Love your channel! I’m American and my husband is from England. We moved back to the US 15 years ago. Our plan is to return to the UK in about 7 years…can’t wait!
Keep in mind that products like meat, dairy, eggs, vege, and baking products are chemical free. No meat hormones, chemically sprayed crops, etc. Food is much healthier and tastes better! Have you fount that to be true?
I'm, actually, quite shocked at the prices at Costco. Prices in Tesco and Sainsburys are considerably cheaper in many instances. I was led to believe that Costco was much cheaper.
@@DGLUK1 I totally agree it’s probably US import costs that elevate prices, also when has a Brit ever needs 300lbs of Cheddar cheese in one purchase, I bought some Cheddar Cheese from the UK in my local Costco in Atlanta great price but still haven’t eaten it and it’s now 6 years old, wil resell on eBay as 10 year Mature Antique original British Cheddar cheese in a couple of years 🫣
It looks like in the UK the Costco prices aren’t that great. US Costco prices are incredible. However some of the prices as of Dec 27 is higher in my area (94086) in the US. For example salmon is now $11.99/lb but was just $9.99/lb 2-3 months ago at the Sunnyvale Costco. Also my experience with groceries in the UK has been at Lidl, Tesco, Asda, M&S etc. Tesco have MUCH LOWER prices than say Safeway or Lucky’s in the US. For example in the summer, avocados are $1.50/each in the US and less than $1 in the UK. And eating out in my area is incredibly expensive, even when compared to Hammersmith in London (which I always go to). For lunch here don’t expect to pay anything less than $17 for a simple wrap, drink and fries. For about 10% less I can eat in Ladbroke grove in central London in a comparable cafe. Considering my area isn’t nearly as “cool” as London. To be honest you can probably survive on less in NYC or London than in the Bay Area if you know where to look.
@@155stw my experience of UK non-Costco grocery (fruit and vegetable) shopping vs the US - is that not only are UK supermarkets cheaper overall, the quality of the products seems to be better on average
Doesn’t seem like Costco is the best place use for a “normal “ household shopping! Plus of course, Costco are few and far between. Nearest Costco to me is over 20 miles away!
You certainly need to be careful about what you're buying it's true, and be well aware of what has VAT on it and what doesn't to do a valid comparison.
I use costco for certain items only. When they are cheap, especially when deals are on, costco is great. But yes, buyer beware - much of what they sell can be more expensive than supermarkets. Costco fuel is very cheap by the way.
I follow American TH-camr ‘Magenta otter travels’ she did a two country comparison like you, they’ve been visiting the uk for 30 years and have a flat in Gloucestershire, they’re American home is in Dallas, for similar stores she used a Kroger supermarket in Dallas versus Tesco, her job was in marketing, so used to this, she used a different method of dealing with American weights and liquids versus metric.
I'm so surprised anyone posts negative comments on your channel. You 2 are so full of positivity. You don't deserve that. Please try to ignore them. I love your content...thank you!
Thanks so much for your kind words! ❤️ We are always a little surprised at how much effort some people put into being negative. It doesn't bother us, but thank you so much for your concern! ❤️
I haven't lived in the UK for 8 years, so have lost track of prices there. But, it still seems the Costco prices are generally higher than I would have expected, some products seem very expensive. But, as I said, I'm out of touch. I now live in an Andalucian village, and the cost of food here is considerably lower than the UK, even allowing for the price rises seen globally. We grow our own grapes, for example. And mill locally grown olives for oil. Even in national supermarkets, prices are nothing like the ones shown here. I wasn't planning on coming back to the UK, this kind of update means I'm more convinced than ever I'm in the right place! Happy New Year to you all (don't be too jealous, everyone here has stinking colds, too!).
Hi! Thanks for sharing your story! Yes, these Costco prices were an eye-opener to us, too, and more than our local shops. We had just assumed that Costco UK would be as cost saving as Costco US, but I guess that's what you get for assuming! 🤣 Happy New Year!
I only go to Costco for the food court or for the muffins/sheet cakes. As other commenters have mentioned Costco is very expensive compared to our high street supermarkets for everyday groceries.
@@SimpleScottishLiving I do know what you mean. Where I live, I am 5 minutes walk from anything and everything foodwise, African, Romanian, Polish, Afghanstan, Caribbean, Turkish, Indian, Chinese just to name a few. It has been dubbed 'The world in one place'. Sometimes, I just fancy something cheap, cheeful and ready to go in seconds.
We have shopped at several Costco stores in both the US and Scotland. We enjoyed walking through the various locations and compared not only prices but the different items available. Many were the same but many were very different. It was simply a joy for us. We were especially entertained by the package sizing difference for some products. Keep up the really good work. I enjoy your personalities and how you work together. ❤❤👏👏👏👏👏
As a family of 7, Costco definitely comes in handy for some things. I don’t do all of my shopping there just things we use a lot of. I was actually surprised at how similar the prices are between the Us and Uk.
Thanks for sharing! We were surprised, too. We used Costco a lot in the US. These prices were eye-opening, plus with a smaller house, there is less space to store the bulk shopping! 🤣
I had individual uk Costco membership for one year when I lived in Southampton, England. I found that you had to price check everything as often cheaper in other stores. I was buying several expensive electrical items that year that made it cost effective but I didn’t renew my membership. I live on my own so didn’t benefit from the large size options.
Thanks for sharing! Yes, after this price comparison, it was a bit of an eye opener. Even in the US, sometimes you have to check prices as it's not always as good a deal as you might think.
Thank you and same to you! I forgot how good the food is:) The last Christmas I had in Scotland was when Zach and I were dating I believe. It was such a wonderful time with all the relatives. Even got to bring home some leftovers 😊❤️
Thank you so much for this. I moved from NC last year and have considered getting a Costco UK membership. Now I know it's not worth it. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into this.
I was really surprised to see that Costco prices in the UK were not in fact the bargain you might assume. A lot of items seemed to be on the expensive side. Interesting that the Costco comparison had the US coming out as cheaper overall, whereas other supermarket comparisons tend to have the UK coming out as cheaper (albeit with some individual items being cheaper in the US). Thanks for the time and effort you have put into this video- particularly Annie's maths!). Happy Hogmanay to you all!
We in the uk don't use cosco...99% of people use supermarkets tescos,Asda,morrisons,lidl etc they are so much cheaper even usa citizens usa and compared and the uk are 98% cheaper so this comparison isn't right
@carolineskipper6976 but you can't because there are 616 coscos in america but only 29 in the uk, so it's a supply and demand that's why usa can buy products cheaper so if they went to a supermarket where they have hundreds of stores they can get products cheaper because of supply and demand
@terencewelch9800 But when Costco first came here it was touted as selling at wholesale prices ( which is how they have to operate in the UK) but those don't look like wholesale prices any more.
@carolineskipper6976 That's why they have standard and executive membership that give discounts on the card, and the only way of getting them is to have a business
Agree. I tend to shop in local stores … each store pretty much for specific items…ALDIs is a fav , Trader Joe’s , Whole Foods simply b/c they have the best fresh baked sourdough bread . Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s is bulk …may be cheaper but I simply do not use up and would just be wasting food. This is coming from upstate NY.
