Costco vs Walmart
type: Article
description: 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.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-05-28T06:54:46.395Z
date created: 2026-05-28T06:54:46.395Z
date modified: 2026-05-28T06:54:46.397Z
content reference time: 2026-05-28T06:54:46.397Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Costco
about: Walmart
abstract: 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.
text: Business Model. Annual Membership Fee. Average Transaction Size. Product Selection. Product Quality Focus. Global Store Count. Price Point Strategy. E-commerce Integration
conclusion text: 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.
additional property: Annual Revenue
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: $238 Billion | Walmart: $648B
  value reference: Walmart
additional property: Membership Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: $65 | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Average Employee Wage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: ~$26 | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Basic Annual Membership Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Costco Gold | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Premium Membership Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Costco Executive | Walmart: N/A
additional property: US Store Locations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Costco | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Organic Product Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Extensive range | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Private Label Brand Recognition
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Kirkland Signature (premium) | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Digital Technology Features (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Digital ordering, scan-and-go | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Food Court Access Policy
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Members only (2026 change) | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Fresh Food Menu Updates (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Prescription pricing adjustments | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Annual Membership Cost (Gold/Basic)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: $65 | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Total Club Locations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: 870+ | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Annual Revenue (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: $280+ | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Geographic Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: 12+ countries global | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Private Label Brands
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Kirkland Signature (extensive) | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Projected Comp Sales Growth (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Stable/Conservative | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Promotional Frequency
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Conservative, selective | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Annual Revenue per Store
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Costco: $300+ million | Walmart: Walmart: $50-60 million
  value reference: Costco
additional property: Customer Satisfaction (Net Promoter Score)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Costco: 80+ | Walmart: Walmart: 45-50
  value reference: Costco
additional property: Average Employee Wage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Costco: $28-32 | Walmart: Walmart: $16-18
  value reference: Costco
additional property: Inventory Turnover
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Costco: 11-12x | Walmart: Walmart: 8-9x
  value reference: Costco
additional property: Online Order Fulfillment
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Costco: 2-3 days | Walmart: Walmart: Same-day available
  value reference: Walmart
additional property: Market Capitalization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Costco: $450+ billion | Walmart: Walmart: $400+ billion
  value reference: Costco
additional property: Global Employee Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Costco: 300+ thousand | Walmart: Walmart: 2.1+ million
  value reference: Walmart
additional property: Product Return Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Costco: 3-4% | Walmart: Walmart: 7-8%
  value reference: Costco
additional property: Annual Membership Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: $60-130 | Walmart: $0
  value reference: Walmart
additional property: Product SKU Count per Store
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: 3,600-4,000 | Walmart: 100,000+
  value reference: Walmart
additional property: US Store Locations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: 570+ | Walmart: 3,572
  value reference: Walmart
additional property: Average Transaction Value
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: $120-150 | Walmart: $45-55
  value reference: Walmart
additional property: Estimated Annual Savings Threshold
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: $2,000 to break-even | Walmart: N/A (no membership)
additional property: Kirkland/Great Value Private Label Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: 35-40% | Walmart: 15-20%
  value reference: Costco
additional property: Bulk Purchase Minimum Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: Multi-packs/cases standard | Walmart: Single units available
additional property: Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: 84 | Walmart: 76
  value reference: Costco
additional property: Market Cap
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: $450 Billion
additional property: US Stores
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: ~4,700 US
additional property: U.S. Store Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: ~3,600 stores
additional property: Per-Unit Price on Bulk Staples
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: $1.20
additional property: Total Product SKUs
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 140,000+
additional property: Grocery Product Mix
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 35-40%
additional property: Private Label Savings vs National Brands
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 10-15% (Great Value brand)
additional property: Estimated Break-Even on Membership (annual savings needed)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: N/A
additional property: Average Electronics Price Premium
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: Baseline (lower)
additional property: Membership Reward Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 5-10% discount on select items (members only)
additional property: Same-Day Delivery Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: ~85% of metro areas
additional property: Warranty Coverage for Electronics
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: Basic manufacturer defect coverage only
additional property: In-Store Tech Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: Limited technical support in electronics departments
additional property: Product Categories Offered
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: ~40+ (general merchandise)
additional property: Total Global Stores
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 10,500+ stores
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/costco
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/costco
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/walmart
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/walmart
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/costco-vs-walmart
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/costco-vs-walmart
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/costco-vs-sam-s-club
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related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bj-s-wholesale-vs-costco
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related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/amazon-vs-walmart
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/chewy-vs-walmart
teaches: How to choose between Costco and Walmart
genre: Retail

