Costco vs. Sam’s Club: Which Membership Is the Better Value?

A warehouse club membership can save you money on groceries, household essentials, gas, electronics, and other everyday purchases.

But there is an important catch.

You have to pay for the membership first.

That raises a simple question:

Is Costco or Sam’s Club actually worth the annual fee?

Both warehouse clubs offer low member prices, fuel savings, bulk products, digital shopping tools, and premium membership options with additional rewards.

Costco has its Gold Star and Executive memberships, while Sam’s Club offers Club and Plus memberships.

The better choice depends less on which company has the lowest membership price and more on how much you shop, what you buy, where the clubs are located, and which benefits you will actually use.

Here is how the two memberships compare based on their current published pricing and benefits.

Costco vs. Sam’s Club at a Glance

Membership prices and benefits can change. The figures above reflect the current published information checked in August 2026.

Costco currently lists Gold Star membership at $65 per year and Executive membership at $130 per year. Executive members can earn a 2% annual reward on qualifying purchases, up to $1,250.

Sam’s Club currently lists Club membership at $60 per year and Plus membership at $120 per year.

1. Membership Price: Sam’s Club Wins by a Small Margin

If you only compare the annual membership fees, Sam’s Club is cheaper.

Basic membership

• Costco Gold Star: $65
• Sam’s Club Club: $60

Difference: $5 per year

Premium membership

• Costco Executive: $130
• Sam’s Club Plus: $120

Difference: $10 per year

So Sam’s Club wins the price comparison.

But $5 or $10 is not enough to determine which membership is the better value.

If Costco saves your household $300 more per year on products and services, paying an additional $5 for the membership would still be a better financial decision.

The goal isn’t to find the cheapest membership.

It’s to find the membership that produces the greatest net value.

2. Costco Executive vs. Sam’s Club Plus

The premium memberships are more interesting because both offer a 2% reward.

Costco Executive

Costco Executive members earn an annual 2% Reward on qualifying Costco, Costco.com, and Costco Travel purchases.

The reward is capped at $1,250 per 12-month period. Costco also notes that terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.

Sam’s Club Plus

Sam’s Club Plus members can earn 2% Sam’s Cash on eligible pre-tax purchases made at Sam’s Club.

The current program allows up to $750 in Sam’s Cash per membership year. Eligible purchases include purchases made in the club, including Scan & Go and Curbside Pickup.

That distinction matters.

You should not assume that every dollar spent through Sam’s Club earns 2% Sam’s Cash.

The program has eligibility rules and exclusions.

3. How Much Do You Need to Spend to Justify the Premium Membership?

Here’s a useful calculation.

The additional cost to upgrade from Costco Gold Star to Executive is:

$130 − $65 = $65

At a 2% reward rate:

$65 ÷ 0.02 = $3,250

So, in a simplified calculation, you would need about $3,250 in qualifying Costco purchases to generate $65 in rewards.

Costco itself provides a similar spending illustration: approximately $3,252 in annual qualifying purchases produces about a $65 reward.

For Sam’s Club:

$120 − $60 = $60

Then:

$60 ÷ 0.02 = $3,000

So approximately $3,000 of eligible Sam’s Club purchases would generate $60 in Sam’s Cash.

However, this is only a break-even calculation based on the reward.

It does not mean everyone spending $3,000 should automatically upgrade.

You should also consider the other premium benefits.

And you should remember that neither company guarantees that the reward will cover the premium membership fee.

Costco specifically states that the Executive reward is not guaranteed to equal or exceed the upgrade fee.

4. Costco Has a Higher Maximum Annual Reward

If you spend a very large amount at the warehouse, Costco has a higher reward ceiling.

Costco Executive

Maximum annual 2% reward:

$1,250

That corresponds to approximately:

$62,500 in qualifying purchases

Sam’s Club Plus

Maximum annual Sam’s Cash from the Plus reward:

$750

At 2%, that corresponds to:

$37,500 in eligible purchases

Sam’s Club’s current terms state that Plus members can earn 2% Sam’s Cash on qualifying purchases up to $750 per membership year.

For most households, however, these maximums are unlikely to be the deciding factor.

The more important question is whether you can use enough of the membership benefits to justify the annual fee.

5. Grocery Savings: Don’t Confuse Bulk With Savings

Groceries are one of the biggest reasons people join warehouse clubs.

Both Costco and Sam’s Club sell large quantities of:

• Meat
• Produce
• Dairy
• Snacks
• Drinks
• Frozen foods
• Cleaning supplies
• Paper products
• Household essentials

Buying a larger package can reduce the cost per unit.

But bulk buying isn’t automatically cheaper for your household.

Imagine a large package costs $18 while a smaller package at another store costs $7.

The warehouse package may have the lower unit price.

