Gas prices are soaring—here’s how save on gas with a Costco membership (2024)

Gas prices are soaring—here’s how save on gas with a Costco membership (1)

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Whether you’re meal prepping for the week ahead, buying toiletries in bulk or looking for a great deal on a TV, there are plenty of reasons to shop at Costco—and right now, there's an even more compelling one: Cheap gas. The membership-only big box retailer has long been coveted for its massive inventory of groceries, home goods, clothing, personal care itemsand more. It basically has anything else you could ever need to survive a zombie apocalypse—or at least keep a well-stocked pantry, fridge and linen closet). It's also consistently one of the cheapest places to buy gas around, so if you're feeling the pinch at the pump as prices soar, you'll want to check this out.

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Boasting more than 113 million members over 62 million households, Costco operates 828 stores—or warehouses, as they're called—across 14 countries including the U.S., Canada, Japan, Spain, Iceland and France. Unlike a standard grocery or department store, you need a membership to shop there (and even just to get through the front door!). Costco keeps a highly curated 4,000 SKUs in inventory, which it's able to sell at wholesale prices.

►Deals on gas:Sam's Club memberships are virtually free right now—save on gas, appliances, pantry staples and more

►Gas prices:Gas prices top $4 a gallon nationwide, all-time record could be broken this week

If you're interested in shopping at Costco, here’s how a Costco membership works, including how much it costs and whether or not it's worth it for you and your family.

How much is a Costco membership?

Gas prices are soaring—here’s how save on gas with a Costco membership (2)

There are two types of Costco membership: the Gold Star membership and the Executive membership. The Gold Star membershipcosts $60 per year andincludes two cards—one for you and one for someone else in your household—thatgrant you access to all locations worldwide along with Costco online.

The Executive membership costs $120 and similarly includes two cards and access to all locations around the world and online. However, you also get an additional 2% savings on all qualifying purchases (with a maximum total of $1,000 in savings per year), along with savings on vacations booked through Costco Travel.

What can you buy at Costco?

Gas prices are soaring—here’s how save on gas with a Costco membership (3)

The better question is what can’tyou buy at Costco? The retailer offers a wide variety of products. In the grocery section, you'll find produce, fresh bakery goods,shelf-stable pantry items—like granola bars, snacks, spices and coffee—and frozen foods. The rest of the store is a haven ofapparel, name-brand electronics, furniture, cleaning supplies, beauty items, office supplies, plants, sporting goods, fitness equipment, pharmacy staples, bedding and a whole lot more (even caskets).

Keep in mind that the in-store and online shopping experience at Costco may drastically differ—the inventory is usually far greater online than it is in store, but it’ll be cheaper to shop in store thanks to shipping fees.

What are the main benefits of Costco?

Depending on where you live, there are a few key perks to a Costco membership.

Costco gasoline

With gas prices skyrocketing, the draw of Costco gasoline might be a big sell for getting a membership. At the self-serve gas stations—which are located next to the Costco warehouses—you can fuel up with Kirkland Signature gas and diesel for lower prices than you'd pay at other pumps.

Same-day delivery

In most metropolitan areas, you can take advantage of same-day delivery powered by Instacart for purchases of $35 or more.

Concierge services

If you purchase electronics—like a TV, camera, printer or laptop—at Costco, you can take advantage of free concierge services to help set up and operate your new buy.

Free samples

Free samples have long been the cherry on top of shopping at Costco. The in-store shopping experience also includes demos of electronics. Plus, while not free, you cangrab super cheap hot dogs, pizza and other goodies from the Costco food court.

Haul Away

Instead of having to move and discard bulk items like appliances and mattresses yourself, use Costco’s Haul Awayservice, which is available in select locations. Upon delivering your new item, the delivery team will remove your bulk item and recycle it.

Credit card savings

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, which doubles as a membership ID, offers 4%back on eligible gas purchases, 3% back on eligible restaurant and travel purchases and2% back on all in-store and online purchases.

Is a Costco membership worth it?

Gas prices are soaring—here’s how save on gas with a Costco membership (4)

The brand claims that the $60 fee for the Gold Star membership ends up paying for itselfif you shop at Costco frequently. Of course, this all depends on how much you buy and how often. If you're someone who likes to buy in bulk or who is shopping for a household, a Costco membership is a no-brainer. It's a great way to stock up on things you need—like a 12-pack of deodorant, 30 rolls of toilet paper and a 288-pound tub of macaroni and cheese—and spend a lot less than you would at a traditional grocery store or similar retailer like Target.

Sign up for a Costco membership starting at $60/year.