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Costco vs Walmart — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Costco
type: Organization
language: en-US
description: Membership-based warehouse club offering bulk products and premium Kirkland Signature private label.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Costco
subject of: Costco vs Walmart
image: ImageObject
  caption: Costco

Walmart
type: Organization
language: en-US
description: Largest physical retailer globally with integrated online and in-store shopping combining convenience and value.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Walmart
subject of: Costco vs Walmart
image: ImageObject
  caption: Walmart

Costco vs Walmart — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Costco vs Walmart. Contains 82 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Annual Revenue
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale & Reach
variable measured: Membership Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Average Employee Wage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Culture
variable measured: Basic Annual Membership Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Premium Membership Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: US Store Locations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale
variable measured: Organic Product Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Selection
variable measured: Private Label Brand Recognition
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Branding
variable measured: Digital Technology Features (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Innovation
variable measured: Food Court Access Policy
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Benefits
variable measured: Fresh Food Menu Updates (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Product Quality
variable measured: Annual Membership Cost (Gold/Basic)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Total Club Locations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale
variable measured: Annual Revenue (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Financial
variable measured: Geographic Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Coverage
variable measured: Private Label Brands
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Product Selection
variable measured: Projected Comp Sales Growth (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Promotional Frequency
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Marketing
variable measured: Annual Revenue per Store
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Financial Performance
variable measured: Customer Satisfaction (Net Promoter Score)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customer Experience
variable measured: Average Employee Wage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Labor
variable measured: Inventory Turnover
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operations
variable measured: Online Order Fulfillment
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: E-commerce
variable measured: Market Capitalization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Financial Performance
variable measured: Global Employee Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale
variable measured: Product Return Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customer Experience
variable measured: Annual Membership Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost Structure
variable measured: Product SKU Count per Store
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Selection
variable measured: US Store Locations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operational Scale
variable measured: Average Transaction Value
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customer Spending
variable measured: Estimated Annual Savings Threshold
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Value Proposition
variable measured: Kirkland/Great Value Private Label Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Private Label
variable measured: Bulk Purchase Minimum Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Purchase Format
variable measured: Customer Satisfaction Score (ACSI)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customer Experience
variable measured: Market Cap
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Business
variable measured: US Stores
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale
variable measured: U.S. Store Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Retail Coverage
variable measured: Per-Unit Price on Bulk Staples
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Total Product SKUs
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Selection
variable measured: Grocery Product Mix
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Product Mix
variable measured: Private Label Savings vs National Brands
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Estimated Break-Even on Membership (annual savings needed)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Value Proposition
variable measured: Average Electronics Price Premium
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Membership Reward Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Membership
variable measured: Same-Day Delivery Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Delivery
variable measured: Warranty Coverage for Electronics
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Protection
variable measured: In-Store Tech Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Service
variable measured: Product Categories Offered
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Product Range
variable measured: Total Global Stores
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale & Reach
variable measured: Product SKUs per Store
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Selection
variable measured: Average Basket Price Difference
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Private Label Products
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Product Mix
variable measured: Average Checkout Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Convenience
variable measured: Integrated Services Offered
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Convenience
variable measured: US Weekly Customer Traffic
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Annual Revenue (US operations)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Financial Scale
variable measured: Bulk Item Savings vs Retail
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Fuel Discount Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Rewards
variable measured: Minimum Typical Purchase
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Convenience
variable measured: Return Policy Window
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customer Service
variable measured: Member's Mark/Great Value Brand Savings
variable measured: Physical Store Count
variable measured: US E-commerce Market Share
variable measured: Membership Cost (Annual)
variable measured: Standard Delivery Time
variable measured: US Grocery Market Share
variable measured: Estimated Active Users
variable measured: Available Product SKUs
variable measured: Total Pet Product Selection
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/costco-vs-walmart

Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Costco vs Walmart.
has defined term: Scale & Reach
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Culture
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Scale
has defined term: Selection
has defined term: Branding
has defined term: Innovation
has defined term: Benefits
has defined term: Product Quality
has defined term: Financial
has defined term: Coverage
has defined term: Product Selection
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Marketing
has defined term: Financial Performance
has defined term: Customer Experience
has defined term: Labor
has defined term: Operations
has defined term: E-commerce
has defined term: Cost Structure
has defined term: Operational Scale
has defined term: Customer Spending
has defined term: Value Proposition
has defined term: Private Label
has defined term: Purchase Format
has defined term: Business
has defined term: Retail Coverage
has defined term: Product Mix
has defined term: Membership
has defined term: Delivery
has defined term: Protection
has defined term: Service
has defined term: Product Range
has defined term: Convenience
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Financial Scale
has defined term: Rewards
has defined term: Customer Service
has defined term: Retail Presence
has defined term: Logistics
has defined term: User Base
has defined term: Loyalty/Subscriptions
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Retail Footprint
has defined term: Shipping
has defined term: Shipping Speed
has defined term: Business Diversification

Scale & Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale-&-reach
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Culture
type: DefinedTerm
term code: culture
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Selection
type: DefinedTerm
term code: selection
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Branding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: branding
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Innovation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: innovation
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Benefits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: benefits
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-quality
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Financial
type: DefinedTerm
term code: financial
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Coverage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: coverage
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Selection
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-selection
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Marketing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: marketing
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Financial Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: financial-performance
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customer Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customer-experience
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Labor
type: DefinedTerm
term code: labor
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operations
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

E-commerce
type: DefinedTerm
term code: e-commerce
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost Structure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost-structure
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operational Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operational-scale
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customer Spending
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customer-spending
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Value Proposition
type: DefinedTerm
term code: value-proposition
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Private Label
type: DefinedTerm
term code: private-label
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Purchase Format
type: DefinedTerm
term code: purchase-format
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Business
type: DefinedTerm
term code: business
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Retail Coverage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: retail-coverage
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Mix
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-mix
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Membership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: membership
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Delivery
type: DefinedTerm
term code: delivery
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Protection
type: DefinedTerm
term code: protection
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Service
type: DefinedTerm
term code: service
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Range
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-range
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Convenience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: convenience
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Financial Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: financial-scale
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Rewards
type: DefinedTerm
term code: rewards
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customer Service
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customer-service
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Retail Presence
type: DefinedTerm
term code: retail-presence
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Logistics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: logistics
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Base
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-base
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Loyalty/Subscriptions
type: DefinedTerm
term code: loyalty/subscriptions
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Retail Footprint
type: DefinedTerm
term code: retail-footprint
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Shipping
type: DefinedTerm
term code: shipping
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Shipping Speed
type: DefinedTerm
term code: shipping-speed
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Business Diversification
type: DefinedTerm
term code: business-diversification
in defined term set: Costco vs Walmart — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-05-28T06:54:46.397Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: costco-vs-walmart
main entity: Is Costco membership worth the cost?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: 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.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which store has better prices overall?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: 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.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I shop at Costco without a membership?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: 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.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which has better product quality?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: 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.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which is better for online shopping?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: 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.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Costco and Walmart
type: HowTo
description: 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.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Business Model
step: Consider: Annual Membership Fee
step: Consider: Average Transaction Size
step: Consider: Product Selection
step: Consider: Product Quality Focus
step: Consider: Global Store Count
step: Consider: Price Point Strategy
step: Consider: E-commerce Integration
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: 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.

