We love Costco here at The Ascent. Dig in a little here and you’ll find advice aplenty about saving money at Costco, excellent items to buy at Costco, and much more. But if you’re not already a member, joining may not be such an easy decision.
Costco memberships aren’t free — as of this writing, a Gold Star membership (the basic option) will run you $60 a year, while an Executive membership (which offers additional perks and 2% cash back on most Costco purchases) is $120 a year. But come Sept. 1, those prices will rise to $65 and $130, respectively.
Before that happens, let’s consider a few factors that could mean joining Costco is the right call for you.
1. You live near a warehouse location
First and foremost, it likely doesn’t make sense to shell out money for a Costco membership if you’re never going to be able to visit a Costco warehouse. Yes, OK, you can shop at Costco.com, and find many of the same items you’d find in-store (plus a whole lot more — living room furniture, anyone?).
But you’ll pay more for the privilege — Costco’s website notes that prices may be different online, which makes sense. “Free shipping” may not actually be as free as advertised — you could just be charged more for the item in question.
Costco’s stores are also an experience. Buy something tasty at the food court, fill up on free samples, and gawk at the best and worst of humanity on full display, pushing around giant shopping carts.
Personally, I haven’t yet fully decided to get a Costco membership because I don’t have a warehouse in my city, and it would be difficult for me to visit regularly. If I decide to go for it, I’ll be resigning myself to making a trip a few times per year (and possibly shopping online otherwise, if there’s a deal to be had).
2. You have a lot of storage space at home
Come on — what is Costco best known for? That’s right: bulk groceries. If you want a huge box of trash bags, an industrial-sized block of cheese, or a bottle of 1,000 ibuprofen tablets, Costco should be your destination. But it’s not enough to want to buy in bulk — you also need the room to store your purchases.
One of the reasons I’m considering a Costco membership (despite living an hour away from the closest warehouse) is that I just bought a house and I finally have a ton more storage space in the form of closets and a whole basement. If I want to fulfill my dream of buying 500 rolls of toilet paper and constructing a basement TP fort, Costco can help me do that.
Conversely, I haven’t yet bought a second refrigerator for said basement (that day may be coming, though), which means I would be less able to take advantage of Costco’s deals on food, both fresh and frozen. Assess your storage situation and consumption before deciding for sure to join Costco.
3. You’re willing to use as many Costco services as possible
Costco might be best known for the bulk buys, but that’s far from all the warehouse club giant offers. You can book an entire vacation with Costco Travel (and have travel agents in your corner should something go wrong). You can find a contractor to install your new kitchen countertops.
You can fill your prescriptions there, and buy new tires for your car. You can even get an eye exam plus glasses or contacts (or both). Need auto insurance? Costco again. How about paper checks, or even bottled water delivery. Yes, those too. If any of this sounds good to you (alongside those bulk groceries), a Costco membership might indeed be worth it for you.
Join now to save a little green
Ready to join Costco? Now is a great time — remember, those membership fees are going up in a matter of weeks! While you’re at it, have a gander at our list of the best credit cards for Costco (if you’re shopping in-store, it’ll have to be with Visa) and see how you can earn cash back on your Costco buys.
Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a lengthy 0% intro APR period, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
