It can be challenging to save money on groceries when shopping at a bulk retailer like Costco. But there are ways to get through the warehouse and still get out with a good amount of food if your grocery budget is only $100.
You can make the most of your Costco membership without overspending when you buy the following list of tasty and affordable grocery staples.
Choosing versatile foods that can work across several meals can help stretch a limited grocery budget even further. Frozen foods, prepared meals, and pantry staples can also make it easier to avoid spending extra money on takeout or additional grocery trips.
Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.
Kirkland Signature Cheese Pizza
Price: $10.99
Costco's Kirkland Signature store brand can get you good quality for an affordable price, helping you save money at Costco.
A great example is the Kirkland Signature Cheese Pizza, which comes in a pack of four pizzas. You can eat them as is or customize them to your liking using ingredients in your pantry or fridge.
The four-pack contains 18.25-ounce pizzas made with whole milk mozzarella, an Italian-style tomato sauce, and a hearth-baked crust. Costco lists the pizzas as a frozen product that should be kept frozen until you're ready to cook them. That makes them an easy option to keep on hand for nights when you don't want to spend money on delivery or takeout.
Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken
Price: $4.99
Costco is known for its Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken, especially because of how affordable the bird is compared to competitors.
Grab a rotisserie chicken for dinner or pull the meat off the chicken to use as an ingredient for other meals, like a chicken salad.
The whole chicken is prepared in Costco's service deli, making it a ready-to-eat option when you need dinner without much preparation. The meat can also be repurposed for sandwiches, soups, casseroles, wraps, or other meals, which can help you get more than one dinner out of a single purchase. The $4.99 price remains a well-known Costco staple even in 2026.
Kirkland Signature 2% Reduced Fat Milk
Price: $3.30
There are times when Costco isn't good for staples that you don't need in bulk, such as spices or condiments.
But the store has you covered for other staples like milk. The Kirkland Signature 2% Reduced Fat Milk comes in 1-gallon containers and is easy to pick up when shopping at the retailer.
Costco describes the milk as Grade A, pasteurized, homogenized, kosher, and produced without artificial growth hormone (rbST). A gallon can be useful for more than drinking, too, since milk can go into cereal, smoothies, pancakes, sauces, and baked goods. Buying a staple you regularly use can make a Costco trip more practical when you're trying to keep the rest of your grocery spending under control.
Kirkland Signature Variety Pack Lunch Meat
Price: $14.99
Deli meat can be expensive if you are trying to satisfy different taste buds with multiple options, but the Kirkland Signature Variety Pack has three different choices to give you some variety without breaking the bank.
The pack comes with sliced chicken breast, ham, and roast beef, with each package containing 14 ounces of meat.
Having three varieties in one purchase gives you several options for sandwiches, wraps, lunch boxes, and quick snacks. You can also pair the meat with the Kirkland Signature Butter Croissants on this list for an easy lunch. Because each variety is packaged separately, you can work through one type at a time instead of opening everything at once.
Kirkland Signature Butter Croissants
Price: $6.99
Croissants aren't just for breakfast. You can get a dozen Kirkland Signature Butter Croissants and use them in different ways, such as a tasty sandwich for lunch with the deli meat you purchased.
Costco describes these as all-butter croissants with flaky layers, and the bakery package contains 12 croissants. Their versatility can help you get more value from the purchase. Use them for breakfast with eggs, make sandwiches for lunch, or serve them alongside dinner. They can also give a basic deli-meat sandwich a more substantial feel without requiring another expensive ingredient.
Kirkland Signature Krinkle Cut Kettle Chips, Himalayan Salt
Price: $5.99
No grocery list is complete without a savory snack, preferably a crunchy one. This 32-ounce bag is the perfect snack for when guests are over or when you're watching Netflix on the couch by yourself.
The 32-ounce bag contains crinkle-cut potato chips seasoned with Himalayan salt. Costco lists the chips as gluten-free, kosher, and Non-GMO Project Verified. The ingredient list includes potatoes, vegetable oils, and pink salt. The thick, ridged shape also makes them a practical choice for serving with dips when you're feeding a group.
Kirkland Signature Super Extra-Large Peanuts
Price: $7.28
Another snack to add to your pantry is the 2.5-pound container of Kirkland Signature Super Extra-Large Peanuts. These are a good source of protein, fiber, and important nutrients that keep you going throughout the day.
Costco describes these as Virginia variety peanuts that are roasted and salted, with an extra-crunchy texture. The product is also labeled gluten-free and kosher. Costco's current product information lists the container at 40 ounces, or 2.5 pounds. That large container can make peanuts an easy pantry snack to portion out for lunches, road trips, or afternoon cravings instead of buying individual snack packs.
Kevin's Roasted Garlic Chicken
Price: $14.99
Even if you're working with a tight budget, you can still get some delicious pre-made meals that are easy for a busy weeknight meal.
Take Kevin's Roasted Garlic Chicken, for example. It comes in a 2-pound container and is packed with chicken in a savory cream sauce for a hearty meal.
The 32-ounce package is designed to be reheated, making it a convenient alternative when cooking from scratch isn't practical. Current product information describes the chicken as boneless, skinless chicken breast strips with a creamy roasted garlic sauce. The product is also described as gluten-free, Paleo Certified, Keto Certified, and made with no added sugar. Pairing it with rice, pasta, vegetables, or another inexpensive side can turn it into a more complete meal.
Kirkland Signature Chicken Street Tacos
Price: $14.99
Try your hand at Taco Tuesday with the Kirkland Signature Chicken Street Tacos.
The taco kit comes with tortillas, seasoned chicken, shredded cheese, salsa, and more to make hearty tacos that can feed a family or be spread out over a few meals.
Note that the price is approximate, as it's based on the weight of the taco kit. You may be able to find one that's even cheaper on the Costco shelf.
The kit also includes cilantro lime crema, fresh shredded vegetables, and 12 corn-and-flour tortillas. Costco's current product information lists the kit at about 2.9 pounds, with the final price based on the actual weight selected. That combination gives you most of what you need for taco night in one package, so you don't have to buy each topping separately.
- 18-29
- 30-39
- 40-49
- 50-59
- 60-69
- 70-79
- 80+
Total: $84.51
You might be able to save even more depending on the kind of deals you find at your local Costco. Prices can vary by location.
One thing is for sure: you can enjoy some delicious meals and snacks with a $100 budget when you shop at Costco.
That leaves about $15.49 from the original $100 budget for another grocery staple, depending on the prices at your warehouse. Keep in mind that Costco's online and delivery prices can differ from warehouse prices, and product availability can change. For example, Costco currently shows different prices for some of these products depending on whether you're looking at warehouse or delivery information.
Bottom line
Shopping at Costco with only $100 might seem like a challenge, but it's possible to walk out with a cart full of tasty and affordable options that will get you through the week.
Taking a list with you is a good idea to stop you from making impulse purchases and sticking within your tight budget.
The biggest opportunity to stretch the budget is to choose foods that can do double duty. A rotisserie chicken can become several meals, while croissants and lunch meat can cover breakfast or lunch. Frozen pizza and prepared chicken can also give you convenient options for busy nights. Planning how you'll use each purchase before you head into the warehouse can help you avoid buying extras that aren't part of the $100 plan.
You should also check your wallet for the top cash back credit cards for when you spend money on groceries at stores like Costco.
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