Consider: Business Model
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Business Model: Costco has Membership-based warehouse club, while Walmart has Open-access discount retailer.

Consider: Annual Membership Fee
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Annual Membership Fee: Costco has $65-$130 (Gold/Executive), while Walmart has No membership required.

Consider: Average Transaction Size
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Average Transaction Size: Costco has $150+ per visit, while Walmart has $35-$50 per visit.

Consider: Product Selection
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Product Selection: Costco has Limited SKUs (~3,700 per warehouse), while Walmart has Extensive SKUs (~140,000 per store).

Consider: Product Quality Focus
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Product Quality Focus: Costco has Premium & private label Kirkland brand, while Walmart has Budget-friendly Great Value brand.

Consider: Global Store Count
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Global Store Count: Costco has 871 warehouses (2026), while Walmart has 10,500+ locations (2026).

Consider: Price Point Strategy
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Price Point Strategy: Costco has Lower per-unit cost for bulk purchases, while Walmart has Everyday low prices for individual items.

Consider: E-commerce Integration
type: HowToStep
position: 8
text: E-commerce Integration: Costco has Growing online platform with limitations, while Walmart has Full omnichannel with same-day delivery.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Costco vs Walmart
review body: 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.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Costco vs Walmart

Product SKUs per Store
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 30,000-40,000 items

Average Basket Price Difference
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: Baseline pricing

Private Label Products
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 25-30% private label

Average Checkout Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 5-7 minutes

Integrated Services Offered
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 20+ services (grocery, pharmacy, gas, vision, financial, auto, home services)

US Weekly Customer Traffic
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: ~140 million weekly

Annual Revenue (US operations)
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: $400+ billion USD

Bulk Item Savings vs Retail
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 5-10%

Fuel Discount Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 5-15¢ (Walmart+ only)

Minimum Typical Purchase
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: $20+

Return Policy Window
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 90 days

Member's Mark/Great Value Brand Savings
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 10-20% (Great Value)

Physical Store Count
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 10,500+

US E-commerce Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 7.2%

Membership Cost (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: $98

Standard Delivery Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 2-5 days (standard)

US Grocery Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 17.4%

Estimated Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 150M

Available Product SKUs
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 80M+

Total Pet Product Selection
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 8,000-12,000 SKUs

Price Comparison Index
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: Baseline (0%)

Auto-Ship Discount Maximum
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: No dedicated program

Annual Membership Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: $98 for Walmart+

Return Window
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 90 days

Customer Service Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: Limited hours, chat/email

Total Retail Categories
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 40+ categories

Total Annual Revenue
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: $648 billion

Physical Store Locations
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 4,700+

Annual Membership Cost (Standard Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: Free (no membership required)

Standard Free Shipping Threshold
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: $35

Average Standard Delivery Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 3-5 days (free over $35)

Cloud/Tech Services Revenue
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: $0.5 billion (minimal)

Estimated Available Products
type: PropertyValue
value: Costco: N/A | Walmart: 80+ million

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Costco — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Walmart — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Costco vs Walmart
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additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/costco-vs-walmart
object: Costco
object: Walmart

Member's Mark/Great Value Brand Savings
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Physical Store Count
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Retail Presence

US E-commerce Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Membership Cost (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Standard Delivery Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Logistics

US Grocery Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Estimated Active Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Base

Available Product SKUs
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Selection

Total Pet Product Selection
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Selection

Price Comparison Index
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Auto-Ship Discount Maximum
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Loyalty/Subscriptions

Annual Membership Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Return Window
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customer Service

Customer Service Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

Total Retail Categories
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Selection

Total Annual Revenue
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Financial Performance

Physical Store Locations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Retail Footprint

Annual Membership Cost (Standard Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Standard Free Shipping Threshold
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Shipping

Average Standard Delivery Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Shipping Speed

Cloud/Tech Services Revenue
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Business Diversification

Estimated Available Products
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Selection