on a low cost per unit, competitive pricing compared to other major grocery stores, and overall value and quality. Customers confirmed on social media that these items tend to be regular purchases and everyday essentials.

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