Costco Membership Cost and Benefits: Is It Worth It?

Is a Costco Membership Worth It?

Costco offers two $65 plans, one personal and one business, as well as a $130 executive level. We break down the differences so you can decide if a membership is right for you.

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Edited by other Updated May 28, 2026 Is a Costco membership really worth the annual fee? Lots of people seem to think so. Costco boasted more than 145 million members in 2025 and has a U.S. renewal rate of over 90%. While bulk groceries get the most attention, Costco’s savings can extend far beyond what ends up in your cart, from car repairs and contact lenses to travel packages and home appliances. Here's a breakdown of what a Costco membership gets you, so you can decide if adding one more annual fee to your budget is worth it.

Costco membership price

Costco charges annual membership fees, which start at $65. In return, members get access to discounted prices on items. Here’s a quick glance at what each membership tier offers: Gold Star ($65/yr) Business ($65/yr) Executive ($130/yr) Who it's for Personal use Business owners Personal or business Cards included 2 2 2 Valid at all locations and Costco.com Yes Yes Yes Can add extra cardholders No +$65/each +$65/each Early store access No No 1 hr. early (Sun-Fri), 30 min. early (Sat) Annual 2% reward No No Up to $1,250 on qualified purchases

Is Costco worth it?

Let’s do some rough math to figure it out. Costco charges a baseline price of $65 just to walk through the door. Spread out that membership cost across a full year, and you’ll need to save $5.42 per month for it to be financially “worth it.” That’s a pretty low bar. If you can save even $0.10 per gallon of gas, that’s $1.50 on 15 gallons. If you fill up every week that’s $6 in savings right there. A family of four spends between $1,000-$1,600 every month in groceries, according to USDA data. Costco wouldn’t account for all of that spending, but even if a family spends $500 a month ($6,000 a year), you’d only need to save 1% on purchases to break even. Costco advertises a 15%-20% savings compared with national brands.

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✅ A Costco membership might be worth it if:

You have kids, roommates or a larger family to shop for Live near a Costco Own a car and can use the Costco gas station regularly Have storage space for bulk goods and freezer items Book travel or rent cars occasionally Plan to buy an appliance in the next year or two Need affordable access to health care experts and care

❌ A Costco membership might not be worth it if you:

Live alone Have limited freezer and/or storage space Don’t have easy access to a Costco location Shop impulsively Already have a membership to another warehouse store like Sam’s Club or BJ’s » MORE: How to save on groceries » MORE: How to save on groceries I have a Gold membership, and there are things I love — the premade food is easy to grab for busy nights, and I feel like I’m getting good quality items for my money. I also trust the Kirkland store brand and appreciate Costco's workplace policies. But, I feel like the store opens too late (with young children, I’ve already lived three lives by 10 a.m.), and the line to checkout is always long. If Costco added Scan and Go like Sam’s Club, I’d never shop at another warehouse.

Costco membership perks beyond the warehouse

If you've ever been to a Costco on a Saturday morning, you know a thing or two about the crowds. The good news is that there are many more deals to be found outside the warehouse, if you know where to look: outside Travel deals: Members can visit Costco’s travel website to book vacation packages, hotels, cruises and rental cars. There are even theme park deals for all the Disney lovers out there. Travel deals: Pharmacy: Members can get discounts on their prescriptions, schedule immunizations and pick up pet medications at lower prices. You might be trading some convenience (no drive-thru window here), but there’s a mail order option. Pharmacy: Shutterfly: Members save 51% on every Shutterfly order and free economy shipping if they spend more than $30. The discount is added right to your cart (no coupon code needed). Just be sure to add your membership to your Shutterfly account to take advantage of the deal. Shutterfly: Sesame: Members can schedule virtual urgent care visits for $34, pay $65 for virtual therapy and more — including subscriptions for mental health, women’s health, weight loss and prescription skincare. Sesame Home appliances: There are some benefits to buying appliances from Costco. Delivery and installation are included in the price, and Costco will haul away your old model. There’s a two-year warranty included and you can earn up to 4% in rewards. Home appliances: Costco Auto Program: You might already know you can get car repairs done at Costco, and even new tires. But Costco sells cars, too. They have new and used vehicles and better deals for Executive members. Plug in your ZIP code to get a list of participating Costco dealers and local incentives. Costco Auto Program: If you’re thinking about how to leverage your Costco trip for points or credit card rewards, you might be able to earn more money back with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. Compare that credit card with other cash-back cards you may already carry. Nerdy Perspective I’ve been a Costco member since the year 2000. Over the years Costco has helped me save on car rentals; eyeglasses and contacts; tires; Pokémon cards; 800-thread-count sheets; diapers for my babies; two Dyson vacuums; countless photo calendars and Christmas cards; sleds; houseplants; appliances and electronics; giant slabs of wild king salmon; big ol’ jugs of Canadian maple syrup; and hunks of Gruyere. I use the home delivery service more often than I shop in-person, because, as any longtime fan knows, you don’t decide what you’re going home with from Costco: Costco decides for you!