@22:30 Don't forget that in many places in the US, you'll also have to pay sales tax on top of the listed price. It varies from place to place. In Florida, there's no sales tax on food. In Tennessee, there's a 9%+ sales tax on everything. Someone else can chime in on how often sales tax (VAT) is included in the price of things in the UK.
Well done, a lot of working out of all the prices. You have a lot of patience Annie! I have never been to Costco, one of my friends has a membership, maybe I should go with her when I’m next over. Happy new year to you both and the family. Look forward to seeing all your adventures next year. Sandra 😘😘
We don't have a Costco in our area, but I'm surprised at the prices. We have travelled to the US many times, and it used to be cheaper there. Last time, around 2 years ago, we were shocked at how expensive it was to the extent that we are reluctant to go back.
Hey guys. Unlike America, Costco is where you go to get volume discounts. The incredibly-competitive supermarket sector generally beats Costco on day-to-day prices. But Costco wins hands-down on "Specials" and bulk-buys. It is a very different selling environment in the UK to the US. I was Head of Finance in the UK for a UK consumer electrics multinational. And UK retailers basically said "allow us prices to achieve our normal (huge) margins if you supply to Costco [who worked on much lower margins, and IMO are brilliant at what they do] or we will delist you". Hence why what you see in Costco UK is usually end-of-range or special deals. NOT like the US.
Glad to hear you are feeling better!Thanks for all your hard work on this,very professionally presented!I guess I am going to get skinny in either country with rising food costs.Grocery shopping anymore is like shopping at Tiffanys.Best of everything to your family and you both and that cute little dog (could just hug him).Cheers from Connecticut 😃😃😃😃
Let's put price aside for a moment. It's been a while since this US resident was in the UK, but we were recently in Denmark. I notice that, produce items are sightly more expensive in Denmark, but the uniformity of items, such as strawberries, was surprising. They must be greenhouse grown.That and the ingredient list seems less processed in Europe. The downside is the VAT.
I went to the Costco in Glasgow earlier in the year and I decided it’s just not for me, I found the crowd horrendous, had a walk around then just got out of there. Plus it’s no good for me I don’t buy in bulk. But I just couldn’t get out fast enough after a while
We’re not very good Costco shoppers! Only tend to buy lemons, limes, Christmas wrapping paper, B12 spray, chicken wings and a couple other bits. There are definitely some good deals and other not such great deals, you just have to go with an idea of costs in the supermarkets. Randomly the lemons from Costco last a lot longer than the supermarket ones so are a definite bargain
I have just re-run your grocery shop between Safeway in the USA and Tesco in the UK and this has confirmed to me that Costco is not cost effective, some things work out cheaper but not enough to warrant spending £33 for a yearly Costco subscription.
Costco UK is a rip off. Of all the places I could shop, that's the last one I'd go to. Aldi, Lidl, or Asda will smash those prices. And you don't need to buy a card to shop there.
Our homes don’t have large basements or big garages to bulk store, also households have smaller occupancy now, food buying habits have changed, I wouldn’t eat inside a Costco, I see the carbonated drinks are still called soda and in ounces not millilitre, if I’m hungry i have sandwiches & drink from a garage shop.
I appreciate you've done a lot of work to create this video but Costco is by no means a major retailer in Scotland / UK. I believe they have less than 30 stores nationwide, compared to Morrisons, Sainsburys etc who have 500-600. Their prices are generally higher, thus the reason very few people shop there. UK meat is also free from steroids etc....and don't get me started about US chicken washed in bleach. None of these products could be sold here as they don't meet UK food standards. A lot cheaper to produce though so less costly for customers. I've thoroughly enjoyed following your journey this year. Wishing you and your family a happy and prosperous New Year!
Thank you and same to you! Yes, now it seems like we need to find a store that is more commonly found in both the UK and the U.S. The search continues! We’ll leave that for later next year as my brain has had enough maths!
That was interesting. Out of curiosity I looked to see if Costco operated in France. Surprisingly they do! Trouble is my nearest branch is across the English Channel in Southampton!
Ironically, that's where I was this morning. The jam mentioned costs less at our local store than Costco @ $7.99🇨🇦 What was very disappointing was Costco restocked the Kirkland raw sugar at $13.98 per 10lbs up from $11.95 just two months ago online. I've stocked up with items entering Canada from the USA. I find my Canadian stores tend to cost less overall with the exception of bread. I'm uncertain about the quality or GMO being sold at Costco. Happy New Year 🎆 Glad everyone is fighting the flu there and winning.
Haha! Now, I have to see if CA Costco is the same. I’m intrigued if these prices are due to using Costco or because of using GA vs expensive Edinburgh.
@@SimpleScottishLiving There are questions like shipping costs on the fruit if its not grown in the UK. But the made in store food being more expensive?? Of course on expensive Edinburgh the ? is are the prices the same in every Costco store. Has the SNP increased prices on anything for 'health reasons' re sugar. Google search reveals though the sugar tax is only on soft drinks.
Costco's a new addition for myself so I've no comparisons. I'd been to the UK in the 80s and visited a few grocery shops then. When I moved with my family in the 90s, I just went shopping to the stores I already knew. Since the last two decades, I've found other stores and shopping malls, with good prices and bargains. At the end of the day, I can sincerely say, that our monthly food budget went from about $1500 a month to between £200-400 a month. I shop in town and get home deliveries. As a former accounting clerk, I've seen huge savings. I make family meals for a fiver.
Wow, that's fantastic! I can certainly empathise with doing what you did with your family. Even since moving back, I have found some good alternatives outside of what I thought I knew! 🤣
Great job on the maths. Coming from Australia the US prices were a bit confusing, but it was still great to get an idea for Scotland pricing for when I move over there :)
Annie have you tried Advocaat a Rich, creamy, smooth drink made with Egg yolks, aromatic spirits, sugar or honey, brandy, vanilla, cream or condensed milk and is available in most off licenses. this is Britains equivalent to Eggnog the only difference is it isn’t heated and it has a higher alcohol level, it’s great with 30% advocaat 70% R Whites lemonade when it frothes into what is called a Snow Ball. ❤️
Interesting watch, but im not a Cosco shopper. Hope you had a peaceful christmas . I am looking forward to more travel volgs and, of course, cooking segments....please . All the best for 2025 x
This is interesting and useful comparison. It would be interesting to see grocery prices side-by-side as a percentage of income in each country. Rotisserie chickens are a big draw in a lot of US grocery stores. They are often cheaper than a whole raw chicken.
Re. Applying for Costco membership UK with a qualifying list of approved occupations as shown in the graphic at the beginning of this video; e.g. - "Banking / Finance". Although it sounds a bit restrictive & off putting for some people, it can be easier & more flexible than you might think, to make a successful application. It is really just a matter of full & proper presentation. For example, as in my own recently confirmed membership, whereby my banking job described as a "Liquid asset redistribution manager" proved a much better choice, than my original title of "Bank robber".... Ho-hum.
