Both warehouse clubs can save your household hundreds of dollars a year versus regular grocery and retail prices. But “cheaper” means different things in the bread aisle versus the pharmacy window versus the gas pump — and which store wins depends heavily on which of those categories actually matches how your household shops. This guide settles it category by category so you’re not making a $60–$130 membership decision based on guesswork.
If you’re in a hurry, these are the straight answers to what most people are actually searching for.
- 1 Which warehouse club has the cheaper membership fee? Sam’s Club is cheaper at both membership levels. The basic Sam’s Club membership costs $60/year versus Costco’s $65. The premium tiers run $120 (Sam’s Plus) versus $130 (Costco Executive). Note: Sam’s Club raised its prices in May of the most recent membership cycle — their first increase in five years — so this gap is narrower than it used to be. The $5–$10 annual difference is real but modest; the more meaningful question is which benefits and prices justify your total spend.
- 2 Which store has cheaper groceries overall? It depends on the category. Across a broad basket of comparable grocery items, Sam’s Club tends to run slightly lower on packaged foods, paper goods, and pantry staples — where the Walmart supply chain gives it a genuine pricing edge. Costco tends to edge out Sam’s Club on produce, dairy, eggs, and organic items, where its Kirkland Signature sourcing and tighter SKU strategy keep prices consistently low. Neither store is universally cheaper across every single aisle — the answer changes by product.
- 3 Do you need a membership to use the pharmacy at either store? No — both Costco and Sam’s Club pharmacies are legally required to serve non-members for prescription medications. You cannot walk in and buy groceries without a membership, but you can pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy counter without one. This is worth knowing if you’re trying to compare their prescription prices before committing to a membership, or if you want the prescription savings without the full membership cost.
- 4 Which store has cheaper prescription drug prices? Sam’s Club generally has lower pharmacy prices on generic medications — often 20–30% less than Costco for common generics. Both stores offer significant savings compared to traditional retail pharmacies, but Sam’s Club’s connection to Walmart’s pharmacy infrastructure tends to produce sharper prices on everyday prescriptions. Costco’s pharmacy tends to be better staffed and consistently praised for service. Both are far cheaper than CVS or Walgreens for most generic medications.
- 5 Which store has the better gas price? Both stores price gas at roughly 20–40 cents per gallon below the local market average — making them essentially tied on pump price. Where they differ is on credit card rewards: the Sam’s Club Mastercard earns 5% back on gas purchases (up to $6,000 per year), while the Costco Visa earns 4% back on gas (up to $7,000 per year). The Sam’s Club rate is higher; Costco’s spending cap is higher. For most households, both options deliver meaningful annual fuel savings. One practical difference: Sam’s Club accepts all major credit cards at the pump; Costco’s gas stations only accept Visa.
- 6 Which store has the better return policy? Costco by a significant margin. Costco’s return policy is one of the most generous in all of retail — most items can be returned at any time, no questions asked, no receipt required. Electronics are 90 days. Sam’s Club has a solid return policy, but it prefers the original receipt and reserves the right to limit returns on certain items. If hassle-free returns matter to you — especially on large purchases, electronics, or items you’re unsure about — Costco has a clear edge here.
- 7 Which store is easier to shop in — especially for people who dislike long lines? Sam’s Club, and it’s not close. Sam’s Club’s Scan & Go app lets you scan items with your phone as you shop and pay on the way out — no checkout line at all. This feature is available at all Sam’s Club locations and is one of its most consistently praised differentiators. Costco has historically had long checkout lines, which became their members’ top complaint. Costco is testing scan-and-go checkout in a limited number of stores as of this writing, but it is not yet widely available. For anyone who finds long lines exhausting or physically challenging, Sam’s Club is meaningfully more convenient right now.
- 8 Which store has more locations in the United States? They’re very close, but their geographic coverage is different. Costco operates roughly 617 US locations; Sam’s Club has approximately 602. More importantly, where they’re located differs: Costco is stronger on the Pacific Coast, parts of New England, and the Upper Midwest. Sam’s Club dominates the South, Plains states, and much of Middle America. If you live in the Southeast, Texas, or the Midwest, Sam’s Club is almost certainly closer. If you’re on the West Coast or Northeast, Costco likely has more nearby options.
