Costco vs Sam's Club: The 2026 Showdown

Costco and Sam's Club are the two dominant warehouse clubs in the United States, and the choice between them is one of the most debated decisions in consumer budgeting. Both raised their membership fees in recent years, making the comparison more consequential. We visited both clubs on the same day in the same metro area and compared prices, selection, and member benefits side by side.

Membership Costs

The basic fee structures for 2026 are as follows:

Sam's Club has a $15 advantage at the basic tier and a $20 advantage at the premium tier. However, Costco's Executive membership reward has a higher annual cap, which benefits high-volume shoppers.

Gas Prices

Both clubs operate gas stations at most locations, and fuel savings are a primary reason many members join. In our comparison:

Costco consistently beats Sam's Club on gas prices by three to eight cents per gallon nationally. For a household filling up once a week, that difference alone can save $80 to $200 per year.

Store Brands Compared

Costco's Kirkland Signature and Sam's Club's Member's Mark are both strong private labels, but they have different reputations:

Kirkland Signature has become something of a cult brand, with products like its olive oil, vodka, and laundry detergent regularly outperforming name brands in independent testing. Member's Mark has improved significantly in recent years, but Kirkland still commands more consumer trust overall.

In blind taste tests and product reviews, Kirkland Signature tends to win in categories like coffee, nuts, and paper products, while Member's Mark is competitive in snacks, bottled water, and cleaning supplies. Both brands offer substantial savings compared to national brands.

Shopping Experience

Sam's Club has invested heavily in technology, and its Scan and Go app allows members to scan items with their phone and skip the checkout line entirely. Costco does not currently offer a comparable feature. Sam's Club also offers curbside pickup at most locations, while Costco requires in-store shopping for most items.

Costco, meanwhile, is known for a more curated product selection. Where Sam's Club may carry five brands of ketchup, Costco typically carries one or two that its buyers have selected for quality and value. This approach simplifies shopping but limits choice.

Food Court

Both clubs operate food courts, and pricing has changed:

Costco's food court still has a slight edge on both variety and price, and the quality of its rotisserie chicken (still $4.99) remains a major draw for members.

The Bottom Line

Choose Costco if: you prioritize gas savings, store-brand quality, food court value, and are willing to pay a slightly higher membership fee for consistently lower prices across most categories.

Choose Sam's Club if: you want a lower membership fee, value the convenience of Scan and Go checkout and curbside pickup, or live in an area where Costco locations are less accessible. Sam's Club is also a better fit for small business owners who use the club for office supplies and bulk purchases.