I have a question and challenge for Annie (insert evil laugh). I assume you've likely had something blackcurrant by now? Try a price comparison on blackcurrant products...this is possibly an impossible challege 😂
I think you'll be better off doing a full shop at Asda. As you're in East Lothian try the big Asda at The Jewel, Edinburgh East . Some of these Costco prices are way over the top. 😢. It's open 24hrs.
When comparing you also need to take a look at where the items come from. Some items might have a shorter trip to Georgia than going to Edinburgh and vice versa. The cost of transportation will be included in the price of the item so even though this was a fun comparison, it’s not really comparing “apples to apples”. Happy New Year!
Yes, there certainly are many factors playing a part in the prices. We found it very eye opening none the less. Thanks for watching, and Happy New Year!
Interesting to see the comparison. Costco is cheaper for fuel, TP and the cooked chicken. I still manage to go in for 1 specific thing but come out with a trolley full. But aldi around the corner is much cheaper and more practical pack sizes.
You have to be aware that the UK pound sterling is currently very weak against the US dollar - if you had done this comparison 10-11 years ago the Costco in the US (when I was last shopping in one) was much much cheaper in percentage terms than is shown in this video, especially for vegetables (as I think that US vegetables may have risen more than average US inflation too - please correct me if I am wrong...)
Interesting video, but I dont understand why there would be domestic demand for Costco in Britain, they look like older cash & carry warehouses for people who run businesses that bulk buy, their sites are sparsely spread, they restrict who can enter, my nearest is a 100 mile round trip, fuel costs/time make it unviable.
Those VAT prices added on to UK prices will really hike them up as well. I know US have their own state tax but presumably never as much as the 20% VAT!
Hi! No VAT or sales tax added to food items in either country. There are 13 states in the US that add sales tax to food items, but Georgia isn't one of them. Thanks for watching!
I would argue that fruit is often fresher in the UK than the U.S.. Many grocery stores I go to in the U.S. the fruit is already turning whereas I know at home in the UK that is not the case.
For my wife and I(living outside of Atlanta), Costco definitely has its' place. We buy most of our meat there, as it is routinely 20-30% cheaper than regular supermarkets and generally, a higher quality. Vegetables are also cheaper than supermarkets. Gasoline/petrol can be 20-40 cents cheaper at Costco, per gallon. Wine and beer is a good deal at Costco, unless the supermarket is having big sales. My wife makes all of our bread and I make pizzas from scratch, so we buy our flour, yeast, salt and sugar at Costco. Cheese is also markedly cheaper at Costco, especially foreign cheeses. We have also bought all of our major appliances at Costco, because of their amazing return policy. TVs, fridges, dish washers, ovens and exercise equipment(elliptical and treadmill).
I wish we had Costco in Germany. I very rarely shopped Costco in San Francisco. There were too many good restaurants and the things I bought would be spoil before it was used. I shop the Costco in Woodstock Georgia now and I do use everything bought. We have a great wine selection at our Costco. Love the video and can’t wait to see the next. Be well and safe.
We used to shop at Costco all the time, but now I’m thinking it might be cheaper at our local shops. Time for another comparison! Thanks for watching ❤️
Hi there both and a Happy New Year to you both and your family. I have always thought that places like Costco would not be generally used in the UK for weekly shopping unless one was buying wholesale for small businesses, such as restaurants and similar places. In the UK most of us shop at the major supermarkets such as Sainsbury's, Tesco and their like. Those on lower wages or who are looking for other savings might of course shop at Aldi and Lidl. Unless one lives in the back of beyond we don't tend to stock large volumes of discounted food at home.
Hi! Happy New Year to you, too! After seeing these prices, I think you might be right. We also found we don't quite have the space to store bulk groceries anymore 😬
I've never used this shop, but it's more geared upto bulk buying rather than grocery shopping. I would hope ours is more quality over quantity, do these prices take into consideration your sales tax in addition to the unknown ingredients that are added, this would also make some items in the States cheaper. Personal farm shops are my main place for shopping, everything can be traced back to the farm and even animals. Growing up with grandparents one set of whom were farmers from 1920 onwards, and for grandad he worked there before being sent to war with his family. Convenience comes in handy some times, but for myself and people of my generation and older, case in point my 96 1/2 year old aunt who still grows her own with her daughters help with digging up and preserving for the winter and summer months
Yes, in GA there is no sales tax on strictly food items, which is why we didn't include some of the bulk items such as toilet roll or batteries. I think buying local is key! I had no idea Costco would pull such a hefty price tag, but it's good to know regardless. We'll be doing our 'big' shops in our area from now on.
@SimpleScottishLiving I'd say shop seasonal and shop locally, you know what you're buying, the only time we'd have things out of season if they've been made into jams,pickled, marmalades etc, which stopped food waste if you have a glut of something you'd share it amongst family and friends and anything else into sterile jars
I've done this comparison using British supermarkets and as I keep telling everyone I know with a Costco card. Shopping at Costco is an expensive option. Everything imported from the USA is so much more expensive. Just do the Costco comparison against sat UK Aldi. It's shocking how much more expensive Costco is.
This was a total shock to us! Looks like we’ll be doing our big shops locally. Good to know though! I suppose it could be better for things like toiletries roll and batteries, but we only did food items this trip.
@@elizabethragsdale7789 They have VAT, which is added on items (as you can see on the price labels); however, VAT is not added on most food items unless prepared like the food court. Similar to Georgia!
Who in their right mind would shop at CostCo in the UK they are Far too expensive. at first glance I would think that anyone paying that price for green beans in the UK needs certifying! Loving the vlogs wishing you and your family a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Coming from the US, we assumed Costco UK would offer similar savings... but the numbers don't lie. Looks like we won't be renewing our Costco membership in the UK. Thanks for watching, and Happy New Year!
Love to check out my local Costco here in Wembley but they keep rejecting my membership as I don't work in any of the trades that they accept for membership. Looks good though. I don't believe it's restricted to certain trades in the US?
Yes, we are not sure why the UK Costco does that. As far as I know, there are no restrictions in the US. I think they would be up in arms (possibly literally) if the US Costco restricted membership! 🤣
@SimpleScottishLiving After reading Costco UK is a wholesaler to certain businesses or those working in them. It's a condition of planning with most of their UK stores that limit access. US Costco is open to all. Happy New Year. 🙂
Maybe their Costco is priced differently! It could also be that non food items such as toilet roll, batteries, etc. are much better when bought in bulk. We were surprised as our local shops are much more affordable for food staples though.
What you don’t add is that all the British groceries include VAT. So you don’t have to pay tax at the till. Can you add how much tax you would have to pay at the till
No VAT on food items in the UK. You can actually see it stated on the price tags at Costco. Also, the majority of US states don't add sales tax to food items. Only 13 states add sales tax to food items and Georgia is not one of them. Thanks for watching.
Annie, I didn't mention this last time, but you can use the calculator app on your phone to convert all kinds of measurements very quickly. It does the math. I use this a lot as I watch a fair amount of UTube channels that are in the UK, France or Portugal and while some try to convert most don't and I always have my phone handy while watching. I do have an Android but can't imagine Apple wouldn't have this capability too. I will admit that I did have to go back to the internet for the currency converter as I'm sure this will change on a daily or even less timeline. I would be very interested in hearing about the quality of the bananas there. That's one item I never buy as they are nearly always green and never seem to ripen. I live in the PNW and my Costco doesn't have out of season produce. So. I'd never be able to get strawberries in December. I'd love to have you visit a Tesco. A very friend of mine has a daughter-in-law now living in the US and she used to work for Tesco in the south of England. It sounds like a cool store.
