Walgreens vs Costco
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Global pharmacy retailer with 8,600+ US locations and leading digital health services.
Customers needing quick pharmacy access, frequent small purchases, or those without membership
Costco Wholesale
Membership-based warehouse club retailer focused on bulk purchasing and curated product selection.
High-volume household shoppers, families, small businesses, and those seeking maximum savings on bulk purchases
Short Answer
Walgreens is a traditional pharmacy and convenience retailer with 8,600+ locations offering accessible healthcare services and quick shopping, while Costco is a membership-based warehouse club with 870 locations focused on bulk purchasing and lower per-unit prices for high-volume buyers.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Walgreens if you need immediate access to pharmacy services, want to avoid membership fees, require frequent small purchases, or prefer shopping at hundreds of nearby locations. Choose Costco if you buy in bulk, want the lowest per-unit prices, don't mind paying an annual membership fee, and shop for multiple household members or businesses.
Was this verdict helpful?
Choose Walgreens Boots Alliance if
Customers needing quick pharmacy access, frequent small purchases, or those without membership
Choose Costco Wholesale if
High-volume household shoppers, families, small businesses, and those seeking maximum savings on bulk purchases
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Key Differences at a Glance
Key Facts & Figures
| Metric | Walgreens Boots Alliance | Costco Wholesale | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Store Locations(stores) | 8,600+ | 870 | +889% |
| Annual Membership Cost(USD) | Free | $65-$130 | -100% |
| Price Premium vs Competitors(percent) | +15-20% | -20-30% | +170% |
| SKUs per Location(items) | 3,500-4,000 | 3,500-4,500 | -6% |
| Average Transaction Value(USD) | $25-35 | $150-200 | -83% |
| Executive Membership Cash Back(percent) | 0% | 2% | -100% |
| Prescription Discount for Members(percent) | Varies by plan | 20-50% | — |
| Total US Store Locations(stores) | 8,600+ | — | — |
| Annual Revenue (FY2023)(USD billions) | $132.7B | — | — |
| Mobile App Downloads(millions) | 50+M | — | — |
| Average Prescription Wait Time(hours) | 2-4 hours | — | — |
| Maximum Loyalty Rewards Rate(percent) | 10% | — | — |
| Year Founded(year) | 1901 | — | — |
| Annual Membership Cost(USD) | $65 (Gold Star) | $65 (Gold Star) | — |
| US Store Locations(stores) | 569 warehouses | 569 warehouses | — |
| Product Selection (SKUs)(SKUs) | ~4,000 SKUs | ~4,000 SKUs | — |
| Milk (1 gallon) Price Premium vs Costco(percent) | Baseline | Baseline | — |
| Return Policy Window(days) | 730 days (2 years) | 730 days (2 years) | — |
| Average Customer Visits Per Year (heavy users)(visits) | 24-36 visits/year | 24-36 visits/year | — |
| Membership Breakeven Point (Annual savings)(USD) | $65-130 (Gold/Executive breakeven) | $65-130 (Gold/Executive breakeven) | — |
| Average Savings on Bulk Items vs. Retail(percent discount) | 20-40% discount | 20-40% discount | — |
| Average Transaction Time(minutes) | 45-60 | 45-60 | — |
| Product Selection (SKUs)(items) | 3,700-4,000 (curated) | 3,700-4,000 (curated) | — |
| Annual Member Savings (Frequent Shoppers)(USD) | $500-$800 | $500-$800 | — |
| Gas Station Discount vs Market Rate(cents per gallon) | 40-60¢ cheaper | 40-60¢ cheaper | — |
| Annual Membership Fee (Gold/Basic)(USD) | $65 | $65 | — |
| Global Warehouse Locations(locations) | 870 | 870 | — |
| Private Label Product Count(products) | 3,500 | 3,500 | — |
| Member Satisfaction Rate(%) | 88% | 88% | — |
| Average Annual Spending Per Member(USD) | $2,850 | $2,850 | — |
| Rotisserie Chicken Price(USD) | $4.99 | $4.99 | — |
| Annual Revenue (2024)(billion USD) | $252.6 billion | $252.6 billion | — |
| Customer Satisfaction Score(ACSI points) | 82/100 | 82/100 | — |
| Physical Store Count(locations) | 870 warehouses | 870 warehouses | — |
| Product Catalog Size(SKUs) | 3,700 | 3,700 | — |
| Membership Cost (Annual)(USD) | $65 (Gold Star basic tier) | $65 (Gold Star basic tier) | — |
| Operating Margin(percent) | 4.1% | 4.1% | — |
| Member Renewal Rate(percent) | 94% | 94% | — |
| Median Delivery Time(days) | Immediate (in-warehouse purchase) | Immediate (in-warehouse purchase) | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated Jun 2026.