- 9 Is it worth having memberships at both stores? For some households, yes — but most people do fine with one. Having both memberships costs $125–$195 per year combined at basic tiers and requires time and proximity to both locations. The scenario where it makes sense: you live near both, you buy meat and produce primarily at Costco (for quality), and paper goods and prescriptions primarily at Sam’s Club (for price). If both stores aren’t within reasonable driving distance of each other, the gasoline and time cost of using both often outweighs the incremental savings.
The membership fee is the first hurdle. You’re paying to get in the door — so knowing exactly what each tier costs, and what extras each one delivers, matters before anything else.
$60 per year — Sam’s Club raised this from $50 in May of the most recent pricing cycle, its first increase in five years. The basic Club membership covers in-store and online shopping, pharmacy access, optical and hearing services, gas station, tire center, and travel discounts. You can add a household member (spouse or partner) for no additional charge. A key feature at this tier is full access to the Scan & Go app — meaning even the cheapest tier gets the skip-the-line mobile checkout advantage. Basic members earn 1% Sam’s Cash back on most purchases.
$120 per year — The Plus upgrade adds early shopping hours (before the store opens to Club members), free shipping on most online orders over $50, and the 2% Sam’s Cash reward on qualifying purchases — capped at $500 per year. You’d need to spend $3,000 per year at Sam’s Club for the 2% cash back to cover the $60 upgrade cost on its own. Plus members also receive additional savings at the pharmacy, optical, and tire center. The key math: if you spend more than $250/month at Sam’s Club, the Plus tier can pay for itself through cash back alone.
$65 per year — Costco raised its membership fee in September 2024 from $60, its first increase in over seven years. The Gold Star membership covers in-store and Costco.com shopping, pharmacy, optical, hearing, gas, tire center, and travel services. One household card is included. A notable limitation at this tier: Costco warehouse locations only accept Visa credit cards — all major debit cards and cash are accepted, but non-Visa credit cards are not. If you carry an Amex, Mastercard, or Discover card, you either use debit, cash, or the Costco Visa. Online at Costco.com, all major cards are accepted.
$130 per year — The Executive upgrade adds 2% annual reward on most Costco purchases, capped at $1,250 per year — 2.5 times higher than Sam’s Club’s $500 cap. This ceiling matters if your household spends heavily at Costco. You would need to spend over $25,000 per year at Sam’s Club to hit their $500 cap, which most families won’t reach. At Costco, you’d hit the $1,250 ceiling at $62,500 in annual purchases. Costco also guarantees the Executive upgrade pays for itself — if your 2% rewards don’t cover the $65 upgrade cost at year end, Costco refunds the difference. That guarantee removes the risk of upgrading.
Sam’s Club periodically offers first-year membership discounts specifically targeting shoppers age 50 and older — reducing the entry cost of trying the club for the first time. New member promotions can reduce the basic Club membership to as low as $25–$35 for the first year. These promotions rotate, so availability varies. If you’re considering joining Sam’s Club for the first time, it is worth searching for current new-member deals before paying full price — the typical new-member promotion effectively gives you a trial period at a fraction of the standard rate.
The only honest comparison is one that doesn’t declare a single winner for everything. Here’s how they actually stack up across the categories that move most household budgets.
For fresh food categories — produce, dairy, eggs, meat quality, and organic items — Costco consistently comes out ahead. Kirkland Signature sourcing is tighter and more consistent than Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark in these categories, and Costco’s limited-SKU strategy means they negotiate hard on fewer items and buy in larger volume. Estimates put Costco’s milk price at roughly $3.70–$4.10 per gallon versus Sam’s at $3.80–$4.20. On eggs, Costco similarly tends to run a few cents less per dozen. On organic produce and premium proteins, the Kirkland name carries real quality recognition that Member’s Mark has not matched across the board. If fresh food is the majority of your warehouse shopping, Costco earns that trip.
When it comes to bulk paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, laundry detergent, and packaged pantry staples, Sam’s Club’s pricing advantage from its Walmart supply chain is most visible. A large pack of paper towels typically runs $16–$18 at Sam’s Club versus $18–$20 at Costco. Sam’s Club also runs “price hold” programs on these categories — committing to a price for an extended period — which helps members plan and stock up confidently. For households that go through paper goods and cleaning products in bulk, Sam’s Club’s edge in this category alone can more than offset the membership fee difference. Member’s Mark detergent, trash bags, and zip-lock equivalents consistently undercut Kirkland on unit price.
