Costco vs Walmart
Costco is a membership warehouse club: you pay $65 a year for Gold Star or $130 for Executive (U.S. and Canada fees since September 1, 2024) to shop its 939 warehouses. Walmart is open to everyone with no fee, runs more than 10,900 stores in 19 countries, and sells an optional Walmart+ membership for $98 a year. Costco suits households that buy in bulk often enough to justify the fee; Walmart suits shoppers who want no fee, more locations and smaller pack sizes.
Costco
Membership warehouse club with 939 warehouses (October 7, 2026) and $65 or $130 yearly memberships.
Households that buy in bulk often
Walmart
Retailer with more than 10,900 stores in 19 countries, open to everyone, with optional $98 Walmart+.
Shoppers who want no fee, smaller packs and more locations
Costco is a membership warehouse club: you pay $65 a year for Gold Star or $130 for Executive (U.S. and Canada fees since September 1, 2024) to shop its 939 warehouses. Walmart is open to everyone with no fee, runs more than 10,900 stores in 19 countries, and sells an optional Walmart+ membership for $98 a year. Costco suits households that buy in bulk often enough to justify the fee; Walmart suits shoppers who want no fee, more locations and smaller pack sizes.
Deciding factor: Costco for frequent bulk shoppers who use the membership; Walmart for no fee and more locations.
Key fact: Costco Gold Star is $65 a year and Executive $130; Walmart has no fee and Walmart+ is $98 a year.
Best for frequent bulk shoppers: Costco, if your regular buying makes the $65 or $130 yearly fee worthwhile. Best for no fee and convenience: Walmart, with more than 10,900 stores and an optional $98 Walmart+ membership. Neither is cheaper for every household. Compare your own basket, including the fee.
Choose Costco if
Households that buy in bulk often
Choose Walmart if
Shoppers who want no fee, smaller packs and more locations
Share this verdict
Get notified when Costco vs Walmart changes
One email when prices, specs or our verdict on Costco vs Walmart change. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Fee to shop:$65 Gold Star, $130 Executive per year vs None
- Optional membership:Executive upgrade with 2% Reward up to $1,250 vs Walmart+ $98 a year
- Locations:939 warehouses vs More than 10,900 stores
Compare next
Target vs Walmart
Key Differences
4 attributes compared head-to-head
- $65 Gold Star, $130 Executive per yearFee to shopNone
- Executive upgrade with 2% Reward up to $1,250Optional membershipWalmart+ $98 a year
- 939 warehousesLocationsMore than 10,900 stores
- Limited selection, often bulk packsAssortmentBroad assortment, standard sizes
- Fee to shop
Costco
$65 Gold Star, $130 Executive per year
Walmart
None
- Optional membership
Costco
Executive upgrade with 2% Reward up to $1,250
Walmart
Walmart+ $98 a year
- Locations
Costco
939 warehouses
Walmart
More than 10,900 stores
- Assortment
Costco
Limited selection, often bulk packs
Walmart
Broad assortment, standard sizes
Full Comparison
| Attribute |  Costco |  Walmart |
|---|---|---|
| Locations | 939 warehouses (647 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico) | More than 10,900 stores in 19 countries |
| Membership fee | $65 Gold Star or Business; $130 Executive (U.S. and Canada, from September 1, 2024) | No fee to shop. Walmart+ $98 a year ($49 for qualifying government assistance recipients) |
| Rewards | Executive: 2% annual Reward, capped at $1,250 | Walmart+ perks such as free delivery and fuel discounts |
| Extra cardholder | One free household card, age 16 or over | Not applicable to shop |
| Model | Membership warehouse club | Open-to-all retailer with optional membership |
CostcoWalmartPros & Cons
6 pros·4 cons across both
Costco
Pros
Cons
Walmart
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questions
Costco warehouses are for members; a Gold Star membership is $65 a year and Executive is $130 in the U.S. and Canada. Walmart stores and walmart.com are open to everyone. Walmart+ is an optional $98-a-year membership for delivery and other perks.
Costco: $65 a year for Gold Star, Business or Business add-on, and $130 for Executive, effective September 1, 2024. Walmart+: $98 a year, or $12.95 a month at its 2020 launch. Walmart lists a $49 annual fee for qualifying government assistance recipients.
