Costco operates as a membership-based warehouse club focusing on bulk purchases and higher-quality products, while Walmart is a traditional open-access retailer offering everyday low prices and convenience. Costco targets families and businesses buying in bulk, whereas Walmart serves everyday shoppers seeking affordability and variety.
Costco vs Walmart — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Membership-based warehouse club offering bulk products and premium Kirkland Signature private label.
Largest physical retailer globally with integrated online and in-store shopping combining convenience and value.
Business Model. Annual Membership Fee. Average Transaction Size. Product Selection. Product Quality Focus. Global Store Count. Price Point Strategy. E-commerce Integration
Costco excels for bulk buyers and families seeking quality products at per-unit savings, while Walmart dominates for convenience, selection, and accessibility without membership fees. Choose Costco for long-term value and premium quality; choose Walmart for variety, accessibility, and everyday shopping convenience.
Costco: Kirkland Signature (premium) | Walmart: N/A
Costco: Digital ordering, scan-and-go | Walmart: N/A
Costco: Members only (2026 change) | Walmart: N/A
Costco: Prescription pricing adjustments | Walmart: N/A
Costco: 12+ countries global | Walmart: N/A
Costco: Kirkland Signature (extensive) | Walmart: N/A
Costco: Stable/Conservative | Walmart: N/A
Costco: Conservative, selective | Walmart: N/A
Costco: Costco: $300+ million | Walmart: Walmart: $50-60 million
Customer Satisfaction (Net Promoter Score)
Costco: Costco: 80+ | Walmart: Walmart: 45-50
Costco: Costco: $28-32 | Walmart: Walmart: $16-18
Costco: Costco: 11-12x | Walmart: Walmart: 8-9x
Costco: Costco: 2-3 days | Walmart: Walmart: Same-day available
Costco: Costco: $450+ billion | Walmart: Walmart: $400+ billion
Costco: Costco: 300+ thousand | Walmart: Walmart: 2.1+ million
Costco: Costco: 3-4% | Walmart: Walmart: 7-8%
Costco: $2,000 to break-even | Walmart: N/A (no membership)
Kirkland/Great Value Private Label Market Share
Costco: Multi-packs/cases standard | Walmart: Single units available
Private Label Savings vs National Brands
Costco: N/A | Walmart: 10-15% (Great Value brand)
Estimated Break-Even on Membership (annual savings needed)
Costco: N/A | Walmart: 5-10% discount on select items (members only)
Costco: N/A | Walmart: ~85% of metro areas
Costco: N/A | Walmart: Basic manufacturer defect coverage only
Costco: N/A | Walmart: Limited technical support in electronics departments
Costco: N/A | Walmart: ~40+ (general merchandise)
Costco: N/A | Walmart: 30,000-40,000 items
Costco: N/A | Walmart: 25-30% private label
Costco: N/A | Walmart: 20+ services (grocery, pharmacy, gas, vision, financial, auto, home services)
Costco: N/A | Walmart: ~140 million weekly
Costco: N/A | Walmart: $400+ billion USD
Costco: N/A | Walmart: 5-15¢ (Walmart+ only)
Costco: N/A | Walmart: 10-20% (Great Value)
Costco: N/A | Walmart: 2-5 days (standard)
Costco: N/A | Walmart: 8,000-12,000 SKUs
Costco: N/A | Walmart: No dedicated program
Costco: N/A | Walmart: Limited hours, chat/email
Costco: N/A | Walmart: Free (no membership required)
Costco: N/A | Walmart: 3-5 days (free over $35)
Costco: N/A | Walmart: $0.5 billion (minimal)
How to choose between Costco and Walmart
Costco vs Walmart — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Costco vs Walmart. Contains 82 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Costco vs Walmart.
For families spending $200+ monthly on groceries and household items, Costco membership typically pays for itself within 3-4 months through bulk savings of 10-15%. The added benefits (pharmacy, gas, travel discounts) provide additional value. Individual shoppers or those with limited storage may find Walmart's open-access model more economical.
Costco offers lower per-unit costs on bulk items (typically 10-15% savings), while Walmart often has lower individual item prices due to its massive scale. Costco excels for household staples bought in bulk; Walmart wins for variety and single-item purchases. Your savings depend on shopping habits and household size.
Can I shop at Costco without a membership?
Standard Costco membership is required for warehouse shopping. However, Costco.com allows non-members to purchase select items with a 5% surcharge, and some locations offer limited guest passes. Walmart has no membership requirement and welcomes all shoppers.
Costco's Kirkland brand is widely regarded as premium quality with rigorous standards, while Walmart's Great Value brand prioritizes affordability. Costco's curated selection limits lower-quality options, whereas Walmart offers budget to premium tiers. Quality perception favors Costco, but Walmart offers more choice across price points.
Walmart significantly outperforms Costco in e-commerce with same-day delivery options, mobile app functionality, and broader online inventory. Costco.com offers convenience but with slower fulfillment (2-3 days) and limited product selection compared to in-warehouse offerings. Walmart is the clear winner for digital shopping convenience.
How to Choose Between Costco and Walmart
Business Model: Costco has Membership-based warehouse club, while Walmart has Open-access discount retailer.
Annual Membership Fee: Costco has $65-$130 (Gold/Executive), while Walmart has No membership required.
Average Transaction Size: Costco has $150+ per visit, while Walmart has $35-$50 per visit.
Product Selection: Costco has Limited SKUs (~3,700 per warehouse), while Walmart has Extensive SKUs (~140,000 per store).
Product Quality Focus: Costco has Premium & private label Kirkland brand, while Walmart has Budget-friendly Great Value brand.
Global Store Count: Costco has 871 warehouses (2026), while Walmart has 10,500+ locations (2026).
Price Point Strategy: Costco has Lower per-unit cost for bulk purchases, while Walmart has Everyday low prices for individual items.
E-commerce Integration: Costco has Growing online platform with limitations, while Walmart has Full omnichannel with same-day delivery.