One item where Sam’s Club’s edge is hard to argue with: boneless skinless chicken breast. Price comparisons have consistently found Sam’s Club running roughly $1.37 per pound cheaper than Costco on this high-volume protein. For a family buying a 10-pound pack twice a month, that gap adds up to $30+ in annual savings on chicken alone. On other proteins, the results are more mixed — Costco’s beef quality (particularly their USDA Choice and Prime cuts) is frequently cited as superior even when Sam’s Club’s price is lower. If you cook a lot of chicken, that’s a point for Sam’s Club. If you prioritize steak and salmon quality, Costco often wins on that specific ground.
At the pump, both stores consistently offer gas at 20–40 cents per gallon below the surrounding market price. The per-gallon pump price is essentially a tie. Where they differ: Sam’s Club accepts all major credit cards at the pump; Costco gas stations only accept Visa. On rewards, the Sam’s Club Mastercard earns 5% back on gas (up to $6,000 in annual gas purchases), while the Costco Anywhere Visa earns 4% (up to $7,000). Sam’s has the higher rate; Costco’s cap is higher. For quality, Costco gas stations are consistently recognized as Top Tier certified — a fuel quality certification that matters for vehicle engine health over time.
For anyone managing multiple medications — common in households over 55 — this category can be the single most financially significant difference between the two clubs. Sam’s Club’s pharmacy prices on generic medications routinely run 20–30% lower than Costco’s on equivalent drugs. Common medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and anxiety are among the categories where this gap shows up most clearly. Neither pharmacy requires membership to fill a prescription — both are legally open to non-members for pharmacy services. Costco’s pharmacy tends to have stronger staffing in larger markets, which matters for service quality. But on price for generics, Sam’s Club consistently holds the edge.
This category isn’t close. Costco’s return policy — unlimited time on most merchandise, no receipt required, no questions asked — has become legendary among members and is frequently cited as one of the strongest consumer protections offered by any major retailer. Electronics are the exception at 90 days, but everything else can generally be returned long after purchase if you’re unhappy with it. Sam’s Club has a respectable return policy, but it prefers the original receipt and reserves the right to limit returns. For households making large purchases — appliances, electronics, outdoor furniture, tools — Costco’s return policy represents meaningful financial protection that Sam’s Club cannot match.
Costco’s checkout lines have been their most consistent member complaint for years — particularly on weekends and around the holidays, when waits of 20–30 minutes at checkout are not uncommon. Sam’s Club solved this with the Scan & Go app, which lets every member — including basic Club tier members — scan items with their phone as they shop and walk out without waiting in any line. Costco is testing scan-and-go checkout in a limited number of stores, but it is not available chain-wide. Sam’s Club also accepts all major credit cards in-store; Costco only accepts Visa. For anyone who finds long lines physically draining or simply values their time, the shopping experience at Sam’s Club is currently more modern and convenient.
Both stores have developed their private label brands into genuinely competitive products. But Costco’s Kirkland Signature line — which spans everything from olive oil to cashmere sweaters to batteries to Scotch whisky — has built a quality reputation that Member’s Mark has not quite replicated across all categories. Kirkland Signature batteries test as well or better than name brands. Kirkland Signature olive oil and nuts are consistently rated highly. Kirkland Signature spirits are legendarily good value. Member’s Mark has strong offerings in paper goods, snacks, and cleaning products, but Costco’s brand carries broader quality cachet. If private-label quality matters in your shopping decisions, Kirkland leads.
