As of October 2026, a Costco membership costs $65 a year for Gold Star, $65 a year for Business and $130 a year for Executive in the US, plus applicable sales tax. Every membership includes a second card for one person in your household.
Costco is simple on price compared with streaming apps: there's no monthly plan, just an annual fee. The real question is whether to pay double for Executive. Costco's own membership page gives you everything you need to work it out, so here's what each tier includes.
Costco membership types and prices
| Membership | Price a year | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Star | $65 plus sales tax | Households shopping for themselves |
| Business | $65 plus sales tax | Business owners buying for resale or the business |
| Executive | $130 plus sales tax | Heavy shoppers who'll use the reward and extra perks |
Gold Star and Business cost the same. The Business membership is built for companies, with the option to buy for resale (Costco notes that reselling liquor is prohibited except where state law allows) and to add extra people to the account for $65 each at a warehouse membership counter.
Gold Star or Business: which should you choose?
Because Gold Star and Business cost the same $65 a year, it's easy to think they're interchangeable. They're not quite. Costco's page lists Purchase for Resale and the option to add affiliates as Business benefits, and both sit alongside the standard benefits every member gets. If you run a small business and you'll buy stock, supplies or snacks for the office, Business is the better fit. If you're only shopping for your home, Gold Star is all you need.
Either way, you'll still get a second card for one more person in your household, and either can be upgraded to Executive at $130 a year.
What every Costco membership includes
- Shopping at Costco warehouses worldwide and online at Costco.com. Costco says it has 900+ warehouses.
- Two membership cards: one for you and one for an additional person in your household.
- Member only fuel pricing on Top Tier gasoline at over 750 fuel stations.
- Access to Costco Travel for vacation packages, hotels, cruises and rental cars.
- Tire benefits including installation, a 5 year road hazard warranty, rotation and balancing.
- An extended 2 year warranty on major appliances, televisions and computers through Costco's warranty service.
- Delivery, installation and haul away on most major appliances bought on Costco.com.
- Costco's satisfaction guarantee on both the membership and merchandise, with limitations.
What the Executive membership adds
Executive costs $130 a year, and Costco lists these extras on top of the standard benefits:
- An annual reward on eligible Costco and Costco Travel purchases, up to $1,250 a year. Terms and conditions apply.
- Early shopping hours reserved for Executive members: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday.
- A $10 monthly credit on Same-Day delivery, for an eligible order of $150 or more on SameDay.Costco.com, which Costco says is powered by Instacart.
- Extra value on select Costco Travel packages.
- Executive only services, such as extra value on the Costco Auto Program, savings on FIGO pet insurance and savings on PODS moving and storage.
The annual reward is the main reason to upgrade. It's earned on what you spend on eligible Costco and Costco Travel purchases, capped at $1,250 a year, so it only pays off for households that spend a lot there. Light shoppers won't earn enough back to cover the higher fee, and that's fine: you don't lose any of the core benefits by staying on Gold Star.
Is Executive worth it for you?
- Look at what your household spent at Costco over the last year, including Costco Travel bookings.
- Read the reward terms on Costco's membership page so you know which purchases count as eligible.
- If the reward on your usual spending would cover the extra fee over Gold Star, Executive pays for itself.
- Add the value of the Same-Day delivery credit only if you already order delivery most months.
- Count early shopping hours as a bonus, not a reason to pay, unless your local warehouse is too crowded for you at normal times.
The $10 Same-Day credit only applies to orders of $150 or more, so it rewards people who already do big delivery shops, not occasional orders.
The fine print worth reading
All three prices on Costco's page are shown plus applicable sales tax, so the amount you pay at sign up depends on your state. The Executive extras also come with their own conditions: the reward applies to eligible purchases only, and the Same-Day credit is tied to SameDay.Costco.com orders that meet the minimum. Read those terms before you upgrade, so you know exactly what you're paying the higher fee for.
Another subscription that promises savings is explained in our Uber One price guide.
Getting more from your membership
Whichever tier you choose, plan your shops before you go. A good grocery list app stops bulk buying from turning into waste, and if you also shop online, my take on whether TopCashback is legit covers another way to claw some spending back.
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My verdict
For most households, Gold Star at $65 a year is the right Costco membership: you get every warehouse, the fuel prices and the warranties. Upgrade to Executive at $130 only if your annual reward on eligible spending would cover the difference. Business owners should take the Business membership at the same $65, because it's built for buying for the company and lets you add colleagues.
The online equivalent is covered in our Amazon Prime cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Costco membership?
As of October 2026, Costco lists Gold Star at $65 a year, Business at $65 a year and Executive at $130 a year, plus applicable sales tax.
Can I pay for Costco monthly?
No. Costco's membership page lists only annual fees for Gold Star, Business and Executive.
What do you get with a Costco Executive membership?
An annual reward on eligible purchases up to $1,250, early shopping hours, a $10 monthly Same-Day delivery credit on orders of $150 or more, and extra travel and services benefits.
Does a Costco membership include a second card?
Yes. Each membership includes a card for you and one additional person in your household.
How much does it cost to add someone to a Costco Business membership?
Costco lists additional people on a Business membership at $65 each, added at any warehouse membership counter.
Is the Costco membership fee refundable?
Costco says its satisfaction guarantee covers both your membership and merchandise, with limitations.