Mmmm 🤔 THAT was a strange one - in that it told a story that is a complete flip REVERSAL of reality when it comes to the cost of food in both nations. Most of the items in question are considerably cheaper in the UK than in the US - as we have seen is the case in countless comparison videos by countless other American tubers based in the UK. Indeed, it’s often shocking just HOW much costlier food is in the US. I guess the message here is that our American friends should go to a British supermarket like Tesco or Asda instead - and stay away from SHOCKINGLY expensive US-owned ones like Costco (which are possibly hiking up prices due to cover import duty/are often selling in bulk to more suit the US way of buying food/not the UK market ? ) * Great channel (just stumbled across it !)
A few questions about Costco in the UK: do they have gas/petrol stations like with the US, and if so, is it cheaper at Costco vs other stores in the UK? Also, do you still find it useful to keep your Costco membership in the UK, or do you just keep it for bulk purchases, or do you plan to use it for shopping more often?
Costco in the UK does have petrol stations (at least my closest one does). The price is usually much cheaper than anywhere else. When petrol was £1,39 my local Costco was selling at £1,25. Even if you only fill up at Costco and never buy anything else, the savings you make on the petrol alone justifies the membership fee.
@mojojojo11811 thanks, that's helpful. Yes, I mostly use my Costco membership in the US for gas/petrol for the same reason, then shop for food and other things on an occasion.
Fantabulous! You did a really really good job! I am so very impressed with your dedication. I would have just chunked it into the basket, and paid for it. If I want it, I'll buy it. I'm not going to let a few pennies stop me from buying something I want. The bread in the UK is always better; but here in Oklahoma, the equivalent to what you showed was only $2.99 a loaf. The super expensive 9 grain is around $4.59 a loaf. Other than that, Georgia and Oklahoma are really very close to having the same costs. Woot! I prefer living in Scotland, to be honest, so in time that too will happen again. Thank you!
Thanks so much! Ha, I like your way of shopping better to be honest. Chuck it in the cart and call it a day 🤣 We hope you make your way back here as well. First tea/coffee will be on us 😊
I am curious if the international foods taste different / have different ingredients listed. I have seen videos that say European sodas are different and taste better than their US counterparts. Is that true?
It is definitely true that the UK version of US foods have different ingredients and taste different. As for which tastes better, I think we are currently a bit biased towards the UK offerings! 🤣
You can’t buy eggnog. You have to make it. And honestly a simple google search brings up the recipe very quickly. Also Advocat is not Eggnog. Anyway, as it’s a Christmas Eve tradition, you have a year (no rule against a few practice runs 🤣)
Chapters are in the description box. Happy New Year!🎉 Please give us a like or subscribe if you appreciated the effort we put into today’s video ❤️
The lesson from this seems to be if you are in the UK don't shop at Costco
Yep 🤣😅
Yes, makes me glad I haven't bothered with a membership. And Americans are complaining about food prices 🥴
Love your channel! I’m American and my husband is from England. We moved back to the US 15 years ago. Our plan is to return to the UK in about 7 years…can’t wait!
That’s exciting! I hope it all works out for you :) Let us know if you ever have any questions ❤️
Keep in mind that products like meat, dairy, eggs, vege, and baking products are chemical free. No meat hormones, chemically sprayed crops, etc. Food is much healthier and tastes better! Have you fount that to be true?
All that work to provide a break down in prices! Please ignore the negative comments. The maths alone is worth a “like”😂
Thanks so much! This was an interesting one!
I'm, actually, quite shocked at the prices at Costco. Prices in Tesco and Sainsburys are considerably cheaper in many instances. I was led to believe that Costco was much cheaper.
That’s what we thought! Just another reason to support our local shops. This was surprising!
It's not even cheaper in the U.S. Has good bulk deals i guess but who needs to buy all that?
@@DGLUK1 I totally agree it’s probably US import costs that elevate prices, also when has a Brit ever needs 300lbs of Cheddar cheese in one purchase, I bought some Cheddar Cheese from the UK in my local Costco in Atlanta great price but still haven’t eaten it and it’s now 6 years old, wil resell on eBay as 10 year Mature Antique original British Cheddar cheese in a couple of years 🫣
It looks like in the UK the Costco prices aren’t that great. US Costco prices are incredible. However some of the prices as of Dec 27 is higher in my area (94086) in the US. For example salmon is now $11.99/lb but was just $9.99/lb 2-3 months ago at the Sunnyvale Costco. Also my experience with groceries in the UK has been at Lidl, Tesco, Asda, M&S etc. Tesco have MUCH LOWER prices than say Safeway or Lucky’s in the US. For example in the summer, avocados are $1.50/each in the US and less than $1 in the UK. And eating out in my area is incredibly expensive, even when compared to Hammersmith in London (which I always go to). For lunch here don’t expect to pay anything less than $17 for a simple wrap, drink and fries. For about 10% less I can eat in Ladbroke grove in central London in a comparable cafe. Considering my area isn’t nearly as “cool” as London. To be honest you can probably survive on less in NYC or London than in the Bay Area if you know where to look.
@@155stw my experience of UK non-Costco grocery (fruit and vegetable) shopping vs the US - is that not only are UK supermarkets cheaper overall, the quality of the products seems to be better on average
Looking at these prices I'm surprised people stop at Costco when Tesco and other supermarkets are cheaper.
We fully expected this to be cheaper, but now I’m thinking that shopping local is more affordable!
@@SimpleScottishLivingromaine lettuce in Tesco was 89p for 2
Doesn’t seem like Costco is the best place use for a “normal “ household shopping! Plus of course, Costco are few and far between.
Nearest Costco to me is over 20 miles away!
You certainly need to be careful about what you're buying it's true, and be well aware of what has VAT on it and what doesn't to do a valid comparison.
I use costco for certain items only. When they are cheap, especially when deals are on, costco is great. But yes, buyer beware - much of what they sell can be more expensive than supermarkets. Costco fuel is very cheap by the way.
I follow American TH-camr ‘Magenta otter travels’ she did a two country comparison like you, they’ve been visiting the uk for 30 years and have a flat in Gloucestershire, they’re American home is in Dallas, for similar stores she used a Kroger supermarket in Dallas versus Tesco, her job was in marketing, so used to this, she used a different method of dealing with American weights and liquids versus metric.
I'm so surprised anyone posts negative comments on your channel. You 2 are so full of positivity. You don't deserve that. Please try to ignore them.
I love your content...thank you!
Thanks so much for your kind words! ❤️ We are always a little surprised at how much effort some people put into being negative. It doesn't bother us, but thank you so much for your concern! ❤️
@Gam1928: People are not being negative, they are commenting on their own experience and giving their views good or not good about a Costco.