But if your household only uses half of it before the product expires, the apparent savings become much smaller.

This is especially important for:

• Fresh produce
• Bakery items
• Perishable foods
• Large snack packages
• Refrigerated products

The best question isn’t:

“Which store sells this package for less?”

Instead ask:

“How much am I paying for each unit I will actually use?”

That’s a much better measure of value.

6. Gas Savings Can Make a Membership Worthwhile

Both Costco and Sam’s Club offer member fuel prices at participating locations.

For frequent drivers, gasoline savings can become a significant part of the membership calculation.

For example, suppose you buy:

• 40 gallons per month
• 12 months per year

That’s:

480 gallons per year

If you save an average of $0.10 per gallon compared with your usual alternative:

480 × $0.10 = $48

That alone would cover most of a $60 basic Sam’s Club membership or a large portion of Costco’s $65 membership.

But don’t use a theoretical gas savings number.

Compare the prices at the stations you would realistically use.

Also consider convenience.

Driving several extra miles to save a few cents per gallon can reduce or eliminate the benefit once you account for your time and fuel consumption.

7. Sam’s Club Has a Strong Convenience Advantage

One of Sam’s Club’s biggest strengths is its digital shopping experience.

Club members currently have access to Scan & Go, which allows shoppers to scan products while shopping and check out through the app. Sam’s Club also offers curbside pickup.

That can be valuable if you dislike waiting in checkout lines.

Plus membership adds additional convenience benefits.

According to Sam’s Club’s current information, Plus members receive free shipping on eligible orders of $50 or more and free Delivery from Club on eligible $50+ orders.

Orders below the $50 threshold can have fees.

This means Plus can be particularly attractive for households that frequently order online or use delivery.

8. Sam’s Club Plus Delivery Benefits Are More Specific Than They Look

The word “delivery” can be misleading if you don’t look at the details.

Sam’s Club currently distinguishes between several delivery options.

For Plus members:

• Standard Delivery from Club is free on eligible orders of $50 or more.
• Delivery under $50 costs $8.
• Delivery in three hours or less costs $5.
• Express delivery, which can arrive as soon as one hour, costs $10.

Club members pay higher delivery fees under the current published terms.

So Plus isn’t simply “free delivery.”

It’s more accurate to say that Plus provides free standard Delivery from Club on qualifying $50+ orders, with other delivery options subject to fees.

That distinction matters when calculating the real value of the membership.

9. Costco Executive Offers More Than Its 2% Reward

Costco Executive membership also includes additional benefits beyond the annual 2% reward.

Costco states that Executive members can receive additional benefits and greater discounts on select Costco Services. The 2% reward can also apply to qualifying Costco Travel purchases.

That could make Executive membership more attractive to someone who already uses Costco’s broader ecosystem.

For example, a household that regularly shops at Costco and also uses qualifying Costco Travel purchases may have more opportunities to benefit from Executive membership than someone who only visits Costco occasionally.

Costco also says its memberships are covered by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

10. Which Is Better for a Small Household?

A smaller household needs to be more careful with warehouse memberships.

Buying a 24-pack may look cheaper per item.

But if you only need six, the larger package isn’t necessarily the better purchase.

A single person or couple should pay particular attention to:

• Expiration dates
• Storage space
• Household consumption
• Unit price
• Frequency of shopping
• Fuel savings

You may still benefit from a warehouse membership if you regularly buy products that store well.

Toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, canned goods, frozen foods, and certain household supplies can be easier to buy in bulk.

But the membership becomes less attractive if most of your purchases are small quantities of perishable products.

11. Which Is Better for a Large Family?

Large families can have a much easier time getting value from warehouse shopping.

If you regularly purchase:

• Groceries
• Meat
• Snacks
• Household supplies
• Cleaning products
• Paper products
• Gas

your annual spending can become substantial.

That makes the premium reward programs more relevant.

For example:

$6,000 × 2% = $120

If those purchases qualify under the applicable reward rules, a $120 reward would more than cover the additional premium-tier fee in either simplified example.

But don’t upgrade solely because of this calculation.

First determine whether the purchases are actually eligible and whether the warehouse’s prices are competitive with the alternatives available to you.

12. Don’t Forget the Location

This is one of the most underrated parts of the comparison.

A warehouse club membership is much more valuable when the store is convenient.

Suppose Costco is five minutes from your home but Sam’s Club is 25 minutes away.

Even if Sam’s Club has slightly lower prices, Costco may still provide more practical value.

The opposite can also be true.

If Sam’s Club is on your normal commute and Costco requires a special trip, Sam’s Club could be the better choice.

Consider:

Membership price + product prices + gas savings + convenience + time

rather than looking at membership fees alone.

13. Warehouse Clubs Can Encourage Overspending

There’s another side to the savings equation.

