Costco for a Single Person in 2024: Is a Membership Worth It?

As costs for grocery staples and other everyday items continue rising with inflation, single shoppers are looking for smart ways to cut expenses. With their reputation for bulk goods and giant pack sizes, you may wonder – can Costco really save solo dwellers money amid rising prices?

The Bottom Line: Yes, singles can absolutely get great value from a Costco membership with some savvy shopping strategies. By focusing on non-perishable foods, price comparing select items, and taking advantage of other discount benefits across categories like gas, alcohol, and travel, individuals invested around $250 monthly at Costco can readily offset the $60 annual Gold Star membership fee.

Here’s a comprehensive 2023 guide examining how and what solo members should buy to maximize deals at Costco.

Costco Membership Costs in 2024

While warehouses have raised some prices due to inflationary pressures, membership rates entering 2023 have held steady:

• Gold Star: $60/year – One primary cardholder plus household members.
• Executive: $120/year – Primary + house members, plus 2% reward on eligible purchases (up to $1,000).

The no-frills Gold Star plan best suits single shoppers who likely won’t hit Executive’s spending reward threshold. However, Costco does offer full refunds on annual fees if you cancel within 90 days, should you want to give Executive a test drive.

Average Costco Spending for Singles

To break even on the $60 Gold Star membership as a solo shopper, how much is advisable to spend annually?

Consumer research indicates typical single Costco members average $2,800-$3,200 in total store purchases per year:

So aiming to spend around $250 monthly is a reasonable goal to offset the membership expense through Costco deals. Of course, singles focused on specific big-ticket categories like gas, alcohol, or travel can likely justify the fee spending less overall.

Best Categories for Single Shoppers

Beyond giant packs of paper towels, what deals at Costco truly make financial sense for solo dwellers?ATEGORy

After comparing prices across categories, Consumer Reports found that single shoppers derive the most yearly savings from these Costco sections:

Shelf-Stable & Frozen Foods

Biggest Values: Nuts, spices, coffee, cooking oils, frozen fruit/veggies

Singles should stock up on non-perishables or items easily frozen. Just be sure to price compare; while many staples beat grocery stores, some specialty products cost less elsewhere.

Household Goods

Biggest Values: Toilet paper, trash bags, detergent, OTC meds

Basics like toilet paper, tall kitchen bags, and Advil liquid gels can yield major savings for individuals when purchasing bulk.

Alcohol

Biggest Values: Wine, liquor, craft beer

The prices speak for themselves here. Solo imbibers would be remiss not to stock up on Costco’s booze deals, provided they have storage space.

Smart Strategies for Solo Shoppers

While Costco certainly caters to large families and businesses, singles can readily get money‘s worth from membership with these insider tips:

• Split larger packages – Pair up with nearby friends or family to divide bulk paper towels, baked goods, jerky, coffee, etc. This cuts waste while you both save.
• Focus trips around best deals – Plan shopping lists according to the above categories boasting the best bargains.
• Price compare specialty items – Use Costco‘s mobile app to confirm discounted prices against local grocery stores and Amazon.
• Take advantage of free samples – Hey, free lunch! Let in-store demos supplement your own meal prep.
• Buy gift cards – Give the gift of Costco savings! Purchase restaurant, theater, theme park, and other gift cards at a discount.

The Bottom Line: With some smart shopping strategies focused on the right categories, Costco can be a budget-saver for single folks. Give membership a try to enjoy possible savings on grocery staples, gas, alcohol, home goods, and more.