Sam's Club vs Costco: Which Warehouse Club Is Actually Cheaper?
Sam's Club or Costco? If you're picking between the two, here's how they actually compare.
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Sam’s Club or Costco? If you’re picking between the two, here’s how they actually compare.
I have memberships to both (my dad added us to his Sam’s Club account, and we pay for Costco ourselves), so I can compare them side by side from personal experience.
Quick Verdict: Who Wins?
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Membership Price | Sam’s Club | $50 vs $65 for basic |
| Price Comparison | Costco (slightly) | Wins 6 out of 10 common items |
| Return Policy | Costco | Virtually unlimited returns |
| Payment Options | Sam’s Club | Accepts more card types |
| Shopping Experience | Costco | Ranked #1 by Consumer Reports |
| Store Credit Card | Costco | Higher cashback cap ($1,000 vs $500) |
| Pharmacy | Costco | $48 cheaper on 5 common drugs |
| Travel | Costco | Sam’s Club dropped travel deals |
| Gas Prices | Tie | Both 20-40 cents below average |
| Online & Delivery | Sam’s Club | Scan & Go app makes checkout instant |
| Auto Services | Tie | Both strong, different perks |
| Business Services | Costco | More services offered |
Overall winner: Costco - but Sam’s Club wins in a few key areas. Keep reading for the details.
Saving money on groceries? Use Fetch Rewards to scan your receipts from either warehouse and earn free gift cards. Check out our full list of cash back grocery apps.
Who Is Actually Cheaper?
Prices are what most people care about, so we’ll start there.
Based on a comparison of store-brand products (Kirkland vs Member’s Mark), here’s how they stack up:
| Item | Costco (Kirkland) | Sam’s Club (Member’s Mark) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk 2% (per gallon) | $2.63 | $2.68 | Costco |
| Organic Ground Beef (per lb) | $5.07 | $5.99 | Costco |
| Chicken Breasts (per lb) | $3.09 | $1.72 | Sam’s Club |
| Olive Oil (per liter) | $8.30 | $6.66 | Sam’s Club |
| Paper Towels (per roll) | $1.70 | $1.13 | Sam’s Club |
| Dish Soap (per oz) | $0.07 | $0.07 | Tie |
| American Cheese (per lb) | $1.90 | $2.10 | Costco |
| Frozen Vegetables (per oz) | $0.07 | $0.08 | Costco |
| Greek Yogurt (per oz) | $0.11 | $0.12 | Costco |
| Toilet Paper (per 100 sheets) | $0.13 | $0.18 | Costco |
Result: Costco wins 6 out of 10 items. But Sam’s Club wins big on chicken ($1.37/lb cheaper) and paper towels.
The bottom line: both are significantly cheaper than your local supermarket. The savings from either membership will more than pay for the annual fee.
Pro Tip: Stock up on bulk pantry staples at the warehouse, then use Amazon Subscribe & Save for items you can’t get in bulk locally. You’ll save an extra 5-15% on recurring deliveries.
Membership Fees
Costco
| Plan | Annual Fee | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (Gold Star) | $65/year | 1 free household card, valid worldwide |
| Executive | $130/year | Everything in Basic + 2% cash back on purchases |
Sam’s Club
| Plan | Annual Fee | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|
| Club | $50/year | 1 free household card, gas pump access, free tire/battery service |
| Plus | $110/year | Everything in Club + 2% back (up to $500/yr), free shipping, early shopping hours (7am), free select prescriptions, 20% off eyeglasses |
Winner: Sam’s Club - $15 cheaper on the basic plan and $20 cheaper on the premium plan. Plus, Sam’s Club frequently runs membership discounts throughout the year.
Return Policy
Costco
Costco offers a nearly unlimited return policy on most merchandise. I’ve personally returned items with no hassle - they just credit the card immediately.
- General merchandise: Unlimited return window
- Electronics: 90-day return window
- Diamonds (1+ carat): Original paperwork required, 48-hour jeweler inspection
- No returns: Cigarettes and alcohol (where prohibited by law)
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club has a more restrictive 30-day return policy on unopened items.
Cannot return: Alcohol, tires, batteries, tobacco, prescription eyeglasses, gift cards, hearing aids, prescriptions, tickets.
Winner: Costco by a mile. I’ve heard of people returning items years after purchase. Costco’s return policy is one of the best in retail.
Gas Prices
Both warehouses sell gas at 20-40 cents below the local average, which can save you $200-$500 per year depending on how much you drive.
- Costco: Gas stations at most locations. Citi Visa card gives 4% back on gas (up to $7,000/year)
- Sam’s Club: Gas stations at most locations. Mastercard gives 5% back on gas (up to $6,000/year)
Winner: Tie. Both offer cheap gas. Sam’s Club has a slightly higher gas cashback rate (5% vs 4%), but Costco’s higher spending cap evens it out.
Online Shopping and Delivery
This is one area where Sam’s Club has pulled ahead.
Sam’s Club
- Scan & Go app - Scan items on your phone as you shop and skip the checkout line entirely. This alone is worth the membership if you hate checkout lines.
- Curbside pickup - Order online, pick up without leaving your car
- Same-day delivery through Instacart
- Free shipping for Plus members
Costco
- Same-day delivery through Instacart
- Costco.com for online orders with shipping
- No scan-and-go equivalent
Winner: Sam’s Club. The Scan & Go app alone makes the shopping experience significantly faster.
