At a time when rising prices just seem to keep climbing, the deals on groceries, gas, and other essentials at Costco are tempting. But if you're pinching pennies, it can be hard to justify forking over $65 or more per year to cover the cost of a Costco membership. Luckily, you can still take advantage of a few of the warehouse club's most popular perks without having to join.
Costco recently raised membership fees for the first time since 2017, increasing a basic membership from $60 to $65, and an executive membership from $120 to $130. But several of the retailer's perks can be enjoyed membership-free.
We highlighted several such Costco benefits that don't require a membership. Take a look.
1. Gas
Don't be surprised if you see a long line of cars waiting to fill up at a Costco gas station on any given Saturday. That's because the warehouse club's prices at the pump are hard to beat. While you may have to wait several minutes, you could potentially save a few cents per gallon — which can add up over time, especially if you're planning a summer road trip.
A recent report from Yahoo Finance used Gas Buddy and Costco's website to compare gas prices across several large U.S. cities and found that "Costco's prices aren't typically the absolute cheapest, but they're always significantly less expensive than the "average" price." Costco's prices, on average, were $0.28 per gallon cheaper than the city's average gas price.
While this perk is supposed to be exclusive to Costco members, you can still take advantage even if you aren't one. Here's the trick: You'll need a Costco Shop Card, a reloadable gift card that a Costco member must purchase for you. Most Costco gas stations are self-service (except in Oregon and New Jersey, which are full-service by law) with pay-at-the-pump technology. You need to insert the Costco Cash Card to activate the pump, but once you do you can opt to pay with a regular debit card or credit card.
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2. Alcohol
Costco is the biggest seller of wine in the U.S. While it offers a large selection of higher-end options, the warehouse club’s Kirkland Signature wines are a huge hit among customers due to their high quality and low prices. If you want to try a bottle but aren't a member, you're in luck.
Costco's Kirkland-branded beer, wine and liquor, as well as name brands, can be purchased by non-members, but only in states that legally require the warehouse club to do so. Local laws in some states prevent Costco (or any other membership-based club) from only selling alcohol to members.
We contacted Costco for a definitive list of the states that allow the general public to make such purchases, but we weren't given a definitive answer: "For [the sale of alcohol], membership rules vary from state to state according to local laws." However, it's been widely reported that non-members can purchase booze at Costco in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Texas and Vermont. (Readers, please let us know if we missed any!)
Before making the trek to your nearest Costco for the first time, call ahead. If you're confident you should be able to make the purchase in your state, ask to speak to a manager if the employee checking memberships at the door turns you away.
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3. Prescription drugs
If you have a prescription that needs to be filled regularly, switching to Costco's pharmacy might help you save big, especially as rising drug prices put a strain on your budget.
Prices on more than 4,200 drugs increased from 2022 to 2023, and 46% had price jumps larger than the rate of inflation, according to the ASPE. The average price increase was 15.2%, which equated to $590 per drug product. This year, drugmakers plan to increase prices again by about 4.5% on at least 250 drugs.
But Costco's discounted prices can help you save on prescription medication. The average retail price for 30 500-milligram capsules of the generic alternative of Amoxicillin, for example, is $14.59, according to GoodRx.com. At Costco, you'll only pay $8.84 for the commonly prescribed antibiotic.
Depending on where you live, you can get your prescriptions filled at Costco without a membership. Just like alcohol-related purchases, there are local laws in certain states that require the warehouse club to make its pharmacy available to the general public. Again, your best bet is to call the store location nearest you to ensure that non-members can use the pharmacy.
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4. Free eye exams and health screenings
If you're not a Costco member, you can still take advantage of Costco's eye clinic by making an appointment for an eye exam with an in-house optometrist. However, you won't be able to purchase eyeglasses or contacts without a membership.
Costco pharmacies that are open to the general public also offer a variety of other health screenings free of charge to members and non-members alike. This includes osteoporosis, heart, and diabetes screenings. Stop by your local Costco to find out about upcoming screenings.
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5. Just about anything on Costco.com
Costco.com offers a wide range of products — from groceries in bulk to power tools to a Whirlpool bathtub — and you don't need a paid membership to shop. However, if you're a non-member you'll be hit with a 5% surcharge on top of the listed price on all items in your shopping cart (except prescription drugs). Depending on how much you're spending, the cost of membership might end up being cheaper than paying that surcharge.
It's also worth noting that certain products sold on the warehouse club's website are only available to members for purchase. You can also shop a limited inventory of Costco grocery items through InstaCart, an online grocery delivery service.
Some of Costco's Kirkland Signature products are even sold on Amazon — with some eligible for Prime shipping — though the price markups are usually sizable. For anything you plan to purchase regularly, make sure to do the math to find out whether paying the markup is still cheaper than paying for a Costco membership.
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How much does a Costco membership cost?
If you want access to all of the benefits of Costco, the warehouse club offers three annual Costco membership options: Gold Star, Business, and Executive. A Gold Star membership now costs $65 and includes one household card. Anyone can sign up for this membership type and use it for personal purchases. A Business membership is also $65, but it's only available to verified business owners. It includes one household card and can be used for business, resale, and personal purchases.
An Executive membership now costs $130. The upgrade is available to anyone for personal use (Gold Star Executive) or resale use (Business Executive) and comes with an extra household card. Members at this level also can add additional people to their membership for $65 each. An added perk for Executive members is earning an annual 2% reward on qualifying purchases up to $1,250, which can be used for future purchases. Executive members also receive discounts on various Costco services including the warehouse club's auto and travel programs.
Currently, you can save up to $40 on a Costco membership by using this deal from StackSocial. If you buy a Gold Star membership for $65, you'll receive a $20 digital Costco Shop Card by email within two weeks of purchase, effectively bringing the price of a membership to just $45 a year. If you get the $130 Executive membership, you'll receive a $40 gift card by email, effectively bringing the price of an annual membership to just $90.
One final note: You can return your membership at any time for a refund — no questions asked. It's one of our 20 secrets to shopping at Costco.
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