Karen Gaudette Brewer

Head of Content, Core Personal Finance

How to pay at Costco? Visa credit cards are the only credit card type accepted at brick-and-mortar Costco stores in the U.S. Costco also accepts debit/ATM cards, cash, checks and traveler's checks, EBT cards and mobile payment methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Costco.com accepts MasterCard in addition to Visa credit cards. Costco allows members to bring up to two guests to shop at a warehouse, but only members can make purchases. If you need to make a return, Costco's return policy is unmatched. Costco will refund your purchase price on most items, with a few exceptions. How do you sign up for a Costco membership? To sign up, visit the membership desk at any location. You can also sign up online or by calling 1-800-774-2678. Costco has an option to cancel your membership and receive a refund if you're dissatisfied. Can I get a freebie membership? No. The samples are free, but Costco doesn’t provide free memberships. There are new-member promotions for certain groups, such as digital shop cards, during promotional periods. Certain groups might also qualify for discounts. Teachers, college students, medical professionals, military personnel, government employees and first responders may be eligible to receive a digital Costco gift card when they sign up

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Explore more on Article sources NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines. Costco. Costco Wholesale 2025 Annual Report. Accessed May 28, 2026. About the authors Barroso Amanda Barroso, Ph.D., is a writer and content strategist helping consumers navigate budgeting, credit building and credit scoring. Before joining NerdWallet, Amanda wrote about demographic trends at the Pew Research Center and earned a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. Her work has been featured by the Associated Press, Washington Post and Yahoo Finance. Published in Schwahn Lauren Schwahn is a writer at NerdWallet who covers credit scoring, debt, budgeting and money-saving strategies. She contributed to the "Millennial Money" column for The Associated Press and managed a team of writers producing content for the series. Her work has also been featured by USA Today, MSN, The Washington Post and more. Lauren has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is based in San Francisco. Published in Curtis Tiffany Lashai Curtis is a former lead writer for the Core Personal Finance team at NerdWallet. She was previously the health writer for Livestrong.com and a freelance writer for publications like Refinery29, Business Insider and MTV News, where she focused on issues that affect marginalized communities. As a wellness facilitator, she has led conversations for organizations like Planned Parenthood and Harvard University. She is based in Philadelphia. Costco membership price Is Costco worth it? Costco membership perks beyond the warehouse Average Monthly Expenses by Category 6 of the Best Cash-Back Apps Savings Goal Calculator 9 Browser Extensions for Easily Finding Coupons 28 Proven Ways to Save Money By Tommy Tindall, Amanda Barroso, Elizabeth Ayoola How to Get Coupons: Rewards Programs, Browser Extensions, Apps and More By Lauren Schwahn, Amanda Barroso Use This Script to Cut Your Cell Phone Bill By Laura McMullen, AI-Assisted NerdWallet Frugal Living Comprehensive Guide: 30+ Ways to Find Serious Savings By Kelsey Sheehy, Hal M. Bundrick, CFP® 13 Ways to Get Free Stuff By Lauren Schwahn, Amanda Barroso, Lisa Mulka Best Grocery List Apps of 2026 By Amanda Barroso 9 Browser Extensions for Easily Finding Coupons By Tommy Tindall, Lisa Mulka