Warehouse clubs can make expensive purchases feel like bargains.

A $30 item marked down to $20 feels like a saving.

But if you didn’t need it, you still spent $20.

This is particularly easy to do with:

• Electronics
• Seasonal merchandise
• Snacks
• Home goods
• Clothing
• Kitchen products
• Large quantities of “limited-time” items

The best way to use a warehouse club is to start with your shopping list.

Then compare prices.

Don’t start with the assumption that everything inside the warehouse is automatically a good deal.

14. Which Membership Is Better for Online Shoppers?

This is one area where Sam’s Club Plus deserves serious consideration.

Plus members currently receive free shipping on eligible $50+ online orders, subject to exclusions and limitations.

Plus members also receive free standard Delivery from Club on eligible $50+ orders.

For someone who regularly orders large household purchases online, those benefits can have real value.

Costco also has a substantial online shopping operation, and Executive members can earn their 2% reward on qualifying Costco.com purchases.

So online shoppers should compare:

• Product prices
• Shipping costs
• Delivery fees
• Minimum order requirements
• Rewards
• Convenience

rather than simply comparing the membership fee.

15. Costco vs. Sam’s Club: Who Should Choose Which?

Costco may be better if you:

• Shop at Costco frequently
• Like Costco’s product selection
• Use Costco Services
• Use Costco Travel
• Spend enough on qualifying purchases to benefit from Executive
• Have a convenient Costco location
• Prefer Costco’s overall shopping experience

Sam’s Club may be better if you:

• Want the lower annual membership fee
• Frequently use Scan & Go
• Value curbside pickup
• Shop online regularly
• Can take advantage of Plus shipping
• Use Delivery from Club
• Expect to earn meaningful Sam’s Cash
• Have a convenient Sam’s Club location

Neither may be better if you:

• Rarely shop in bulk
• Don’t have a convenient warehouse nearby
• Frequently waste bulk food
• Tend to make impulse purchases
• Already have lower-cost shopping alternatives
• Won’t use enough benefits to cover the membership fee

That last option is important.

You don’t have to choose a winner.

Sometimes the best money-saving decision is not joining either club.

16. A Simple Warehouse Membership Break-Even Test

Before signing up, run these five numbers.

1. Estimate your annual purchases

How much would you realistically spend at the warehouse?

Use your actual shopping habits rather than an optimistic estimate.

2. Estimate product savings

Compare the unit prices of products you already buy.

Don’t count products you wouldn’t otherwise purchase.

3. Estimate fuel savings

Calculate how much you could realistically save on gasoline.

4. Calculate premium rewards

For Costco Executive:

Qualifying spending × 2%

For Sam’s Club Plus:

Eligible Sam’s Club spending × 2%

Remember that each program has its own eligibility rules and maximum reward.

5. Subtract the membership fee

Your rough annual value is:

Product savings + fuel savings + rewards + useful benefits − membership fee

If the number is comfortably positive, the membership may be worthwhile.

If the result is only a few dollars, you may want to keep the calculation conservative.

Final Verdict: Costco vs. Sam’s Club

So, which warehouse club is the better value?

Best basic membership price: Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club Club membership is currently $60 per year, compared with $65 for Costco Gold Star.

The difference is only $5, so price alone shouldn’t determine your choice.

Best premium reward ceiling: Costco

Costco Executive offers a 2% annual reward up to $1,250, compared with Sam’s Club Plus’s current $750 maximum for the Plus membership reward.

Best digital convenience: Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club offers Scan & Go to Club members, while Plus adds benefits such as eligible free shipping and Delivery from Club.

Best overall value: It depends

For a frequent Costco shopper who uses Costco’s products, services, Travel, and Executive rewards, Costco can provide excellent value.

For a shopper who values a lower membership fee, Scan & Go, online shopping, delivery, and Sam’s Cash, Sam’s Club can be the better choice.

And for an occasional bulk shopper, neither may be the smartest option.

The most important lesson is simple:

Don’t choose Costco or Sam’s Club because one membership is $5 or $10 cheaper.

Choose the one that fits your actual shopping habits.

Because the best membership isn’t necessarily the cheapest one.

It’s the one that gives you more value than it costs.

Important Note About Prices and Promotions

Membership prices, rewards, benefits, and promotional offers can change.

For example, Sam’s Club is currently advertising limited-time introductory offers for new members, but those promotional prices are different from the regular annual membership prices.

For that reason, use $60 Club / $120 Plus as the regular Sam’s Club pricing in an evergreen comparison, rather than publishing a temporary promotional price.

Likewise, Costco’s current published membership fees are $65 for Gold Star and $130 for Executive.

Check the official membership terms before purchasing because benefits and eligibility requirements can change.