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I visited Costco and Dollar General to compare prices on staple grocery items.
Costco had lower prices on most items, which customers must buy in bulk.
A few items were priced lower at Dollar General, including orange juice and chicken broth.
Costco is a big-box store that sells bulk groceries at discount prices.Costco.
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Shoppers must purchase a Costco membership, which ranges from $60 to $120 a year, to access the store’s deals.
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With inflation reaching a 40-year high, grocery shoppers are trying to find the best deals.Grocery shopping in Rosemead, California on April 21, 2022.
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I compared prices per unit of grocery staples at Costco in Rochester, New York with a nearby Dollar General location.
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Dollar General expanded its grocery offerings in recent years, and the chain says it can maintain low prices by keeping stores small and relatively bare-boned, ultimately offering fewer products than larger competitors.
Business Insider/Hayley Peterson
Source: Insider
The price difference wasn’t much for a half gallon of milk, which was just 5 cents more expensive at Dollar General.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
For a gallon of milk, though, Dollar General charges over a dollar more than Costco.
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Almond milk is also less expensive at Costco, by about 20 cents for a half gallon.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Eggs have gotten much pricier this year, and at Dollar General they’re about twice as expensive as at Costco.
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Dollar General sells some frozen meats, but they’re over a dollar per pound more expensive than at Costco.
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I was surprised to find a few items were actually more affordable at Dollar General.
Insider/Brittany Chang
A half gallon of orange juice is about 35 cents cheaper at Dollar General.
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Chicken broth is slightly cheaper at Dollar General by fractions of a cent per ounce, which could add up if you buy large quantities.
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Cans of crushed tomatoes work out about the same, to about 0.3 cents cheaper per ounce at Dollar General.
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Pasta is around 2 cents less per ounce at Dollar General, too.
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Still, Costco is cheaper for nearly every item with some major price differences, while Dollar General is usually not more than a few cents cheaper.
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If you have to buy groceries at Dollar General, there are ways to minimize extra expenses.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Avoid buying milk, eggs, or other dairy products at Dollar General when possible, because they’re much more expensive.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Shelf-stable pantry items, like canned goods and pasta, are a better deal at Dollar General compared to the rest of the store’s offerings.
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Though Costco is less expensive than Dollar General for most items, it’s not always the best place to buy all your groceries.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Based on a March price comparison from Insider, Walmart and Aldi sells select items at lower prices than Costco.
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Source: Insider
Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.
Retail, Features, Retail, Costco, Dollar General, Groceries, Grocery, Inflation, Big Box, Dollar Store, Meat, Produce, Pantry, Business Visual Features
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