Costco, Sam's Club and Shopping in Merida: The Expat Guide for 2026

One of the pleasant surprises for people relocating to Merida is how well stocked the city is. This is not a remote outpost where you scavenge for peanut butter. Merida is a modern city of over a million people with warehouse clubs, big supermarket chains, specialty importers, and world-class local markets. The trick is knowing which store to use for what. Here is the 2026 lay of the land.

The Warehouse Clubs: Costco and Sam’s Club

Both are here, both are popular with expats, and both require paid memberships.

• Costco sits on the north side near the Altabrisa area. It carries the familiar mix of bulk groceries, imported American brands, a good bakery, rotisserie chicken, decent wines, electronics, and seasonal goods. The food court with its cheap hot dogs and pizza operates just as it does abroad. Membership runs about $650-800 MXN per year for the basic tier.
• Sam’s Club has several Merida locations, making it more convenient depending on where you live. Its selection overlaps heavily with Costco, with strong bulk staples, imported goods, and appliances. Membership is roughly $600-750 MXN per year. Sam’s app also offers scan-and-go checkout, which regulars love.

For most households, one membership is plenty. Which you choose usually comes down to which is closer to your home.

Supermarket Chains

For weekly shopping you have solid options:

• Soriana and Chedraui are the large full-service chains, with Chedraui’s “Selecto” format carrying more imported and gourmet items.
• Walmart and Bodega Aurrera cover budget and mid-range everyday needs.
• La Comer and City Market (upscale) offer the widest imported and specialty selection in the city, from international cheeses to hard-to-find baking ingredients.

If you are hunting for a specific imported product, City Market or Costco is usually your best first stop.

The Local Markets

Do not skip these. Merida’s traditional markets are where the food is freshest and cheapest, and where a big chunk of the city actually shops.

• Mercado Lucas de Galvez downtown is the sprawling central market: produce, meat, fish, spices, household goods, everything.
• Mercado Santiago, Santa Ana, and San Benito are smaller, characterful, and great for prepared food and produce.
• Slow Food Market and various weekend organic and artisan markets serve the demand for organic, imported, and specialty items in a friendlier setting.

Produce at the markets often costs half of supermarket prices, and the quality of tropical fruit is unbeatable.

Real 2026 Price Reference

Approximate Merida prices so you can calibrate expectations:

Item	Typical price (MXN)	Approx. USD
Dozen eggs	$38-55	$2.10-3.00
1 kg chicken breast	$110-140	$6-8
1 kg tomatoes (market)	$18-30	$1.00-1.65
Local coffee, 1 kg	$180-260	$10-14
Imported cereal box	$95-160	$5-9
Peanut butter (US brand)	$110-180	$6-10
Imported cheddar, 250 g	$90-150	$5-8
Case of local beer (24)	$380-460	$21-25
Bottle of decent wine	$180-450	$10-25
Gallon of milk equivalent	$60-80	$3.30-4.40

Staples and local produce are noticeably cheaper than the US or Canada. Imported brand-name goods carry a premium, sometimes 30-60% above their home-country price, because of import costs and taxes.

Where to Find Hard-to-Find Items

A few pointers that save newcomers time:

• Imported American and Canadian brands: Costco, Sam’s Club, City Market, Chedraui Selecto.
• International and Asian ingredients: specialty importers around the north of the city, plus a handful of Asian grocers; City Market carries a rotating selection.
• Organic and gluten-free: health-food shops and weekend organic markets, plus dedicated sections in La Comer and City Market.
• Bulk and restaurant supply: Sam’s Club and local mayoreo (wholesale) stores.
• Electronics and appliances: the warehouse clubs, plus big-box electronics chains in the malls.

Money-Saving Habits

• Buy produce, eggs, and meat locally at markets; buy imported staples in bulk at the clubs.
• Use the Sam’s scan-and-go and Costco member deals for big monthly runs.
• Accept substitutions: local brands are often excellent and a fraction of the imported price.
• Watch the exchange rate; when the peso weakens, imported goods feel expensive fast.

The Bottom Line

Merida is an easy city to live in from a shopping standpoint. Between two warehouse clubs, a full spread of supermarket chains, upscale importers, and some of the best traditional markets in Mexico, you can find nearly anything you need. The winning strategy is a hybrid: local markets for fresh food at great prices, and Costco or Sam’s Club for the imported comforts and bulk staples.

If you are choosing a neighborhood and want to factor in proximity to the stores and markets you will actually use, that is exactly the kind of practical detail we help with. Book a call or message us on WhatsApp through our contact page and we will help you land somewhere that fits your daily life.