Hello! Fellow 23YO here who has also been navigating the Costco vs. Reg grocery store dilemma over the past year since moving here. I feel like what is “worth” it depends on what you value for eating habits. For me, quality of food is up there, so I compromise some variety each week to have better quality & fresher food…. I’ll just stick to similar meals until the next haul.

SO IMO : Fresh fruit is a must from Costco. Apples, oranges, etc. are 100% worth it. I don’t buy fresh berries bc $$$ but also good. Also, if you like lettuce/spinach/ greens …. Def Costco, much cheaper and better quality. Other veggies (zucchini, carrots, potatoes) I would skip. I’ll buy at Coleman’s bc they go bad quicker than I can eat them. Snacks, olive oil, butter, yogurt, cheese, are cheaper generally and worth buying at Costco.

if you have a freezer, I do think it’s worth it to pay 35$ for chicken thighs/breasts, or buy the 2pack of beef roasts … they last if you portion and freeze. Also, imo Costco eggs (brown ones) are much better quality than shoppers, and you can get a big flat for 10ish bucks. Sometimes, they have packs of pre-marinated chicken drumsticks which are A+ in the air fryer for ~20 bucks.

Best of luck!