Key Differences
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Open-access pharmacy and convenience retail
Costco Wholesale
Membership-only warehouse club🏆
Walgreens Boots Alliance
8,600+ locations🏆
Costco Wholesale
870 locations
Walgreens Boots Alliance
None required🏆
Costco Wholesale
$65-$130/year (Gold/Executive)
Walgreens Boots Alliance
$25-35 (quick shopping)
Costco Wholesale
$150-200 (bulk buying)
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Full prescription, vaccinations, health consultations🏆
Costco Wholesale
Pharmacy available but limited services
Walgreens Boots Alliance
15-20% premium vs warehouse clubs
Costco Wholesale
20-30% lower per unit than traditional retail🏆
Walgreens Boots Alliance
3,500-4,000 SKUs per store
Costco Wholesale
3,500-4,500 SKUs with rotating seasonal items
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Walgreens Boots Alliance |  Costco Wholesale |
|---|---|---|
| US Store Locations(stores) | 8,600+ | 870 |
| Physical Store Count(locations) | 870 warehouses | — |
| Annual Membership Cost(USD) | Free | $65-$130 |
| Price Premium vs Competitors(percent) | +15-20% | -20-30% |
| Annual Membership Cost(USD) | $65 (Gold Star) | — |
| Milk (1 gallon) Price Premium vs Costco(percent) | Baseline | — |
| Average Savings on Bulk Items vs. Retail(percent discount) | 20-40% discount | — |
Show 2 more attributesBulk Electronics Price Competitiveness(%) Standard pricing — Membership Cost (Annual)(USD) $65 (Gold Star basic tier) — | ||
| SKUs per Location(items) | 3,500-4,000 | 3,500-4,500 |
| Product Selection (SKUs)(SKUs) | ~4,000 SKUs | — |
| Product Selection (SKUs)(items) | 3,700-4,000 (curated) | — |
| Private Label Product Count(products) | 3,500 | — |
| Pharmacy Services Depth | Full-service: prescriptions, vaccinations, consultations, health screenings | Limited: prescriptions and pharmacy services only |
| Pharmacy Services Available | Pharmacy only | — |
| Average Transaction Value(USD) | $25-35 | $150-200 |
| Executive Membership Cash Back(percent) | 0% | 2% |
| Prescription Discount for Members(percent) | Varies by plan | 20-50% |
| Total US Store Locations(stores) | 8,600+ | — |
| Annual Revenue (FY2023)(USD billions) | $132.7B | — |
| Bankruptcy Status(status) | Solvent (No bankruptcy) | — |
| Mobile App Downloads(millions) | 50+M | — |
| Average Prescription Wait Time(hours) | 2-4 hours | — |
| Maximum Loyalty Rewards Rate(percent) | 10% | — |
| Year Founded(year) | 1901 | — |
| US Store Locations(stores) | 569 warehouses | — |
| Return Policy Window(days) | 730 days (2 years) | — |
| Average Customer Visits Per Year (heavy users)(visits) | 24-36 visits/year | — |
| Membership Breakeven Point (Annual savings)(USD) | $65-130 (Gold/Executive breakeven) | — |
| Average Transaction Time(minutes) | 45-60 | — |
| Median Delivery Time(days) | Immediate (in-warehouse purchase) | — |
| Annual Member Savings (Frequent Shoppers)(USD) | $500-$800 | — |
| Gas Station Discount vs Market Rate(cents per gallon) | 40-60¢ cheaper | — |
| Annual Membership Fee (Gold/Basic)(USD) | $65 | — |
| Global Warehouse Locations(locations) | 870 | — |
| Return Policy Duration (General)(days) | Unlimited | — |
| Member Satisfaction Rate(%) | 88% | — |
| Average Annual Spending Per Member(USD) | $2,850 | — |
| Rotisserie Chicken Price(USD) | $4.99 | — |
| Annual Revenue (2024)(billion USD) | $252.6 billion | — |
| Operating Margin(percent) | 4.1% | — |
| Customer Satisfaction Score(ACSI points) | 82/100 | — |
| Product Catalog Size(SKUs) | 3,700 | — |
| Member Renewal Rate(percent) | 94% | — |
Costco WholesaleShow 2 more attributes
Visual Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes
Pros & Cons
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Pros
- 8,600+ locations for maximum convenience and accessibility
- No membership fee required for shopping
- Full-service pharmacy with prescriptions, vaccinations, and health consultations
- Extended hours (many 24-hour locations)
- Quick shopping format ideal for last-minute needs
Cons
- 15-20% higher prices per unit compared to warehouse clubs
- Limited bulk-buying discounts and lower savings on large purchases
Costco Wholesale
Pros
- 20-30% lower per-unit prices vs traditional retail for bulk items
- Premium Executive membership includes 2% cash back on purchases
- High-quality private label (Kirkland Signature) products
- Excellent return policy (unlimited refunds on most items)
- Pharmacy discount program saves members 20-50% on prescriptions
Cons
- Annual membership fee of $65-130 required to shop
- Only 870 US locations limits accessibility for many customers
Frequently Asked Questions
Costco is typically 20-30% cheaper per unit for bulk items due to its warehouse model and lower operating costs. However, you must factor in the $65-130 annual membership fee. Walgreens is more expensive per unit but requires no membership, making it better for small, occasional purchases.
Resources & Learn More
Dive deeper with these curated resources
Where to Buy
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