Hawaii vs. Florida Costco Prices

[clarkfan1979]

After reading the Sams Club vs. Costco post, I decided to share my experience shopping at Costco in Southwest Florida vs. Costco on the island of Kauai.

If you don't want to read the whole post, my conclusion is that Hawaii Costco is 5% more than Florida Costco for my diet. It could be more or less depending on what you eat. If you want to know how I got to that number you can read below.

My general conclusion is that about 1/3 of the stuff in Hawaii Costco is the same price, about 1/3 is 5% more and 1/3 is about 10% more. Not too many things seem to be more than 10% higher than Florida.

Things that are the same price

Kirkland Pino Grigio ($6.89 for big bottle)
Kirkland Hard Liquor ($19.99 for Kirkland Vodka)
Rotisserie Chicken ($5.00)
Economy Pack Meats ($5.19 lb. for Sirloin & 7.99 for boneless Ribeye)
Uncooked Costco Pizza (8.99)
Cooked Costco Pizza (9.99)
2 pound butterball turkey lunch meat ($6.99)
Kirkland Roast Beef Lunchmeat ($6.89 lb.)
Kirkland Ham Lunchmeat ($4.19 lb.)
Organic Romaine Lettuce
Pork Loin ($2.19 lb.)

Things that are about 5% more

Organic Bananas
Onions (5 lbs.)
Potatoes (10 lbs.)
Tomatoes (5 lbs.)
24 pack of cliff bars
10 lb. bag of Kirkland Frozen Chicken Tenders

Things that are 10% more

Organic Eggs
3 lb variety lunchmeat pack (ham & turkey)
Avocado 5 pack
White Mushrooms
Organic Bread

Things that are cheaper

Fresh Pineapple
Canned Tuna
Fresh Ahi Tuna
Name brand hard liquor
*Lactose Free 2% milk
*Skinny Cow Salted Carmel Ice Cream bars

* these were not available at the Florida Costco, so I purchased at Target which was more expensive.

Costco in Hawaii tends to have a lot of sales for name brand hard liquor. Last week a 1.75 bottle of Kettle One was on sale for $26.99. That is the cheapest that I have seen it in my entire life. However, I didn't buy it because the Kirkland Vodka for 19.99 works for me. 
 

[davidw]

The fact that someplace in the middle of the ocean (and not even on the most populous island!) has prices only 5% higher than Florida is a minor miracle.

By the way, if you need an assistant for more Hawaii work, I'd be happy to help out for the price of a plane ticket;-)

[LiveLean]

I live in Florida and shopped briefly at the Maui Costco, so this was interesting.

If I lived in Hawaii, I'd be an even bigger fan of Costco than I already am, which I didn't think was possible.

Yes, I own Costco stock. That way, if I'm accidentally frozen for 500 years like Luke Wilson or go the Ted Williams route, I'll wake up as both the smartest AND richest man in the world.

[TomTX]

Why are you buying bananas at Costco in Hawaii instead of getting them locally?

[clarkfan1979]

About half of my bananas and avocados are free from coworkers and my landlord. Farmers markets are about the same price as Costco. 

[clarkfan1979]

Farmers market is going to have more variety than Costco. If I am in the area of a farmers market I will stop. However, I will not make a special trip for one. Costco is on the way home from work, so it's never a special trip.