I haven't lived in the UK for 8 years, so have lost track of prices there. But, it still seems the Costco prices are generally higher than I would have expected, some products seem very expensive. But, as I said, I'm out of touch. I now live in an Andalucian village, and the cost of food here is considerably lower than the UK, even allowing for the price rises seen globally. We grow our own grapes, for example. And mill locally grown olives for oil. Even in national supermarkets, prices are nothing like the ones shown here. I wasn't planning on coming back to the UK, this kind of update means I'm more convinced than ever I'm in the right place! Happy New Year to you all (don't be too jealous, everyone here has stinking colds, too!).
Hi! Thanks for sharing your story! Yes, these Costco prices were an eye-opener to us, too, and more than our local shops. We had just assumed that Costco UK would be as cost saving as Costco US, but I guess that's what you get for assuming! 🤣 Happy New Year!
I only go to Costco for the food court or for the muffins/sheet cakes. As other commenters have mentioned Costco is very expensive compared to our high street supermarkets for everyday groceries.
This is so interesting, because it’s the exact opposite of what we found in the U.S. good to know though! I’d prefer to shop and support locally!
@@SimpleScottishLiving I do know what you mean. Where I live, I am 5 minutes walk from anything and everything foodwise, African, Romanian, Polish, Afghanstan, Caribbean, Turkish, Indian, Chinese just to name a few. It has been dubbed 'The world in one place'. Sometimes, I just fancy something cheap, cheeful and ready to go in seconds.
We have shopped at several Costco stores in both the US and Scotland. We enjoyed walking through the various locations and compared not only prices but the different items available. Many were the same but many were very different. It was simply a joy for us. We were especially entertained by the package sizing difference for some products. Keep up the really good work. I enjoy your personalities and how you work together. ❤❤👏👏👏👏👏
As a family of 7, Costco definitely comes in handy for some things. I don’t do all of my shopping there just things we use a lot of. I was actually surprised at how similar the prices are between the Us and Uk.
Thanks for sharing! We were surprised, too. We used Costco a lot in the US. These prices were eye-opening, plus with a smaller house, there is less space to store the bulk shopping! 🤣
I had individual uk Costco membership for one year when I lived in Southampton, England. I found that you had to price check everything as often cheaper in other stores. I was buying several expensive electrical items that year that made it cost effective but I didn’t renew my membership. I live on my own so didn’t benefit from the large size options.
Thanks for sharing! Yes, after this price comparison, it was a bit of an eye opener. Even in the US, sometimes you have to check prices as it's not always as good a deal as you might think.
I hope you all had a wonderful, loving Christmas, so good to see another video from you. Well Annie, how was your Scottish Christmas ?
Thank you and same to you! I forgot how good the food is:) The last Christmas I had in Scotland was when Zach and I were dating I believe. It was such a wonderful time with all the relatives. Even got to bring home some leftovers 😊❤️
Thank you so much for this. I moved from NC last year and have considered getting a Costco UK membership. Now I know it's not worth it. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into this.
Glad you found it helpful! You're very welcome! We've also not switched over our US membership to a UK membership and are not sure if we will...
I was really surprised to see that Costco prices in the UK were not in fact the bargain you might assume. A lot of items seemed to be on the expensive side.
Interesting that the Costco comparison had the US coming out as cheaper overall, whereas other supermarket comparisons tend to have the UK coming out as cheaper (albeit with some individual items being cheaper in the US). Thanks for the time and effort you have put into this video- particularly Annie's maths!).
Happy Hogmanay to you all!
We in the uk don't use cosco...99% of people use supermarkets tescos,Asda,morrisons,lidl etc they are so much cheaper even usa citizens usa and compared and the uk are 98% cheaper so this comparison isn't right
@@terencewelch9800 Well, it's right in terms of what it sert out to do- directly compare Costco in the UK to Costco in the US.
@carolineskipper6976 but you can't because there are 616 coscos in america but only 29 in the uk, so it's a supply and demand that's why usa can buy products cheaper so if they went to a supermarket where they have hundreds of stores they can get products cheaper because of supply and demand
@terencewelch9800 But when Costco first came here it was touted as selling at wholesale prices ( which is how they have to operate in the UK) but those don't look like wholesale prices any more.
@carolineskipper6976 That's why they have standard and executive membership that give discounts on the card, and the only way of getting them is to have a business
Very interesting. Thank you for sharing. Hope you stay safe and healthy in the New Year. All the best!
Thank you for watching! Happy New Year!
MN in US here: Aldi appears to be cheaper in my area. Costco for bulk buying, but for every day needs it is not the cheapest in our area.
Agree. I tend to shop in local stores … each store pretty much for specific items…ALDIs is a fav , Trader Joe’s , Whole Foods simply b/c they have the best fresh baked sourdough bread .
Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s is bulk …may be cheaper but I simply do not use up and would just be wasting food.
This is coming from upstate NY.
We thought so too! We’re looking into doing a video comparing Aldi in both countries next! 😊
We used to shop very similarly to that when in the US. Only exception for us was Whole Foods 🤣
We live not far from that Edinburgh Costco. Really enjoyed this comparison! Happy New Year! 🥳
Always enjoy your videos! Happy New Year!🎉
Happy New Year to you too! 🎉
@22:30 Don't forget that in many places in the US, you'll also have to pay sales tax on top of the listed price. It varies from place to place. In Florida, there's no sales tax on food. In Tennessee, there's a 9%+ sales tax on everything. Someone else can chime in on how often sales tax (VAT) is included in the price of things in the UK.
Well done, a lot of working out of all the prices. You have a lot of patience Annie! I have never been to Costco, one of my friends has a membership, maybe I should go with her when I’m next over.
Happy new year to you both and the family. Look forward to seeing all your adventures next year. Sandra 😘😘
Happy New Year
This was so interesting. Thank you for the great information. ❤❤❤❤
Thanks for watching!
We don't have a Costco in our area, but I'm surprised at the prices. We have travelled to the US many times, and it used to be cheaper there. Last time, around 2 years ago, we were shocked at how expensive it was to the extent that we are reluctant to go back.
That math makes my head spin. Great job! Very interesting.
Thanks! It was definitely a lot of work for that one!
Another very enjoyable video. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!
Hey guys. Unlike America, Costco is where you go to get volume discounts. The incredibly-competitive supermarket sector generally beats Costco on day-to-day prices. But Costco wins hands-down on "Specials" and bulk-buys. It is a very different selling environment in the UK to the US. I was Head of Finance in the UK for a UK consumer electrics multinational. And UK retailers basically said "allow us prices to achieve our normal (huge) margins if you supply to Costco [who worked on much lower margins, and IMO are brilliant at what they do] or we will delist you". Hence why what you see in Costco UK is usually end-of-range or special deals. NOT like the US.
Here in perthshire, prices are so much cheaper, a pineapple is a pound, a whole salmon is 1 pound
I was wondering if these are due to location! Thank you for sharing!
Salmon is only that price if you poach it!😊
Glad to hear you are feeling better!Thanks for all your hard work on this,very professionally presented!I guess I am going to get skinny in either country with rising food costs.Grocery shopping anymore is like shopping at Tiffanys.Best of everything to your family and you both and that cute little dog (could just hug him).Cheers from Connecticut 😃😃😃😃
I didn’t think prices in Costco in uk would be as high but very interesting hope you all have a very happy new year love from Scotland ❤
This was surprising to us as well! Just another reason to support our local shops ❤️ Have a lovely rest of your weekend!
