Is a Costco Membership Worth It?

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%.

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Costco. Costco Wholesale 2025 Annual Report. Accessed Jul 22, 2026. View all sources

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:

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.

Here are other ways to decide if a membership might be a good value:

✅ 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

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.

Costco's return policy is unmatched. I recently returned an air mattress that was a couple of years old because it got a hole — no questions asked. And getting to try the samples while I shop is always a plus.

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

• The food court: Costco is known for its $1.50 hot dog and soda combo, but its newest menu item — chicken tenders with dipping sauce for $6.99 — is making headlines and getting mentions on social media. The store's other popular items include a slice of pepperoni or cheese pizza ($1.99), a chicken bake ($3.99) and the double chocolate chunk cookie ($2.49). Get your kids a slice of pizza before you shop to keep them busy, like I do.

• 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.

• 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. 

• Shutterfly: Members save 51% on every Shutterfly order and get 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. 

• 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. 

• 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. 

• 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.

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.