Executive members earn an annual 2% Reward on qualifying purchases, capped at $1,250 a year since September 1, 2024 (it was $1,000 before). It costs $130 a year, made up of the $65 primary membership plus a $65 upgrade.
It depends on what you buy and how much. Costco sells a limited selection, often in larger packs, to members; Walmart sells a wider range in standard sizes with no fee. Prices change by item and location, so compare your own regular basket and include the membership fee.
Walmart. Walmart reports more than 10,900 stores in 19 countries. Costco reported 939 warehouses on October 7, 2026, including 647 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Yes. Costco says every membership includes one free household card for a member of the household aged 16 or over.
Analysis: Costco vs Walmart
Costco is a membership warehouse club: you pay $65 a year for Gold Star or $130 for Executive (U.S. and Canada fees since September 1, 2024) to shop its 939 warehouses. Walmart is open to everyone with no fee, runs more than 10,900 stores in 19 countries, and sells an optional Walmart+ membership for $98 a year. Costco suits households that buy in bulk often enough to justify the fee; Walmart suits shoppers who want no fee, more locations and smaller pack sizes.
Key takeaways
- Costco requires a membership: $65 Gold Star or $130 Executive a year in the U.S. and Canada. - Walmart has no entry fee; Walmart+ is optional at $98 a year. - Costco Executive pays a 2% annual Reward capped at $1,250. - Walmart reports more than 10,900 stores in 19 countries; Costco reported 939 warehouses on October 7, 2026. - Which is cheaper depends on your basket and how often you shop.
Read 10 more paragraphsShow less
Membership and fees
Costco charges a yearly fee to shop its warehouses. Since September 1, 2024 the U.S. and Canada fees are $65 for Gold Star, Business and Business add-on, and $130 for Executive ($65 primary plus a $65 Executive upgrade). Every membership includes one free household card. Walmart has no entry fee. Walmart+ costs $98 a year, and Walmart lists $49 for qualifying government assistance recipients.
Store footprint
Walmart reports that about 280 million customers and members visit its more than 10,900 stores and websites in 19 countries each week. Costco reported 939 warehouses on October 7, 2026: 647 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 115 in Canada, 43 in Mexico and 37 in Japan among them.
How they sell
Costco says it offers members low prices on a limited selection of national brands and its own private label, often in larger packs. Walmart sells a broad assortment under its Every Day Low Prices commitment, in stores and online, with no membership required.
Rewards and perks
1. Costco Executive: 2% annual Reward on qualifying purchases, up to $1,250 a year. 2. Walmart+: Walmart lists free same-day delivery on grocery and prescriptions, free shipping with no order minimum, fuel discounts, and a streaming choice of Paramount+ or Peacock.
Who should pick which
Choose Costco if you buy enough in bulk, often enough, to cover the fee. Choose Walmart if you want no fee, smaller pack sizes and more locations. Target vs Walmart and Kroger vs Safeway cover other grocery and retail choices.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Other links on this page may also earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more about our affiliate disclosure
Wikipedia
External Resources
Costco: Membership fee increase (opens in new tab)
Gold Star, Business and add-on $65; Executive $130; 2% Reward cap $1,250; one free household card.
Costco: June 2024 sales and membership fee release (opens in new tab)
July 10, 2024. Fee change effective September 1, 2024; Executive is $65 primary plus $65 upgrade.
Costco: September 2026 sales results (opens in new tab)
October 7, 2026. 939 warehouses, including 647 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Costco: Investor relations corporate overview (opens in new tab)
Membership warehouses offering low prices on a limited selection of national brands and private-label products.
Walmart: About (opens in new tab)
More than 10,900 stores and eCommerce sites in 19 countries; about 280 million weekly customers and members.
Walmart: Walmart+ fifth anniversary (opens in new tab)
September 1, 2025. Walmart+ at $98 a year; benefits include same-day grocery and Rx delivery, free shipping and fuel discounts.
Walmart: Introducing Walmart+ (opens in new tab)
September 1, 2020. Walmart+ at $98 a year or $12.95 a month.
Was this verdict helpful?
Explore More
Related comparisons and categories
More Companies
People Also Compare
Debate this on r/ThisOrThatDebate (run by the AversusB team)