Overall Shopping Experience
The American Customer Satisfaction Index consistently ranks Costco as the top retailer in the US. Consumer Reports also scores Costco slightly higher.
From personal experience, Costco feels cleaner, more organized, and more pleasant to shop in. The free samples don’t hurt either.
Winner: Costco - but this is subjective. Some people prefer Sam’s Club’s layout.
Store Credit Cards
Both clubs offer no-annual-fee credit cards with their premium memberships.
Costco Citi Visa
- 4% back on gas at Costco (up to $7,000/year)
- 3% back on restaurants and travel
- 2% back on Costco.com purchases
- 1% back on everything else
- Max cashback: $1,000/year
Sam’s Club Mastercard
- 5% back on gas at Sam’s Club (up to $6,000/year, then 1%)
- 3% back on dining and travel
- 1% back on everything else
- Max cashback: $500/year
Winner: Costco. The $1,000 cashback cap vs Sam’s Club’s $500 cap is the deal-breaker. We earned over $600 back from our Citi Costco card last year alone.
Pharmacy Services
You can use both pharmacies without a membership. Based on a Consumer Reports study comparing 5 common prescription drugs:
| Medication | Costco | Sam’s Club |
|---|---|---|
| Actos | $16 | $20 |
| Celebrex | $26 | $38 |
| Cymbalta | $35 | $31 |
| Lipitor | $13 | $20 |
| Plavix | $16 | $45 |
| Total | $105 | $153 |
Winner: Costco - $48 cheaper for these 5 drugs.
Bonus tip: You can use both Costco and Sam’s Club pharmacies without being a member.
Travel Comparison
Costco
Costco provides significant travel discounts including hotels, rental cars, vacation packages, cruises, and theme parks. Executive members get 2% cash back on travel purchases.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club no longer offers travel discounts.
Winner: Costco easily.
Accepted Payment Options
Costco
Cash, personal check, debit, and Visa only (no Mastercard, Amex, or Discover).
Sam’s Club
Cash, personal check, debit, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and Sam’s Club credit cards.
Winner: Sam’s Club. They accept nearly every payment type while Costco is Visa-only.
Automotive Services
Costco
- Free tire rotations, balancing, and flat repairs (with Costco tire purchase)
- Auto insurance
- Car buying services
- Discounted service and parts
Sam’s Club
- Free tire rotation, balancing (with Sam’s Club tire purchase)
- 24/7 roadside tire assistance (unique perk)
- Car buying services
Winner: Tie. Costco offers more services overall, but Sam’s Club’s 24/7 roadside tire assistance is a standout perk worth considering.
Business Services
Costco
Check printing, credit monitoring, mortgages and refinancing, home and life insurance, identity protection, health plans, payment processing, payroll, and small business phone services.
Sam’s Club
Check printing, identity protection, small business loans, health plans, payment processing, payroll, and legal services.
Winner: Costco - more services offered overall, particularly mortgages, insurance, and credit monitoring.
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose Costco If:
- You want the best return policy in retail
- You travel and want member discounts on hotels, rental cars, and cruises
- You want a higher cashback cap on your store credit card ($1,000)
- You value overall shopping experience and product quality
- You use the pharmacy regularly
Choose Sam’s Club If:
- You want the cheapest membership fee
- You prefer the Scan & Go app for faster checkout
- You want more payment options (Amex, Discover, Mastercard)
- You need early shopping hours (7am for Plus members)
- You want free shipping on online orders (Plus members)
- You already shop at Walmart and want to stay in the Walmart ecosystem
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Costco or Sam’s Club cheaper?
Costco is slightly cheaper on most items when comparing store brands (Kirkland vs Member’s Mark). However, Sam’s Club wins on certain items like chicken breasts and paper towels.
Both are significantly cheaper than regular grocery stores.
Can you use Costco or Sam’s Club pharmacy without a membership?
Yes. By law, you can use the pharmacy at both warehouses without being a member. This is a great way to save on prescriptions even if you don’t have a membership.
Is a warehouse membership worth it?
For most families, yes. Even with the membership fee, the savings on groceries, gas, and prescriptions typically add up to hundreds of dollars per year.
If you spend at least $50/month at the warehouse, the membership pays for itself.
Can you shop at both Sam’s Club and Costco?
Yes. There’s no rule against having both memberships.
If you live near both, it can make sense to buy specific items at whichever store has the better price. That’s exactly what we do.
Final Thoughts
After comparing Sam’s Club vs Costco across every category, Costco comes out on top in most areas: prices, return policy, pharmacy, travel, shopping experience, and credit card rewards.
That said, Sam’s Club still wins in a few spots. The lower membership fee, Scan & Go app, wider payment acceptance, and free shipping for Plus members are real advantages.
You can’t go wrong with either one, as long as you actually use your membership and don’t buy more in bulk than your family can consume.
Save even more: Pair your warehouse shopping with cash back apps like Fetch Rewards to earn points on every receipt.
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Jason is a personal finance expert and the founder of Frugal For Less. He has spent over a decade researching and testing hundreds of money-making apps, survey sites, and savings strategies to help readers earn more and keep more of their hard-earned cash.
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