Costco Membership Value Calculator: Is It Worth It?
Costco Membership Rewards Overview
- Membership Levels: Choose between Costco's Gold Star Membership for $65/year or the upgraded Executive Membership for $130/year.
- Executive Membership Benefits: Earn 2% back in rewards on most purchases, a perk not available with the standard Gold Star membership.
- Maximize Rewards with Costco Visa: Combine Executive Membership with a Costco Visa to earn up to 4% back in rewards on eligible purchases.
- Is It Worth It?: Executive Membership pays off if you spend more than $3,250 annually (or $271/month) at Costco, in-store or online.
- Rewards Cap: The 2% reward is capped at $1,250 for any 12-month rolling period, equivalent to $62,500 in purchases annually or about $5,209 per month.
- Redeeming Rewards: Rewards are issued as a certificate approximately three months before your renewal date and can be redeemed at front-end registers at U.S. Costco warehouses.
Use our Costco Membership Value Calculator to find out which membership level is worth it based on how much you spend monthly in-store and online with Costco.
Costco Memberships
Costco offers four memberships that allow you to shop in-store and online with Costco.
| Membership | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| Gold Star Membership | $65 |
| Executive Membership | $130 |
| Business Membership | $65 |
| Business Executive Membership | $130 |
Gold Star Membership
Gold Star Membership will cost you $65 per year and it is Costco's lowest membership. With this membership you and one other in your household will be able to shop online and in-store with Costco.
With Gold Star Membership, you will not earn any rewards on your purchases in-store or online with Costco.
Executive Membership
Executive Membership will cost you $130 per year. With this membership, you and one other in your household will receive the benefits of Gold Star membership along with:
- 2% Annual Reward
- Costco Services Discounts
Business Membership
Business Membership costs $65 per year and grants the ability to shop online and in-store at Costco as well as purchase items for resale. Adding employees to the account will cost $65 per person.
Business Executive Membership
Business Executive Membership costs $130 per year and offers the benefits of Business Membership along with:
- 2% Annual Reward
- Costco Services Discounts
Earning Costco cash back
If you have Costco Executive Membership or Business Executive Membership, you'll earn 2% in rewards on qualifying pre-tax purchases at Costco minus any refunds in-store and online with the ability to earn up to $1,250 during any 12-month period.
This means you can earn rewards on up to $62,500 in rolling 12-month spend. Anything over $62,500 in spend during a 12-month period will earn you 0%.
Redeeming Costco cash back
Costco will mail you your cash back rewards in the form of a reward certificate approximately 3 months prior to your renewal date along with your annual renewal notice. You will receive your rewards as long as you've earned at least $1 as an Executive member.
These rewards can be used most merchandise through the front-end registers at Costco warehouses in the United States. Costco rewards certificates can not be used for:
- Alcohol
- Cigarettes or Tobacco-related Products
- Gas Stations
- Food Courts
- Costco.com
- Payment on Credit Card Accounts
- Services (such as Travel & Auto)
The big thing to note here is that you cannot use these on Costco.com which is a bummer. This also cancels out the ability to use them on the Costco Travel section of the website.
Is Costco Executive Membership worth it?
Regardless of whether you're picking up a personal or business Costco membership, basic Costco membership will cost you $65 per year and Costco Executive membership will cost you $130 per year which is a difference of $65.
When you run the math, Costco Executive Membership is worth it if you spend more than $3,250 per year (or $271 per month) in-store or online with Costco. Other benefits offered with Executive membership can also be taken into consideration such as the additional discounts and offers you'll receive for being a member.
Use our Costco Membership Calculator to find out how much you can earn with Costco Executive membership based on the spend amounts you enter.
Calculator: Is Costco membership worth it?
| Rewards earned with Costco Executive membership | $0 per year |
|---|---|
| Is Executive Membership Worth It? | - |
Costco credit card rewards
Costco offers a personal and business Visa credit card through Citi that can earn you 2% cash back on your Costco purchases. If you have Costco Executive Membership, this will be in addition to the 2% you would already earn meaning that you can earn up to 4% cash back at Costco using Costco's Visa credit cards.
Redeeming credit card rewards
Cash back earned with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi and Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi are mailed out to you in the form of an annual reward certificate once your February billing statement closes. This means you'll get paid your rewards once per year.
The annual rewards certificate that you receive will be redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco Warehouses.
Credit card rewards calculator
Use the Costco credit card rewards calculator to find out how much you can earn shopping at Costco with their credit cards.
Calculator: How much will you earn with Costco credit cards?
| Rewards earned with Costco credit card | $0 per year |
|---|---|
| Rewards earned as an Executive Membership holder with a Costco credit card | $0 per year |
Don't forget that along with earning 2% cash back with Costco, both Costco cards also earn 5% back at Costo gas, 4% back at other eligible stations and on electronic vehicle charging, 3% back at restaurants and on travel (including Costco Travel), and 1% back on everything else!
We've run the calculations and checked them twice — here are the credit cards that consistently provide outstanding value to our users:
- Best flexible travel card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best overall value year after year: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Best for high cash back: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Best for foodies: American Express® Gold Card
- Best for business travel rewards: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Best for heavy business spenders: Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Earn points paying rent with no transaction fee using the Bilt Mastercard®.
Redeem points towards future rent payments or transfer them to airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Earn status with Bilt Rewards and get treated like a VIP in your neighborhood with bonus points and access to exclusive benefits at local restaurants, fitness studios, and more.
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