Walmart Vs Costco In 2022 (Prices, Products, Services + More)

Walmart Inc.

Walmart’s current logo since 2008
Walmart Home Office (headquarters) in December 2012
Formerly	Wal-Mart Discount City (1962–1969) Wal-Mart, Inc. (1969–1970) Wal–Mart Stores, Inc. (1970–2018)
Type	Public
Traded as	NYSE : WMT DJIA component S&P 100 component S&P 500 component
ISIN	US9311421039
Industry	Retail
Founded	July 2, 1962 ; 59 years ago ( 1962-07-02 ) in Rogers, Arkansas [1] October 31, 1969 ; 52 years ago ( 1969-10-31 ) in Wilmington, Delaware (incorporation)
Founder	Sam Walton
Headquarters	Bentonville, Arkansas , U.S.
Number of locations	10,593 stores worldwide (January 31, 2022) [2] [3]
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Greg Penner ( Chairman ) Doug McMillon ( President , CEO )
Products	Supermarket , Hypermarket , Superstore , Convenience shop
Services	Walmart-2-Walmart
Revenue	US$ 559.2 billion (2020) [4]
Operating income	US$22.55 billion (2020) [4]
Net income	US$13.70 billion (2020) [4]
Total assets	US$252.5 billion (2020) [4]
Total equity	US$87.53 billion (2020) [4]
Owner	Walton family (50.85%) [5]
Number of employees	2,300,000 (Jan. 2021) [4] U.S.: 1,600,000
Divisions	Walmart U.S. Walmart International Sam’s Club Global eCommerce
Subsidiaries	List of subsidiaries
Website	walmart.com
Footnotes / references [6] [7] [8]

There has never been a more competitive era in retail, and customers ultimately benefit from the lower prices and selection.

However, knowing where to shop – which store is right for you and your family – can be a challenge.

You might not know which Costco or Walmart store you want if you’re given the choice.

This Walmart Vs Costco Comparison includes information about the company, products and prices, as well as customer service and thoughts.

Walmart Vs. Costco In 2022

Walmart Vs Costco: Companies

Walmart is well-known for its 11,000 locations in 27 countries.

It was established by Sam Walton and is still located in Arkansas.

Walmart was first publicly traded in 1997. Now, it operates Sam’s Club warehouses, and is looking to the financial market.

Costco Wholesale Corporation or simply Costco was started in 1976. It was previously known as Price Club up to 1983.

This multinational corporation has 800+ shops in 13 different countries, yet it still considers Issaquah Washington home.

Costco stores, which follow the discount-pricing warehouse business model, compete more directly with Walmart’s Sam’s Club and BJ’s Warehouse stores.

Costco currently has $80billion in net worth as one of the top U.S. retailers.

Walmart Vs Costco: Stores

First of all, who is allowed to enter Costco or Walmart stores?

Costco membership is $60 or $120 for Gold Star Executive plans.

Walmart has no membership fees. Anybody can come in to shop and get started.

One feels familiar once you enter a Costco or Walmart.

Both stores have jaw-dropping amounts of space – Walmart has 179,000 sq. feet and Costco, 140,000.

The extra space means extra wide aisles which can accommodate a variety of items. The ceilings seem impossible to reach.

Thereafter, however, things can get very different.

Walmart stores follow at most one or two different layouts. However, Supercenters have grocery and other goods on their own sides.

Costco stores maximize all the vertical space they have by stacking stock so high that it is almost impossible to see, but retail experts also studied their layout.

Costco and designers have worked together to create an atmosphere of calm that helps customers navigate their way through the store.

This soft herding leads shoppers through strategically placed items, encouraging them to buy more.

Walmart Vs Costco: Products

As I mentioned, Costco stores follow a warehouse model – product comes in bulk, albeit at discount prices.

It may surprise you that Costco has only around 4,000 products, for as large as they are.

Walmart sells items individually (though some items come in bulk packaging). Walmart may sell up to 142,000 different items at a single store.

You should therefore carefully consider which stores you want to see if only one visit is possible.

Is your family large or do you just need to have more? Costco. Is it more variety you like or are you more loyal to certain brands? Walmart may be the better option.

These are very similar departments that both shops contain.

Departments:

Groceries

Fashion and accessories

Beauty and Personal Hygiene

Sports Gear

Home Goods

The Essentials for Your Home

Supplies for the Office

Electronics

Garden And Outdoors

Animal Supplies

Toys And Games

Auto

There are still some Walmart stores that sell bolts of fabric.

Costco sells pre-made gift boxes along with floral arrangements.

Walmart offers more prepared foods, such as fried chicken or sides. These can all be delivered to your home for delivery.

While Costco has its own beloved food court, complete with hot dogs, pizzas, smoothies, and even ice cream for low prices.

Individual and exclusive labels

No big retail chain would exist without its own labels or brands.

This is part of the business model which keeps prices low.

These are the most well-known and loved Walmart brands.

Sam’s Choice – Food products of “Premium Tier”

Marketside – Deli-style foods

Equate-Pharmacy, beauty and health items

Mainstays – Home decor and home goods

The Parent’s Choice for Baby Goods

George/Terra & Sky Time and Tru Wonder Nation – Apparel

Kirkland, Costco’s largest private label product is available.

Kirkland’s name is actually a tribute to the Washington city where the first store was.

Walmart Vs Costco: Prices

Most shoppers are motivated by the price, particularly when it comes down to stocking up on food and other necessities.

Walmart Vs Costco In 2022 (Prices, Products, Services + More)

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