Bulk Food Shopping for a Family Reunion: Costco vs Sam's vs Restaurant Depot (2026)
Catering at $14-22 per person feels expensive until you do the bulk-shopping math, and then it can feel cheap. A 60-person BBQ caterer at $16/person is $960. The same meal sourced from Costco or Sam's comes in at roughly $385 — saving $575 but costing you 4-5 hours of shopping, prep, and grilling. This guide walks through the actual prices in 2026 at Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's Wholesale, and Restaurant Depot. We give you complete shopping lists for 30, 60, and 120 guests, the per-pound math on each protein category, and the rules for how much to buy. Whether you ultimately go bulk-DIY or hybrid (caterer for proteins, warehouse for sides/drinks/breakfast) — these numbers tell you exactly what each option costs.
Per-Pound Comparison: 2026 Pricing
| Item | Costco | Sam's Club | BJ's | Restaurant Depot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80/20 ground beef | $4.99/lb | $4.79/lb | $4.89/lb | $3.99/lb (case) |
| Boneless chicken thighs | $2.99/lb | $2.79/lb | $2.89/lb | $2.19/lb (case) |
| Bone-in pork shoulder | $2.99/lb | $2.79/lb | $2.89/lb | $2.39/lb |
| Hot dogs (Kirkland/Member's) | $8/12-pk ($0.67) | $7.50/12-pk | $8/14-pk | Case 48 = $22 |
| Burger patties (1/3 lb) | $20/8-pk ($2.50) | $19/8-pk | $20/8-pk | Case 40 = $85 |
| Rotisserie chicken (whole) | $4.99 ea | $5.99 ea | $6.99 ea | n/a |
| Brioche burger buns | $8/12-pk | $7.50/12-pk | $8/12-pk | $6/12-pk |
| Bottled water (case 24-40) | $3.99/40 | $3.49/40 | $3.99/35 | $3.50/40 |
| Ice (10 lb bag) | $3.99 | $3.49 | $3.99 | $2.79 |
| Watermelon (whole) | $6-8 ea | $6-8 ea | $7-9 ea | $5-7 ea |
National averages, May 2026. Regional pricing varies ±5%. Restaurant Depot pricing requires business license or member guest pass.
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Complete Shopping List: 30 Guests · ~$340
- Burger patties: 4 packs of 8 (32 burgers) = $80
- Hot dogs: 2 packs of 12 = $16
- Pulled pork shoulder: 8 lb bone-in = $24
- BBQ sauce, rub, seasonings = $14
- Burger buns (3 packs) + dog buns (2 packs) = $35
- Cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, condiments = $48
- Chips (3 variety packs) = $32
- Watermelon (2) + fruit tray = $26
- Drinks: 2 cases water + 1 case soda + lemonade = $50
- Ice (8 bags) = $32
- Paper plates, cups, napkins, utensils = $58
- Foil pans, wrap, trash bags = $25
Complete Shopping List: 60 Guests · ~$640
- Burger patties: 8 packs of 8 (64 burgers) = $160
- Hot dogs: 4 packs of 12 = $30
- Pulled pork shoulder: 16 lb = $48
- Boneless chicken thighs: 8 lb = $24
- BBQ sauces, rubs, seasonings = $28
- Buns (6 burger + 4 dog) = $66
- Cheese, produce, condiments = $92
- Chips, pretzels = $58
- Watermelon (4) + fruit trays (2) = $48
- Drinks: 4 cases water + 2 cases soda + lemonade + 1 case sparkling = $95
- Ice (15 bags) = $60
- Paper goods (heavy duty) = $95
- Foil pans, wrap, trash, sterno = $45
Per-person: $10.67. Compare to $16/person catered = $960. Net savings: $320 for ~5 hours of work.
Complete Shopping List: 120 Guests · ~$1,180
At 120 guests, Restaurant Depot becomes the better choice. With business-license access:
- Case of 80/20 ground beef (40 lb) = $160 (vs Costco $200)
- Case of chicken thighs (40 lb) = $88 (vs Costco $120)
- Pork shoulder × 32 lb = $77
- Hot dogs case (48) × 2 = $44
- Buns: 12 burger packs + 8 dog packs = $130
- Produce, condiments, cheese = $185
- Chips, snacks = $110
- Drinks: 8 cases water + 4 cases soda + lemonade + sparkling = $180
- Ice (28 bags) = $80
- Paper goods + foil + serving = $140
Per-person: $9.83. At 120 guests, the case-quantity discount widens. Catered equivalent at $14/person: $1,680. Savings: $500.
The Hybrid Strategy: Caterer + Warehouse
Best of both: hire a BBQ caterer for the main proteins ($11-14/person at Mission BBQ, Sonny's, or Famous Dave's) and source everything else from Costco. For 60 guests:
- Catered proteins from Mission BBQ: $11/person × 60 = $660
- Sides at Costco (potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, watermelon): $140
- Drinks, ice, paper goods, breakfast: $215
- Total: $1,015 ($16.92/person)
Saves the 5 hours of grilling labor. Adds ~$375 over full-DIY ($640). Often the right choice when the organizer has limited time but wants warehouse-grade pricing on everything except the meat.
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FAQ
Costco or Sam's?
Costco for prepared foods (rotisserie, sheet cake, deli). Sam's for raw protein (4-8% cheaper).
Restaurant Depot?
15-25% cheaper than Costco on case quantity, requires business license or guest pass.
How much meat per person?
1/3 lb cooked per adult; 1/4 lb per child. ~14 lb raw for 30 adults.
Costco rotisserie chicken?
$4.99 still. Yields ~1.25 lb meat. 8 birds = 30 adults.
How much ice?
1 lb per guest per day. 60 guests × 2 days = 12 ten-lb bags.
Breakfast cost for 30?
$80-90 for pancakes or bagels with sides.
Buy or rent chafers?
Rent for 60+ ($12-18 each). Foil pans for 30 ($15-25).
Plan the meal, the budget, and the shopping run
Reunly turns RSVPs into headcount-aware shopping lists with quantities you can take to the warehouse.