By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
No, there is no Costco in Singapore. As of September 2026, Costco does not operate a warehouse here, and its announced openings do not include one. The nearest Costco markets are elsewhere in Asia and Australia. Singapore households who want to buy in bulk use hypermarkets such as FairPrice Xtra, large-format neighbourhood supermarkets, online bulk packs, and wholesale markets for fruit and vegetables.
The more useful question is whether bulk buying saves money at all in a Singapore flat. It does for things you use steadily, store easily and finish before they expire. For almost everything else, the bigger pack is a cheaper way to throw food away.
Bulk buying in Singapore: quick facts
| Costco in Singapore | None, as of September 2026 |
| Hypermarkets | FairPrice Xtra, and large-format stores from other chains, carry bigger packs and multi-buys |
| Online bulk | Online grocers sell cartons and multi-packs, often delivered free above a spending threshold |
| Wholesale produce | Wholesale markets for fruit and vegetables supply traders, and some sell to the public in trade quantities |
| The only test that matters | Lower price per unit, and you will use it all before it spoils |
| Best for bulk | Rice, cooking oil, toilet paper, detergent, bottled water, canned food and other long-life staples |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Cost | More cash up front, and cupboard space you may not have. |
| What you get | A lower price per unit on the staples you use steadily, and fewer trips. |
| The alternative | Normal pack sizes bought on promotion, which often match bulk prices without the storage. |
| Worth it for | Larger families, households with storage space, and anyone who finishes a 10kg bag of rice in a month. |
| Skip it if | You live alone, have a small kitchen, or are buying perishables in bulk because the price looked good. |
| Last verified | 28 September 2026, against Costco’s published expansion plans and retailer information. |
Why is there no Costco in Singapore?
Costco has not said publicly, but the model gives clues. Costco relies on very large warehouses with big car parks, customers who drive and have space at home to store bulk goods, and membership fees. Singapore has expensive land, most households live in flats with limited storage, many shoppers do not drive, and the island already has dense supermarket coverage and a co-operative chain with a price mission. None of that rules out an opening in future, but it explains why bulk buying here looks different.
Where to buy in bulk in Singapore
- Hypermarkets. FairPrice Xtra stores and other large-format supermarkets carry bigger packs, multi-buys and carton deals on staples.
- Online grocers. Cartons of drinks, multi-packs of toilet paper and large bags of rice are easier to order online, where someone else carries them to your door. Our guide to online grocery delivery covers fees and thresholds.
- Free delivery on large in-store shops. FairPrice delivers in-store purchases above $200 in a single receipt at selected stores, which suits a monthly bulk shop.
- Wholesale markets. Fruit and vegetable wholesale markets supply traders and restaurants; some traders sell to the public in cartons. Expect trade quantities and early hours.
- Johor Bahru. Popular for bulk packaged goods, within the limits on what you can bring back; see our guide to grocery shopping in Johor Bahru.
When does bulk buying actually save money?
Only when all four of these are true:
- The price per unit is genuinely lower. Check the price per 100g, per litre or per sheet. Bigger packs are not always cheaper, especially when the smaller size is on promotion.
- You will use it all before it expires. A 5-litre bottle of oil that goes rancid is not a bargain.
- You have somewhere cool and dry to store it. Heat and humidity shorten shelf life in Singapore kitchens.
- You would have bought it anyway. Bulk buying something you do not need is simply spending more.
What is worth buying in bulk, and what is not?
| Usually worth it | Usually not |
|---|---|
| Rice, if you finish it within a couple of months | Fresh fruit, vegetables and bread |
| Cooking oil, in the size you finish while it is fresh | Brown rice, nuts and wholegrain flour, whose oils go stale |
| Toilet paper, tissue, detergent and bin bags | Spices in large tubs, which lose flavour |
| Canned food and long-life milk | Snacks, which get eaten faster when there are more of them |
| Bottled water and drinks, if you drink them anyway | Anything with a short date, however low the price |
Our guides to rice and stockpiling explain how much to keep at home and how to rotate it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Costco in Singapore?
No. As of September 2026, Costco does not operate a warehouse in Singapore.
Where can I buy groceries in bulk in Singapore?
At hypermarkets such as FairPrice Xtra, through online grocers’ bulk packs, at fruit and vegetable wholesale markets, and, within the import limits, in Johor Bahru.
Is bulk buying cheaper in Singapore?
Only when the price per unit is genuinely lower and you use everything before it spoils. Normal packs on promotion are often just as cheap.
Will Costco open in Singapore?
There is no announced plan. Costco only comments on openings shortly before they happen.
What should I buy in bulk?
Long-life staples you use steadily: rice, cooking oil, toilet paper, detergent, canned food and drinks.
Read next
This page belongs to How Supermarket Works, our series on the grocery network behind the shelf. Continue with supermarket promotions, decoded and how to save money on groceries.
Sources checked 28 September 2026: Costco’s published warehouse count and expansion announcements for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, as reported; FairPrice Help Center on in-store delivery. The reasons given for Costco’s absence are WahLiao’s analysis, not a statement by the company. Last updated 28 September 2026.
