The 7 Best Ways to Spend $5 at Costco

Shopping at a bulk store like Costco is a surefire way to find bargain prices on all kinds of goods — but the problem, I’ve found, is that you buy such large quantities to get the deal, that you often end up spending more money total than you would have at a typical grocery store. So while the price per ounce may be way cheaper, your out-of-pocket per trip is higher. (That $19 I just dropped on two liters of olive oil comes to mind.)

Of course, there are a bunch of things at Costco that are still only $5 or less. So with the help of my assistant (my mom, who’s ready to come out of retirement to be a Kitchn reporter now), I dug deep to come up with this list.

If you’re gonna spend just $5 (or less!) at Costco, you should do it on one of these seven groceries.

Note: Prices can vary by season and location; all were accurate at the time of reporting.

You knew the rotisserie chicken was going to be on this list. The price is actually consistent at every Costco — it’s $4.99 and always will be. It’s a real crowd-pleaser and a great option if you’re in a rush to put dinner together.

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• We Pitted Costco’s Rotisserie Chicken Against the One from Sam’s. Guess Which One We Liked Best?
  
• Costco Rotisserie Chicken Will Always Be $4.99 and Here’s Why
  
• The $185 Costco Chicken Problem

Most of the greens in the refrigerated section are less than $5, for not-too-giant quantities. That includes an Asian chopped salad, a sweet kale gourmet salad, and various containers of lettuces, kale, and spinach. This mix of organic greens is a favorite among Kitchn staffers.

Related: A Nutritionist’s 10 Favorite Costco Finds for $10 or Less

We’ve seen this price as low as $1.39 for three pounds, which actually makes Costco’s bananas cheaper than the 19-cent ones at Trader Joe’s. Even at $1.99 for three pounds, this is a darn good deal.

Related: We Compared Produce Prices at Costco, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Whole Foods — Here’s What We Learned

I know we’ve said that spices are one of the things that shouldn’t be bought at Costco (see: 5 Things Kitchn Editors Never Buy at Costco), but cinnamon really is one of those things you can get through in a few months — especially with fall coming. Sprinkle some into oatmeal, shakes, smoothies, baked goods, and tomatoes (yes, really!).

Whether you’re buying it for cooking or cleaning purposes (or both!), this is a great deal.

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Cut the cheese yourself for savings; the pre-cut or shredded stuff is always way more expensive. Plus, this way you can control how it’s eaten (think: cubed, shredded, sliced, etc.)!

You probably thought I was going to include that $1.50 food court hot dog. (Another item that is always the same price no matter which store you’re in.) It’s delicious and has a cult following, for sure, but I wanted to give some love to this salad, which four registered dietitians all suggested as the healthiest thing to eat at the Costco food court.

Read more: The Healthiest Thing to Eat at the Costco Food Court, According to Four Registered Dietitians

• The First 5 Things to Buy with Your New Costco Membership
  
• The 13 Best Kirkland Signature Products at Costco
  
• Kitchn Editors Reveal Their Favorite Kirkland Signature Products at Costco

What are your favorite Costco groceries for $5 or less?