Cosco is the most expensive in the uk supermarkets are cheaper
@@SimpleScottishLiving thank you 😊
Let's put price aside for a moment. It's been a while since this US resident was in the UK, but we were recently in Denmark. I notice that, produce items are sightly more expensive in Denmark, but the uniformity of items, such as strawberries, was surprising. They must be greenhouse grown.That and the ingredient list seems less processed in Europe. The downside is the VAT.
I went to the Costco in Glasgow earlier in the year and I decided it’s just not for me, I found the crowd horrendous, had a walk around then just got out of there. Plus it’s no good for me I don’t buy in bulk. But I just couldn’t get out fast enough after a while
We’re not very good Costco shoppers! Only tend to buy lemons, limes, Christmas wrapping paper, B12 spray, chicken wings and a couple other bits. There are definitely some good deals and other not such great deals, you just have to go with an idea of costs in the supermarkets. Randomly the lemons from Costco last a lot longer than the supermarket ones so are a definite bargain
I have just re-run your grocery shop between Safeway in the USA and Tesco in the UK and this has confirmed to me that Costco is not cost effective, some things work out cheaper but not enough to warrant spending £33 for a yearly Costco subscription.
We were surprised by this one! We fully anticipated seeing similar results to our last grocery video.
Costco UK is a rip off. Of all the places I could shop, that's the last one I'd go to. Aldi, Lidl, or Asda will smash those prices. And you don't need to buy a card to shop there.
Our homes don’t have large basements or big garages to bulk store, also households have smaller occupancy now, food buying habits have changed, I wouldn’t eat inside a Costco, I see the carbonated drinks are still called soda and in ounces not millilitre, if I’m hungry i have sandwiches & drink from a garage shop.
I appreciate you've done a lot of work to create this video but Costco is by no means a major retailer in Scotland / UK. I believe they have less than 30 stores nationwide, compared to Morrisons, Sainsburys etc who have 500-600. Their prices are generally higher, thus the reason very few people shop there.
UK meat is also free from steroids etc....and don't get me started about US chicken washed in bleach. None of these products could be sold here as they don't meet UK food standards. A lot cheaper to produce though so less costly for customers.
I've thoroughly enjoyed following your journey this year. Wishing you and your family a happy and prosperous New Year!
Thank you and same to you! Yes, now it seems like we need to find a store that is more commonly found in both the UK and the U.S. The search continues! We’ll leave that for later next year as my brain has had enough maths!
That was interesting. Out of curiosity I looked to see if Costco operated in France. Surprisingly they do! Trouble is my nearest branch is across the English Channel in Southampton!
Ironically, that's where I was this morning.
The jam mentioned costs less at our local store than Costco @ $7.99🇨🇦
What was very disappointing was Costco restocked the Kirkland raw sugar at $13.98 per 10lbs up from $11.95 just two months ago online.
I've stocked up with items entering Canada from the USA.
I find my Canadian stores tend to cost less overall with the exception of bread. I'm uncertain about the quality or GMO being sold at Costco.
Happy New Year 🎆
Glad everyone is fighting the flu there and winning.
They main plus for Costco is the petrol station. I go for petrol every week. I go into the store at most once a month
I preferred the supermarket one where UK persons were not being robbed 😆
Haha! Now, I have to see if CA Costco is the same. I’m intrigued if these prices are due to using Costco or because of using GA vs expensive Edinburgh.
@@SimpleScottishLiving There are questions like shipping costs on the fruit if its not grown in the UK. But the made in store food being more expensive?? Of course on expensive Edinburgh the ? is are the prices the same in every Costco store. Has the SNP increased prices on anything for 'health reasons' re sugar. Google search reveals though the sugar tax is only on soft drinks.
Thanks for Hello Fresh feature I will try this service ❤
We used to do it whenever we could find a good deal!
Costco's a new addition for myself so I've no comparisons. I'd been to the UK in the 80s and visited a few grocery shops then. When I moved with my family in the 90s, I just went shopping to the stores I already knew. Since the last two decades, I've found other stores and shopping malls, with good prices and bargains.
At the end of the day, I can sincerely say, that our monthly food budget went from about $1500 a month to between £200-400 a month. I shop in town and get home deliveries. As a former accounting clerk, I've seen huge savings. I make family meals for a fiver.
Wow, that's fantastic! I can certainly empathise with doing what you did with your family. Even since moving back, I have found some good alternatives outside of what I thought I knew! 🤣
Hi from Georgia 👋🏼 🍑. I live near PTC😊. I am enjoying your videos so much! Go Dawgs 🐾🖤❤️
Your Edinburgh Costco prices for veg and fruit is way more than I pay at the likes of Lidl and Iceland
They did seem astronomical! Won’t be shopping there for produce in the future. Bulk items yet, but not likely food.
Great job on the maths. Coming from Australia the US prices were a bit confusing, but it was still great to get an idea for Scotland pricing for when I move over there :)
Thanks so much! What part of Scotland are you aiming for? Sorry if you mentioned this in a previous comment! ❤️
Annie have you tried Advocaat a
Rich, creamy, smooth drink made with
Egg yolks, aromatic spirits, sugar or honey, brandy, vanilla, cream or condensed milk and is available in most off licenses. this is Britains equivalent to Eggnog the only difference is it isn’t heated and it has a higher alcohol level, it’s great with 30% advocaat 70% R Whites lemonade when it frothes into what is called a Snow Ball. ❤️
I’ve not, but this sounds delicious! Buying the ingredients tomorrow!
A snowball is my festive drink 😋 I love it with a dash of lime cordial in it too.
@@gra-emed3617 mine too love it! One huge problem is the bottle goes faster than a 300g bar of Cadburys. ❤️
Have you ever done a shopping trip to Aldi ? Much more reasonable for a family.
Happy new year 🍸🍀
Hi! Yes, we have used Aldi before, and I think Aldi will be our next grocery comparison between the two countries! Thanks
Happy New Year!
Hey guys you did great, I go to the Milton Keynes Costco and having lived in the USA , I think overall the USA is cheaper
Good to know! It’s interesting because our local shops are much more affordable. I would t have thought that!
Interesting watch, but im not a Cosco shopper. Hope you had a peaceful christmas . I am looking forward to more travel volgs and, of course, cooking segments....please . All the best for 2025 x
This is interesting and useful comparison. It would be interesting to see grocery prices side-by-side as a percentage of income in each country.
Rotisserie chickens are a big draw in a lot of US grocery stores. They are often cheaper than a whole raw chicken.
Re. Applying for Costco membership UK with a qualifying list of approved occupations as shown in the graphic at the beginning of this video; e.g. - "Banking / Finance".
Although it sounds a bit restrictive & off putting for some people, it can be easier & more flexible than you might think, to make a successful application. It is really just a matter of full & proper presentation.
For example, as in my own recently confirmed membership, whereby my banking job described as a "Liquid asset redistribution manager" proved a much better choice, than my original title of "Bank robber".... Ho-hum.
