Costco Membership Cost 2026: Gold Star vs Executive vs Business
What each Costco membership costs, what it includes, and how much you need to spend for Executive to pay for itself.
Quick answer: A Costco membership costs $65 a year for Gold Star (personal) or Business, and $130 a year for Executive, plus sales tax. Every level includes a second card for someone in your household. Executive adds a 2% annual reward up to $1,250 and early shopping hours, so it pays for itself once you spend about $3,250 a year on eligible purchases.
$65
Gold Star / yr
$65
Business / yr
$130
Executive / yr
$3,250
Executive break-even spend
Costco membership levels and prices
Prices from Costco's join page, checked November 4, 2026.
| Level | Price / year | For | 2% reward | Early hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Star | $65 | Individuals and households | No | No |
| Business | $65 | Business owners; can buy for resale | No | No |
| Executive | $130 | Gold Star or Business plus the upgrade | Up to $1,250 | Yes |
Executive is an upgrade on top of Gold Star or Business: $65 plus $65. A Business member who upgrades is a Business Executive member.
What every Costco membership includes
Two membership cards
One for you and one for another person in your household.
900+ warehouses and Costco.com
Shop any Costco warehouse worldwide and online.
100% satisfaction guarantee
On both the membership and merchandise; limitations apply.
Member-only gas prices
At over 750 Costco gas stations.
Tire services
Installation, a 5-year road hazard warranty, rotation and balancing, and flat repairs at no extra charge.
Costco Travel
Member prices on vacation packages, hotels, cruises and rental cars.
Appliance delivery
Delivery, installation and haul-away on most major appliances bought on Costco.com.
Extended warranty
2 years on major appliances, TVs and computers through Costco Technical & Warranty Services.
Pharmacy, optical and hearing aids
Member prescription pricing, eye exams and free hearing tests.
Costco Anywhere Visa
Eligible to apply for the Costco credit card by Citi.
What the Executive membership adds
Annual 2% Reward
Up to $1,250 a year on eligible Costco and Costco Travel purchases.
Early shopping hours
Warehouses open for Executive members only, 9 to 10 a.m. Sunday to Friday and 9 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
$10 monthly same-day delivery credit
On an eligible order of $150 or more on SameDay.Costco.com, powered by Instacart.
Extra value on Costco Travel
Executive benefits on select Costco Travel packages.
Executive-only services
Extra value on the Costco Auto Program, Figo pet insurance and PODS moving and storage.
The 2% reward doesn't apply to everything: gas, tobacco, food court purchases, stamps and Shop Cards are among the exclusions. Details, Executive hours and a calculator are in our Costco Executive membership guide.
Gold Star vs Executive: when the upgrade pays for itself
The upgrade costs $65 a year. The 2% reward covers that once your eligible spending reaches $3,250 a year, about $271 a month.
| Eligible Costco spend | 2% reward | After the upgrade fee |
|---|---|---|
| $200/mo | $48 | −$17 |
| $300/mo | $72 | +$7 |
| $500/mo | $120 | +$55 |
| $1,000/mo | $240 | +$175 |
Paying with the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi adds a separate 2% back on Costco purchases, with no annual fee while you have a paid membership.
Your membership fee isn't the only way to save
Costco gives back the difference when an item you bought drops in price within 30 days. CostRefund scans your receipts and tells you when to claim it.
Start freeCostco Business membership
Business costs the same $65 as Gold Star and has the same benefits, plus two things Gold Star doesn't: you can buy for resale, and you can add more people for $65 each. It can be upgraded to Executive for the same $65.
Costco membership price history
| Before September 1, 2024 | Now | |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Star / Business | $60 | $65 |
| Executive | $120 | $130 |
| 2% reward cap | $1,000 | $1,250 |
Costco announced the change on July 10, 2024, and it applied from September 1, 2024, the first increase since 2017. Existing members paid the new price at their next renewal. More on how increases work in Costco membership fee increases.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Costco membership in 2026?+
$65 a year for Gold Star or Business, and $130 a year for Executive, plus sales tax where it applies. Each includes a second card for someone in your household.
What is the difference between Gold Star and Executive?+
Executive costs $65 more and adds a 2% annual reward on eligible Costco and Costco Travel purchases (up to $1,250), early shopping hours, a $10 monthly same-day delivery credit and extra value on some Costco services. Everything else is the same.
When is the Executive membership worth the extra cost?+
When you spend about $3,250 a year (about $271 a month) on purchases that earn the 2% reward. At that point the reward equals the $65 upgrade.
What is a Costco Business membership?+
A $65 membership for business owners. It has the same benefits as Gold Star, lets you buy for resale, and lets you add more people for $65 each. It can be upgraded to Executive too.
When did Costco last raise its membership fee?+
On September 1, 2024: Gold Star and Business went from $60 to $65, Executive from $120 to $130, and the 2% reward cap rose from $1,000 to $1,250. It was the first increase since 2017.
Can you get a refund on a Costco membership?+
Yes. Costco’s satisfaction guarantee covers the membership: it says it will cancel and refund your fee at any time if you’re dissatisfied.
Make the membership pay for itself
CostRefund checks what you bought against today's prices and tells you when you're owed a refund.
Get CostRefund freeFees and benefits from Costco's join page and Executive membership terms, checked November 4, 2026. The 2024 price change as reported by CBS News. The spend table is our own arithmetic. CostRefund is independent and not affiliated with Costco.