Every major category in one place. Use this to quickly identify which store wins on the things your household actually buys and uses most.
| Category | Sam’s Club | Costco | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Membership | $60/year | $65/year | ✅ Sam’s Club |
| Premium Membership | $120/year (Plus) | $130/year (Executive) | ✅ Sam’s Club |
| Cash-Back Rate | 2% — capped $500/yr | 2% — capped $1,250/yr | Tie (high spenders: Costco) |
| Produce & Dairy | Competitive | Slightly cheaper, better quality | ✅ Costco |
| Eggs | ~$2.80–$3.30/dozen | ~$2.70–$3.20/dozen | ✅ Costco |
| Chicken Breast | ~$1.37/lb cheaper | Higher per-pound price | ✅ Sam’s Club |
| Paper Goods & Cleaning | $16–$18 large pack paper towels | $18–$20 comparable pack | ✅ Sam’s Club |
| Gas Pump Price | 20–40¢ below market | 20–40¢ below market | Tie |
| Gas Card Rewards | 5% back (up to $6,000/yr) | 4% back (up to $7,000/yr) | Tie (Sam’s rate, Costco cap) |
| Gas Fuel Quality | Standard | Top Tier certified | ✅ Costco |
| Pharmacy — Generics | 20–30% cheaper on generics | Higher — but well-staffed | ✅ Sam’s Club |
| Non-Member Pharmacy | Yes — legally open to all | Yes — legally open to all | Tie |
| Return Policy | Good — receipt preferred | Unlimited — no receipt needed | ✅ Costco |
| Checkout Experience | Scan & Go — no wait | Long lines — testing scan-go | ✅ Sam’s Club |
| Credit Cards In-Store | All major cards | Visa only in warehouse | ✅ Sam’s Club |
| Store Brand Quality | Member’s Mark — strong in staples | Kirkland Signature — broader edge | ✅ Costco |
| Organic Selection | Limited | Broader selection | ✅ Costco |
| US Locations | ~602 — South, Midwest heavy | ~617 — West Coast, Northeast heavy | Tie (region-dependent) |
| Food Court | $1.38 hot dog combo | $1.50 hot dog combo | ✅ Sam’s Club (slightly) |
Prices are approximate and vary by location, region, and season. Both stores change pricing, membership fees, and promotions periodically. Always verify specific prices at your local warehouse before making a purchasing decision. “Winner” designations reflect general trends across multiple price comparison analyses — individual items may differ.
The right warehouse club is not the same for every household. The decision gets easier once you match your actual shopping habits to where each store wins.
If prescriptions are a meaningful budget line — especially for a household managing multiple chronic conditions — go to Sam’s Club. Their pharmacy consistently prices generic medications 20–30% lower than Costco, and the pharmacies at both stores are legally open to non-members for prescription purposes. You don’t even need a membership to use the Sam’s Club pharmacy. Walk in, drop off your prescription, compare what they charge versus your current pharmacy, and then decide whether a membership makes sense. Sam’s Club Plus members also receive additional savings at the pharmacy window beyond what the basic Club tier offers.
Costco. The quality of Costco’s produce section, Kirkland Signature meats, and organic offerings is consistently rated higher than Sam’s Club across most independent comparisons. Costco’s limited-SKU buying strategy means they focus their buying power on fewer products and negotiate harder on each one — which shows up in both price and consistency in the fresh food aisles. If your grocery cart is primarily produce, proteins, and organic items, Costco will deliver more value both on price and on the satisfaction of what ends up on your table.
Sam’s Club for paper goods, cleaning supplies, and packaged pantry staples. The Walmart supply chain that sits behind Sam’s Club gives it a meaningful unit-price advantage in commodity categories like paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, and laundry detergent. The gap is typically $2–$4 per large multi-pack versus Costco — and Sam’s Club runs price-hold programs on these categories, so you can stock up knowing the price won’t jump next week. Member’s Mark products in these categories are solid and competitive with Kirkland.
Sam’s Club is meaningfully more accessible right now for anyone who finds long waits physically difficult. The Scan & Go app allows you to check out from your phone without standing in any line at all. You scan items as you go, pay on your phone, show a QR code at the exit, and leave. Costco’s checkout lines are frequently cited as the chain’s biggest weakness, and while they are testing mobile checkout in some locations, it is not available everywhere. If physical comfort during shopping matters, Sam’s Club is the better choice until Costco rolls out their checkout technology more broadly.
