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Costco vs Sam's Club

C

Costco

Warehouse club leader, 871 locations, $238B revenue

Quality-focused bulk shoppers

VS
SC

Sam's Club

Walmart-owned warehouse club, 600 locations

Budget-conscious shoppers and Walmart loyalists

Short Answer

Costco has 871 locations and $238B in revenue with a $65/year Gold Star membership. Sam's Club (Walmart-owned) has 600 locations and a $50/year membership. Costco is known for higher quality and better employee wages; Sam's Club for lower membership cost.

Our Verdict

Costco for quality, selection, and employee treatment. Sam's Club for lower membership price and Walmart integration.

Costco10
5Sam's Club

Choose Costco if

Quality-focused bulk shoppers

Choose Sam's Club if

Budget-conscious shoppers and Walmart loyalists

Key Differences at a Glance

🔹
Revenue: Costco wins ($238B vs $84B)
💰
Membership Cost: Sam's Club wins ($50/year vs $65/year)
🔹
US Locations: Costco wins (871 global vs 600 US)
See all 5 differences

Key Differences

Revenue

Costco

$238B🏆

Sam's Club

$84B

Membership Cost

Costco

$65/year

Sam's Club

$50/year🏆

US Locations

Costco

871 global🏆

Sam's Club

600 US

Employee Wages

Costco

~$26/hr avg🏆

Sam's Club

~$18/hr avg

Private Label

Costco

Kirkland Signature

Sam's Club

Member's Mark

Pros & Cons

Costco

4 pros3 cons

Pros

  • $238B revenue, largest warehouse club
  • 871 locations globally
  • Kirkland Signature private label
  • Highest employee wages in retail

Cons

  • $65/year membership
  • Parking and checkout congestion
  • Fewer locations than Sam's Club

Sam's Club

4 pros3 cons

Pros

  • $50/year membership (cheaper)
  • Walmart integration
  • Scan & Go mobile checkout
  • 600+ US locations

Cons

  • Lower quality perception vs Costco
  • Smaller international presence
  • Walmart ownership polarizing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Consumer surveys consistently rank Costco higher for product quality, selection, and customer satisfaction. Sam's Club has a lower membership fee and better tech (Scan & Go).

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Last updated: March 19, 2026Human reviewed