How to Save Money on Spices by Shopping at Costco

A diverse collection of spices can transform plain ingredients into flavorful, aromatic dishes. Whether you’re frying eggs in the morning with salt and pepper or using a wider selection of seasonings to build different curries from around the world, the spice rack will inevitably be one of the most-visited parts of your kitchen.

Because they’re used in every meal of the day, and some spices can be fairly expensive, we’re always on the hunt for ways to make sourcing seasonings more affordable, and Costco currently offers some of the best prices you’ll find for these essential ingredients.

This major retailer will not only save you money per ounce, gram, or pound on spices, but it is also an excellent place to buy them in bulk. (Just make sure you store them in an airtight, cool, dry, and dark place to ensure they stay fresh for as long as possible.) This makes it easy to stock up on the most frequently used, versatile spices in large quantities, save money in the long run, and always maintain a stocked spice rack — as long as you know which ones to snag from Costco.

Saffron

Saffron is often named as the most expensive spice in the world because of its labor-intensive harvesting process. It is delicately hand-harvested from the stigmas of the saffron crocus flower, and each flower yields only a small amount of the spice.

To score this seasoning for an excellent price, pick up the Full Thread Greek Saffron at Costco, where a 14-gram jar is priced at $79.99, or $5.71 per gram. To put that steep-sounding price into context, saffron is typically sold in bottles of about one gram, and a 0.035-ounce (or one-gram) container of McCormick Mediterranean Saffron from Walmart costs $18.33 for that single gram.

The 14 ounces of saffron sold at Costco are grown in the Kozani region of northern Greece; lab-tested for purity, potency, and origin; and have a certified color score of over 200.

Flaky salt

Considering that we use salt in pretty much everything we eat, it’s both practical and affordable to buy this essential seasoning in bulk. Luckily, Costco has a great deal on beautiful flaky salt that’s perfect for finishing dishes. You can buy five pounds of Olde Thompson Kosher Flake Sea Salt for $6.49 at the bulk retailer, which comes out to just $0.08 per ounce. In contrast, a box of Diamond Crystal Salt Co. Salt Flakes will cost $0.49 per ounce at The Fresh Market and about $0.21 per ounce at Whole Foodsso you’re saving quite a bit on this staple ingredient.

Black pepper

Costco’s private label Kirkland Signature Whole Black Peppercorns are hand-harvested and sourced from Vietnam. The bulk grocer’s black pepper is available in a 14.1-ounce jar for $7.69, which translates to around $0.55 per ounce. That’s an excellent deal compared to a container of McCormick Whole Black Peppercorns on Amazon, which is priced at $0.88 per ounce.

So feel free to buy a generous amount of peppercorns and then work your way through our long list of cacio e pepe recipes.

Crushed red pepper

If you love adding spice to everything, it’s likely that red pepper flakes are a staple in your pantry. Luckily, Costco’s Kirkland Signature Crushed Red Pepper is available in a 10-ounce jar for $4.79 ($7.66 per pound or $0.48 per ounce). This is notably lower than quite a few competitors, like a jar of Great Value Crushed Red Pepper from Walmart, which costs around $0.82 per ounce.

Cinnamon

Before baking season is upon us, it’s an excellent idea to make sure you have plenty of this warming, subtly spicy seasoning on hand. If you’re really serious about stocking up on cinnamon, you can grab two 10.7-ounce containers of Kirkland Signature Organic Ground Saigon Cinnamon from Costco for a total of $19.99, which comes out to $0.94 per ounce. At my nearest Whole Foods location, a container of 365 Organic Ground Cinnamon would cost a staggering $2.26 per ounce.

Paprika

This sweet and earthy spice, with its vibrant red color, is made from dried red peppers. Costco’s Kirkland Signature Organic Paprika is produced in the U.S. and available in a 13.2-ounce size for $7.39, or $0.56 per ounce. Meanwhile, Whole Foods’ 365 Paprikawhich is also organic, costs $2.33 per ounce at my nearest store.

Cumin

You’ll find large containers of earthy, citrusy cumin available at Costco, where a 14-ounce canister of McCormick Ground Cumin is priced at $7.99 ($0.57 per ounce). Target sells its private-label Good & Gather Ground Cumin for $0.75 per ounce, which indicates that you should be seeking out the bulk retailer the next time you’re in need of refreshing your spice cabinet.

It’s important to note that the prices for all of the spices listed here may vary depending on store location, and exact product offerings per store may differ. However, what all these points of comparison reveal is a clear pattern of affordable prices for seasonings and spices at Costco. Even with some variability, it’s definitely in your budget’s best interest to try relying on this major chain for your next pantry re-stock.

How much can you save on spices at Costco?
Spice	Price at Costco	Price at Competitor	Savings per Unit
Saffron	$5.71 per gram	$18.33 per gram (Walmart)	$12.62 per gram
Flaky salt	$0.08 per ounce	$0.49 per ounce (The Fresh Market)	$0.41 per ounce
Black pepper	$0.55 per ounce	$0.88 per ounce (Amazon)	$0.33 per ounce
Crushed red pepper	$0.48 per ounce	$0.82 per ounce (Walmart)	$0.34 per ounce
Cinnamon	$0.94 per ounce	$2.26 per ounce (Whole Foods)	$1.32 per ounce
Paprika	$0.56 per ounce	$2.33 per ounce (Whole Foods)	$1.77 per ounce
Cumin	$0.57 per ounce	$0.75 per ounce	$0.18 per ounce