Costco. Costco’s near-unlimited return policy is the most financially significant consumer protection that differentiates it from Sam’s Club — and it matters most on expensive purchases. An appliance that fails after a few months, a piece of outdoor furniture that doesn’t hold up, an electronic that doesn’t meet your needs — Costco members can return these long after purchase with no friction. That protection has real monetary value that doesn’t show up in any price comparison. If you’re planning a significant household purchase and want the ability to return it if it doesn’t work out, Costco’s policy is worth the extra $5/year on the membership.
Sam’s Club’s lower entry cost ($60 vs $65) and cheaper pharmacy prices make it the better starting point for households on fixed incomes — particularly if prescriptions are a regular expense. Before paying for either membership, though, check whether you qualify for Sam’s Club’s first-year new-member promotion, which can reduce entry cost to as low as $25–$35 for the first year. Additionally, if your household spends most of its warehouse budget on paper goods, cleaning products, and pharmacy, Sam’s Club’s advantages in those categories will compound over the year. For someone spending $100–$150 per month at the warehouse, either membership pays for itself well within the first month or two — the question is just which one extracts the most value from your specific regular purchases.
Knowing which store to join is only part of the equation. These are the things that separate members who get full value from those who quietly overpay.
Before you join either club for the first time, go to the pharmacy counter without a membership and ask for the price on your regular prescriptions. Both Sam’s Club and Costco pharmacies are legally required to serve non-members for prescription medications. This gives you real data on whether the pharmacy savings alone will offset the membership fee — and at Sam’s Club in particular, where generic pricing runs 20–30% below Costco, even a single expensive generic can pay for the membership in a few months.
This matters more than most people realize. If you don’t have a Visa card and plan to shop at Costco, you can only pay in-store with Mastercard, Amex, or Discover by using them as debit (PIN-based) or paying cash. Costco’s warehouse locations only accept Visa credit cards. If you’re a heavy non-Visa credit card user, that limitation is a real friction point. Sam’s Club accepts all major credit cards — which is simply more convenient for most households. Neither store requires you to use their co-branded card, but the co-branded cards offer the highest rewards rates at their respective stores.
Warehouse club shopping inverts the normal grocery trap — instead of buying small quantities at high prices, you risk buying large quantities of things that go bad before you finish them. A 10-pound bag of produce or a club pack of meat is only a bargain if your household actually gets through it before it spoils. For smaller households, the sweet spots are shelf-stable pantry staples (pasta, canned goods, paper products, cleaning supplies), frozen meats, and non-perishable household items. Fresh produce, bread, and dairy should be purchased in quantities matched to what your household reliably consumes within the shelf life.
A warehouse club price is only a bargain if the unit price beats what you can get elsewhere — and that is not always the case, even at bulk-focused stores. Both Costco and Sam’s Club occasionally have items where the unit price is not actually lower than a sale price at a regular grocery store or a Walmart. Before stocking up, divide the total price by the count or weight to get the per-unit cost, then compare that to your usual store. Items where warehouse clubs reliably win on unit price: nuts, cooking oils, laundry detergent, paper goods, canned goods, frozen proteins, and batteries. Items where the math is less clear: specialty foods, fresh produce (depending on what’s in season), and highly rotational items that regular stores frequently put on sale.
Both Costco and Sam’s Club operate tire centers that frequently offer competitive pricing on major tire brands combined with installation, lifetime rotation, balancing, and flat repair included in the purchase price. For a full set of four tires, both clubs often beat Firestone, Goodyear, and regional tire shops by $50–$150 total when you factor in the included services. Neither tire center requires a membership to purchase tires at Sam’s Club or Costco — though membership may affect specific promotional pricing. Before your next set of tires, get a quote from both clubs alongside your regular shop. The savings are frequently significant enough to be worth the extra stop.
This page is for general informational purposes only. Membership fees, product prices, and store policies are subject to change at any time and vary by location — verify all current pricing directly with Sam’s Club (samsclub.com) and Costco (costco.com) before making any membership or purchasing decisions. Price comparisons reflect general market trends from publicly available analyses and may not reflect current prices at your local warehouse. The availability of Sam’s Club Scan & Go, Costco mobile checkout, and other technology features may vary by location. Pharmacy pricing varies by medication, quantity, and local market. Neither Sam’s Club nor Costco endorses or is affiliated with this content. This is an independent editorial comparison. Gas station pricing varies daily and by region; fuel quality certifications are subject to ongoing verification.