Hahahha it's all in the presentation! 🤣
I have a question and challenge for Annie (insert evil laugh). I assume you've likely had something blackcurrant by now? Try a price comparison on blackcurrant products...this is possibly an impossible challege 😂
Im in that Costco all the time. The £1.50 hotdog and a Coke is sensational 😀
Hahaha the food court is hard to beat on price for quantity! 🤣
I think you'll be better off doing a full shop at Asda. As you're in East Lothian try the big Asda at The Jewel, Edinburgh East . Some of these Costco prices are way over the top. 😢. It's open 24hrs.
Thanks for the tips! There is also a big one in Dunabr!
When comparing you also need to take a look at where the items come from. Some items might have a shorter trip to Georgia than going to Edinburgh and vice versa. The cost of transportation will be included in the price of the item so even though this was a fun comparison, it’s not really comparing “apples to apples”. Happy New Year!
Yes, there certainly are many factors playing a part in the prices. We found it very eye opening none the less. Thanks for watching, and Happy New Year!
Interesting to see the comparison. Costco is cheaper for fuel, TP and the cooked chicken. I still manage to go in for 1 specific thing but come out with a trolley full. But aldi around the corner is much cheaper and more practical pack sizes.
Thanks for sharing! Yes, that is the classic Costco trap...go in for one thing and end up spending $200! 🤣
I suppose it was interesting for people who shop in Costco.
We dont have them where I live.
I shop in Lidl or Tesco, cheaper by far.
Tesco is much more affordable we’re finding! Our next comparison will be Aldi as we have that in my hometown as well. Thanks for watching!
You have to be aware that the UK pound sterling is currently very weak against the US dollar - if you had done this comparison 10-11 years ago the Costco in the US (when I was last shopping in one) was much much cheaper in percentage terms than is shown in this video, especially for vegetables (as I think that US vegetables may have risen more than average US inflation too - please correct me if I am wrong...)
Interesting video, but I dont understand why there would be domestic demand for Costco in Britain, they look like older cash & carry warehouses for people who run businesses that bulk buy, their sites are sparsely spread, they restrict who can enter, my nearest is a 100 mile round trip, fuel costs/time make it unviable.
Those VAT prices added on to UK prices will really hike them up as well. I know US have their own state tax but presumably never as much as the 20% VAT!
Hi! No VAT or sales tax added to food items in either country. There are 13 states in the US that add sales tax to food items, but Georgia isn't one of them. Thanks for watching!
It seems for some reason our Costcos are more expensive than our supermarkets, that might explain why the US "won" so many
Agreed! I was shocked at how much more affordable our local shops were compared to this. Now we know!
I would argue that fruit is often fresher in the UK than the U.S.. Many grocery stores I go to in the U.S. the fruit is already turning whereas I know at home in the UK that is not the case.
For my wife and I(living outside of Atlanta), Costco definitely has its' place. We buy most of our meat there, as it is routinely 20-30% cheaper than regular supermarkets and generally, a higher quality. Vegetables are also cheaper than supermarkets. Gasoline/petrol can be 20-40 cents cheaper at Costco, per gallon. Wine and beer is a good deal at Costco, unless the supermarket is having big sales. My wife makes all of our bread and I make pizzas from scratch, so we buy our flour, yeast, salt and sugar at Costco. Cheese is also markedly cheaper at Costco, especially foreign cheeses. We have also bought all of our major appliances at Costco, because of their amazing return policy. TVs, fridges, dish washers, ovens and exercise equipment(elliptical and treadmill).
That’s a great perspective! It sounds like you guys make the most of it! That was also how we used Costco in the US. 😄
Homemade eggnog is soooo much better than store bought!!
Send a recipe please!!
I wish we had Costco in Germany. I very rarely shopped Costco in San Francisco. There were too many good restaurants and the things I bought would be spoil before it was used. I shop the Costco in Woodstock Georgia now and I do use everything bought. We have a great wine selection at our Costco. Love the video and can’t wait to see the next. Be well and safe.
We used to shop at Costco all the time, but now I’m thinking it might be cheaper at our local shops. Time for another comparison! Thanks for watching ❤️
Hi there both and a Happy New Year to you both and your family.
I have always thought that places like Costco would not be generally used in the UK for weekly shopping unless one was buying wholesale for small businesses, such as restaurants and similar places. In the UK most of us shop at the major supermarkets such as Sainsbury's, Tesco and their like. Those on lower wages or who are looking for other savings might of course shop at Aldi and Lidl.
Unless one lives in the back of beyond we don't tend to stock large volumes of discounted food at home.
Hi! Happy New Year to you, too! After seeing these prices, I think you might be right. We also found we don't quite have the space to store bulk groceries anymore 😬
Wow, Costco is expensive, PLUS you have to pay a membership fee, PLUS you have to qualify to use their shop. Errr - thanks but no thanks 🤣
It sounds nuts doesn’t it
I've never used this shop, but it's more geared upto bulk buying rather than grocery shopping. I would hope ours is more quality over quantity, do these prices take into consideration your sales tax in addition to the unknown ingredients that are added, this would also make some items in the States cheaper. Personal farm shops are my main place for shopping, everything can be traced back to the farm and even animals. Growing up with grandparents one set of whom were farmers from 1920 onwards, and for grandad he worked there before being sent to war with his family. Convenience comes in handy some times, but for myself and people of my generation and older, case in point my 96 1/2 year old aunt who still grows her own with her daughters help with digging up and preserving for the winter and summer months
Yes, in GA there is no sales tax on strictly food items, which is why we didn't include some of the bulk items such as toilet roll or batteries. I think buying local is key! I had no idea Costco would pull such a hefty price tag, but it's good to know regardless. We'll be doing our 'big' shops in our area from now on.
@SimpleScottishLiving I'd say shop seasonal and shop locally, you know what you're buying, the only time we'd have things out of season if they've been made into jams,pickled, marmalades etc, which stopped food waste if you have a glut of something you'd share it amongst family and friends and anything else into sterile jars
One of the big issues with costco is that the fruit and veg is primarily imported from the usa, hence it should be cheaper in the usa
That would make sense with the prices we saw.
I've done this comparison using British supermarkets and as I keep telling everyone I know with a Costco card. Shopping at Costco is an expensive option. Everything imported from the USA is so much more expensive. Just do the Costco comparison against sat UK Aldi. It's shocking how much more expensive Costco is.
This was a total shock to us! Looks like we’ll be doing our big shops locally. Good to know though! I suppose it could be better for things like toiletries roll and batteries, but we only did food items this trip.
An eye doctor said he always bought his glasses at Costco
I've always seen an optometrist and audiologist in Costco but never looked at pricing. That is very interesting. Thanks!
WELL DONE!‼️🙌🏼👏🏼 Seriously - with all that mathing in The Land of Overwhelmment you should get an award or a parade or something😜
Haha thank you!! ❤️
is there tax in UK for food? Is it included in the price already or added at the end? or is there taxed at all?
@@elizabethragsdale7789 They have VAT, which is added on items (as you can see on the price labels); however, VAT is not added on most food items unless prepared like the food court. Similar to Georgia!
There's a Costco just outside Glasgow.
