Is a Sam’s Membership Worth It?
Have you ever wondered if a Sam’s Club membership is really worth the money—especially since Sam’s and Walmart are owned by the same company? I hit up Sam’s Club to break it all down for you, comparing prices on over two dozen everyday grocery and household items to see if the membership really pays off.
To make it fair, I compared price per ounce (or per pound, per item, etc.) wherever possible. Let’s dive into the real numbers and see where the best deals are hiding! The prices were from Northern Indiana locations in Spring 2025.
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Meat Comparison
| Item | Sam’s Club | Walmart | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $4.78/lb (88% lean) | $4.98/lb (80% lean) | Sam’s Club |
| Chicken Breasts | $2.77/lb | $2.67/lb | Walmart |
Dairy Products
| Item | Sam’s Club | Walmart | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk ( 1 gallon) | $3.18 | $2.57 | Walmart |
| Cottage Cheese (3 lb) | $4.52 (9.5¢/oz) | $5.24 (10.9¢/oz) | Sam’s Club |
| Butter | $13.62 (4 lbs) = $3.41/lb | $7.64 (2 lb) = $3.82/lb | Sam’s Club |
| Eggs | $6.22 = $4.15/dozen | $5.97/dozen | Sam’s Club |
Cheese & Dairy Extras
| Item | Sam’s Club | Walmart | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheese Sticks | $9.42 for 48 (20¢/stick) | $9.24 for 36 (26¢/stick) | Sam’s Club |
| Daisy Sour Cream (3 lb) | $5.28 (11¢/oz) | $6.64 (13.8¢/oz) | Sam’s Club |
| Shredded Cheese (2 lb) | $7.77 ($3.89/lb) | $7.38 ($3.69/lb, rollback) | Walmart |
| Shredded Cheese (5 lb) | $14.98 ($3.00/lb) | $18.24 ($3.65/lb) | Sam’s Club |
| Block Cheese (2 lb) | $6.68 ($1.67 per 8 oz) | $8.24 ($2.06 per 8 oz) | Sam’s Club |
Paper Products
| Item | Sam’s Club | Walmart | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper Towels (15 rolls) | $19.98 ($1.33/roll) | $9.46 for 6 rolls ($1.58/roll) | Sam’s Club |
| Charmin Toilet Paper | $31.48 for 32 rolls (0.0042¢/sheet) | $39.72 for 24 rolls (0.0049¢/sheet) | Sam’s Club |
Pantry Staples
| Item | Sam’s Club | Walmart | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Juice | 86 oz x 2 = 3.9¢/oz | 96 oz = 3.2¢/oz | Walmart |
| Potato Chips | $2.98 for 16 oz (18.7¢/oz) | $2.86 for 13.5 oz (21.2¢/oz) | Sam’s Club |
| Cheerios | $6.88 for 40 oz (17¢/oz) | $4.93 for 18 oz (27.4¢/oz) | Sam’s Club |
| Oats | $9.98 for 10 lbs (6.3¢/oz) | $5.12 for 42 oz (12¢/oz) | Sam’s Club |
| Honey | $7.98 for 48 oz (16.7¢/oz) | $11.98 for 80 oz (22.5¢/oz) | Sam’s Club |
| Peanut Butter | $7.48 for 80 oz (9.4¢/oz) | $3.98 for 40 oz (10¢/oz) | Sam’s Club |
Baking Basics
| Item | Sam’s Club | Walmart | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pasta (generic) | 91¢/lb | 98¢/lb | Sam’s Club |
| Brown Sugar | $6.98 for 7 lbs ($1/lb) | $2.22 for 2 lb ($1.11/lb) | Sam’s Club |
| White Sugar (10 lbs) | $7.28 (72¢/lb) | $8.17 (81¢/lb) | Sam’s Club |
| Flour (25 lbs) | $9.48 (38¢/lb) | $10.77 (43¢/lb) | Sam’s Club |
| Chocolate Chips (72 oz) | $13.98 = $2.33 per 12 oz bag Nestle | $4.28 (Nestlé) / $3.42 (generic) | Sam’s Club |
Cleaning Products
| Item | Sam’s Club | Walmart | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn Dish Soap | $11.88 for 90 oz (13.2¢/oz) | $5.84 for 32 oz (17.9¢/oz) | Sam’s Club |
| Member’s Mark Dish Soap | 9¢/oz | Even cheaper than Dawn! | Sam’s Club |
| Tide Detergent | $24.98 for 170 oz (14.7¢/oz) | $19.94 for 132 oz (15.1¢/oz) | Sam’s Club |
Final Thoughts: So… Is It Worth It?
Of all the items I compared, only three were cheaper at Walmart. Those three things were milk, chicken and apple juice. Everything else was cheaper at Sam’s Club.
While it depends on what you buy regularly, from this comparison, Sam’s Club wins – especially if you’re willing to buy in bulk and store or freeze items like cheese, butter, or chocolate chips.
Watch for Membership Deals
Right now, Sam’s is offering their basic membership for just $25/year. That’s half off – which is an incredible deal! Check out more details about this half off membership here.
They also offer a Plus Membership with extra perks, currently $70/year – and that option includes free shipping over $50 for all your Sam’s deals. Get your Plus membership discount here.
If you’re on the fence, the savings on gas and pantry staples alone can pay for your membership quickly. Not to mention allergy medicines, which I didn’t even start comparing.
To me, I find a Sam’s Club membership well worth it – for the savings on dairy, chocolate chips, meat and gas. Those are my go to purchases. Here are the top 25 items that I think are the best deals at Sam’s Club.
What’s your favorite Sam’s Club deal? Let me know in the comments.