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Gas prices are soaring—here’s how save on gas with a Costco membership (2024)

FAQs

Is a Costco membership worth it to save on gas? ›

“Costco has a wide range of businesses, and this is seen as a boost to those businesses.” Even if you're not a Costco shopper, the savings on gasoline alone can make the price of a $60 membership worthwhile.

How much does Costco save you on gas? ›

But our editorial integrity ensures our experts' opinions aren't influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. Costco gas typically saves you around $0.20 per gallon. If you fill up often enough, gas alone can pay for your membership.

Do Costco members get a discount on gas? ›

Price check. Quality gas is important, yes, but so is price. Costco Gas Stations offer consistently low, member-exclusive prices. With the Costco app, you can check Costco gas prices on your phone.

What is the benefit of getting gas at Costco? ›

Costco gas is offered at a great price

Although the exact amount of savings you'll get varies based on your location and the specific club you're shopping at, you'll typically save around $0.20 per gallon at Costco according to most online reports. Most cars hold between 10.5 and 18.5 gallons of gas.

Which gas is better, Costco or Sam's Club? ›

While both Costco and Sam's Club offer unleaded, premium, and diesel fuels (here's how to know which you should be getting), only Costco offers Top Tier fuel. If you don't have a Costco membership, you can still find Top Tier gas at other stations. “Yes, Top Tier gas is worth the extra money,” CarFax reported.

Why is gas so much cheaper at Costco? ›

Its gas stations are usually on the most visible part of its property. Simply put, you have to be a member in order to buy gas at Costco, and its gas stations are a daily reminder of that to traffic. Costco makes the bulk of its profits on membership fees -- not on markups inside its stores.

Does Costco give 4% back on gas? ›

Earn cash back rewards on purchases wherever Visa® is accepted. You'll get 4% back on eligible gasoline purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter.

Is it worth driving to Costco for gas? ›

The data shows that Costco's prices aren't typically the absolute cheapest, but they're always significantly less expensive than the "average" price. This means you're more than likely getting a deal when you get gas from Costco versus another random gas station in your city.

Does Costco gas give 2 percent back? ›

An executive membership at Costco costs $120 per year, which is twice as much as a basic membership. The primary benefit of the executive membership is scoring 2% back on Costco purchases. Certain purchases don't qualify for cash back, including gas, stamps, and vehicles.

Is Costco Premium gas 91 or 93? ›

A: Regular and ​p​remium ​gasoline, and ​d​iesel at select locations. Gasoline ​octane can vary by state, but at Costco, it's typically 87 octane for Regular and 91 octane for Premium Gasoline.

Do you get a discount on fuel at Costco? ›

If you're a Costco member, you can save on fuel by refuelling at Costco Gasoline stations. The downside is it does require you to be a member at Costco, but fuel prices are generally significantly cheaper than standard fuel merchants. They also claim to use more environmentally friendly fuel!

What credit card can I use at Costco gas? ›

Costco warehouses and gas stations do not currently accept cards from any network other than Visa. This means Costco members shopping in-store cannot pay with American Express, Mastercard or Discover—nor any other non-Visa credit card.

How much do you save on gas with a Costco card? ›

To be conservative with the analysis, we'll use $0.20 per gallon in savings. With the average driver covering about 13,500 miles in the average year and getting approximately 25 miles per gallon, the typical driver can expect to save a little more than $100 per year.

Why do people prefer Costco gas? ›

The fact that gas is cheaper at Costco doesn't mean it's lower in quality. The company offers Kirkland Signature gasoline, which is formulated to improve vehicle performance and fuel economy. Costco says the gas also reduces emissions, making it better for the environment.

Is Costco fuel good quality? ›

Good station operation and maintenance means the fuel is filtered and that contaminants, such as sediment and water, do not find their way into our members' vehicles. Costco fuel stations are well-maintained by our capable attendants so you may be confident that the fuel going into your car is clean.

Do you really save money with a Costco membership? ›

Even if you only save $5 on groceries every other week, that's $130 in savings after a year, which more than justifies the $60 cost of a membership. And remember, once you join Costco, you'll be privy to great prices on items you probably don't buy every week, like clothing and electronics.

Is the $60 Costco membership worth it? ›

The entry-level cost of joining Costco is $60.00 per year. If paying the 5% surcharge on your purchases is less than $60, it would not make sense for you to join Costco just to avoid it. You'd be better off doing your online shopping as a non-member and paying the slightly higher prices.

How much do you need to spend at Costco to make a membership worth it? ›

But if your annual spend regularly tops $3,250, you're better off with the Executive Membership. Every additional dollar you spend after $3,250 will bring your annual fee further and further below $65 and end up saving you money in the long run.

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