Who in their right mind would shop at CostCo in the UK they are Far too expensive. at first glance I would think that anyone paying that price for green beans in the UK needs certifying! Loving the vlogs wishing you and your family a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Coming from the US, we assumed Costco UK would offer similar savings... but the numbers don't lie. Looks like we won't be renewing our Costco membership in the UK. Thanks for watching, and Happy New Year!
Hello, if you are missing eggnog, try Advocaat , also known as Dutch eggnog . Enjoyed the vid
We will definitely check that out! Thanks so much ❤️
This will be interesting as we use the Edinburgh Cosco
It was shocking to us! Now, we want to compare the results to a local shop just for our own peace of mind.
Have you seen still game at new year? its on BBC 4 the night
Love to check out my local Costco here in Wembley but they keep rejecting my membership as I don't work in any of the trades that they accept for membership. Looks good though. I don't believe it's restricted to certain trades in the US?
Yes, we are not sure why the UK Costco does that. As far as I know, there are no restrictions in the US. I think they would be up in arms (possibly literally) if the US Costco restricted membership! 🤣
@SimpleScottishLiving After reading Costco UK is a wholesaler to certain businesses or those working in them. It's a condition of planning with most of their UK stores that limit access. US Costco is open to all.
Happy New Year. 🙂
I am confused by this. My son & his wife shop for almost everything in their local Costco because they find prices cheaper than anywhere.
Maybe their Costco is priced differently! It could also be that non food items such as toilet roll, batteries, etc. are much better when bought in bulk. We were surprised as our local shops are much more affordable for food staples though.
What you don’t add is that all the British groceries include VAT. So you don’t have to pay tax at the till. Can you add how much tax you would have to pay at the till
No VAT on food items in the UK. You can actually see it stated on the price tags at Costco. Also, the majority of US states don't add sales tax to food items. Only 13 states add sales tax to food items and Georgia is not one of them. Thanks for watching.
Annie, I didn't mention this last time, but you can use the calculator app on your phone to convert all kinds of measurements very quickly. It does the math. I use this a lot as I watch a fair amount of UTube channels that are in the UK, France or Portugal and while some try to convert most don't and I always have my phone handy while watching. I do have an Android but can't imagine Apple wouldn't have this capability too. I will admit that I did have to go back to the internet for the currency converter as I'm sure this will change on a daily or even less timeline. I would be very interested in hearing about the quality of the bananas there. That's one item I never buy as they are nearly always green and never seem to ripen. I live in the PNW and my Costco doesn't have out of season produce. So. I'd never be able to get strawberries in December.
I'd love to have you visit a Tesco. A very friend of mine has a daughter-in-law now living in the US and she used to work for Tesco in the south of England. It sounds like a cool store.
Costco is the biggest rip off ever. Used them 2 years ago went twice never again so expensive compared to other places.
It’s seems so much more expensive than our Tesco shop. No I need to go back and compare!
Mmmm 🤔 THAT was a strange one - in that it told a story that is a complete flip REVERSAL of reality when it comes to the cost of food in both nations.
Most of the items in question are considerably cheaper in the UK than in the US - as we have seen is the case in countless comparison videos by countless other American tubers based in the UK. Indeed, it’s often shocking just HOW much costlier food is in the US.
I guess the message here is that our American friends should go to a British supermarket like Tesco or Asda instead - and stay away from SHOCKINGLY expensive US-owned ones like Costco (which are possibly hiking up prices due to cover import duty/are often selling in bulk to more suit the US way of buying food/not the UK market ? )
* Great channel (just stumbled across it !)
I used to have hello fresh, until I saw the dump of a factory it comes from in Birmingham
Sorry to hear that, and thank you for sharing.
Wow, Costco prices are way out. Aldi sell a pineapple for £1. All the prices you quoted seemed very high. Try Aldi prices.
Yes, it was eye-opening for us too. We haven't used Costco much since moving and don't think we will renew our membership. Thanks for watching!
Because I'm dying to buy bulk Haggis!😂😅
🤣🤣🤣
Isn’t eggnog just advoca
I'll have to google that! :)
@ it’s not spelled like that. My mind went blank 🙈
chicken bakes are good
A few questions about Costco in the UK: do they have gas/petrol stations like with the US, and if so, is it cheaper at Costco vs other stores in the UK? Also, do you still find it useful to keep your Costco membership in the UK, or do you just keep it for bulk purchases, or do you plan to use it for shopping more often?
Costco in the UK does have petrol stations (at least my closest one does). The price is usually much cheaper than anywhere else. When petrol was £1,39 my local Costco was selling at £1,25. Even if you only fill up at Costco and never buy anything else, the savings you make on the petrol alone justifies the membership fee.
@mojojojo11811 thanks, that's helpful. Yes, I mostly use my Costco membership in the US for gas/petrol for the same reason, then shop for food and other things on an occasion.
The savings on Costco petrol prices alone make the membership worth it. I don't fill up anywhere else now.
You make a good point! Food might not be cheaper, but petrol is!
Fantabulous! You did a really really good job! I am so very impressed with your dedication. I would have just chunked it into the basket, and paid for it. If I want it, I'll buy it. I'm not going to let a few pennies stop me from buying something I want. The bread in the UK is always better; but here in Oklahoma, the equivalent to what you showed was only $2.99 a loaf. The super expensive 9 grain is around $4.59 a loaf. Other than that, Georgia and Oklahoma are really very close to having the same costs. Woot! I prefer living in Scotland, to be honest, so in time that too will happen again. Thank you!
Thanks so much! Ha, I like your way of shopping better to be honest. Chuck it in the cart and call it a day 🤣 We hope you make your way back here as well. First tea/coffee will be on us 😊
I am curious if the international foods taste different / have different ingredients listed. I have seen videos that say European sodas are different and taste better than their US counterparts. Is that true?
It is definitely true that the UK version of US foods have different ingredients and taste different. As for which tastes better, I think we are currently a bit biased towards the UK offerings! 🤣
Presumably Hello Fresh is only available in UK?
It’s in the U.S. as well. We used to get it a while back!
In main supermarkets like Tesco itherevis alcohol version called advocate which egg mixed with alcohol
I’m going to search for this! Thanks so much :)
Sounds revolting no matter who's selling it.
It doesn't cost £2.99 for a pineapple! £1 for a large & 80p for a small one in Sainsburys!!!
I can tell you we won’t be doing our big shops at Costco anymore! The prices seemed higher than our Tesco haul, but I need to go back and compare.
Wher I live it's so much cheaper than that! Pineapple is 1 pound ! Asparagus is cheaper ,you said USA! I got a whole salmon for £10,In perthshire
No one uses cosco they are the most expensive out of all shops
It's nuts how costco is more expensive than supermarkets, that explains why the US was winning more
You can’t buy eggnog. You have to make it. And honestly a simple google search brings up the recipe very quickly. Also Advocat is not Eggnog. Anyway, as it’s a Christmas Eve tradition, you have a year (no rule against a few practice runs 🤣)
Thanks for the tips! 😄
Good to know!
Nowhere beats Aldi for prices. 😀
We've had a few people suggest Aldi. I think that will be our next price comparison video! 😄