Sam’s Club vs Costco: The Definitive Membership Guide for 2026

Your grocery bill is likely the biggest flexible expense in your monthly budget. With inflation remaining stubborn, a warehouse club membership isn’t just a luxury anymoreit’s a financial defense strategy. But picking the wrong one can cost you hundreds in wasted fees and unused perks.

On the surface, Costco and Sam’s Club look identical: massive concrete floors, pallets of bulk goods, and cheap food courts. Don’t be fooled. In late 2025, the gap between these two retail giants has widened. From recent membership fee hikes to drastically different reward caps, the “best” choice now depends entirely on your specific spending habits.

The Core Differences: Philosophy vs. Price

While both retailers sell bulk toilet paper and tires, their business philosophies are distinct. Costco operates as a curator; they limit their selection to ensure quality, essentially pre shopping for you. Sam’s Club, a Walmart subsidiary, competes aggressively on price and variety.

If you are looking for specialized wholesale environments, similar to the wholesale markets in Dallas or the bustling trade hubs of Chicago, these clubs offer a more consumer friendly version of that bulk buying power.

The 2026 Pricing Reality: Who Is Cheaper?

Let’s look at the raw numbers. If your only goal is the lowest receipt at the checkout counter, the data points in one direction.

The Grocery Verdict: Recent 2025 market studies indicate that Sam’s Club is approximately 10% cheaper than Costco for a standard basket of groceries. Sam’s consistently wins on name brand snacks and pantry staples. If you are feeding a family of teenagers on a strict budget, that 10% variance adds up to significant annual savings.

The Quality Verdict: Costco fights back with its “Kirkland Signature” brand. Unlike typical generic brands, Kirkland products often outperform national brands in blind taste tests. Additionally, Costco is the undisputed leader in organic produce. If clean eating is your priority, the slightly higher price at Costco is the cost of entry for better ingredients.

Membership Fees & Reward Caps (Updated Dec 2025)

Both retailers have raised their prices recently. Here is exactly what you will pay to get in the door as we head into 2026.

Costco Membership Breakdown

Costco increased their fees in September 2024. As of December 2025, the rates are:

• Gold Star (Standard): $65 per year.
• Executive: $130 per year.

The Hidden Gem: The Executive membership offers a 2% annual reward on purchases. Crucially, Costco recently raised the maximum annual reward cap to $1,250. This makes Costco the superior choice for high volume spenders or small business owners.

Sam’s Club Membership Breakdown

Sam’s Club remains the more affordable entry point, with current fees standing at:

• Club (Standard): $50 per year.
• Plus: $110 per year.

The Catch: While the Plus membership offers 2% back in “Sam’s Cash,” the annual reward is capped at just $500. If you plan to spend more than $25,000 a year at the club, you will max out your rewards at Sam’s Club much faster than at Costco.

The “Risk-Free” Factor: Returns and Trials

This is where the “Practitioner Lens” is vitalpolicies on paper don’t always match reality.

Sam’s Club: In the past, Sam’s offered a standard 90-day risk-free trial. This has been discontinued. In 2025, you are more likely to find occasional “Open House” weekends or specific short-term partner deals. Do not expect to walk in and get a free trial membership at the desk.

Costco: Costco does not do free trials, but they have the industry’s most aggressive satisfaction guarantee. Their policy is explicit: “We will cancel and refund your membership fee at any time if you are dissatisfied.” You can theoretically use the membership for 11 months, decide it isn’t for you, and get a full refund on the membership fee. That is true risk-free shopping.

Experience and Footprint

Location is often the deciding factor. As of December 2025, Costco operates 639 locations across the US (923 globally), while Sam’s Club maintains a domestic footprint of 602 locations.

However, the in store experience differs:

• Early Access: Sam’s Club Plus members get Early Shopping hours starting at 8:00 a. m. daily. If you hate crowds, this is a massive benefit.
• Warehouse Size: Costco warehouses are larger on average (147,000 sq ft) compared to Sam’s Club (134,000 sq ft). This translates to wider aisles and a slightly less claustrophobic experience during peak hours.

For those who prefer not to visit physical stores at all, checking out online shopping alternatives might save you the trip, though you will miss out on the bulk pricing.

Final Verdict: Which Card Should Be in Your Wallet?

Here is the curator’s cut. Ignore the minor differences and choose based on these profiles:

Choose Sam’s Club If:

• Budget is your #1 priority: The groceries are 10% cheaper and the membership is $15-$20 less.
• You value speed: Scan & Go technology (not covered here in depth, but a known Sam’s staple) and 8:00 a. m. early hours make it faster.

Choose Costco If:

• You are a high spender: The $1,250 reward cap on Executive membership blows Sam’s Club out of the water.
• You want organic/premium quality: Kirkland Signature and the organic produce section are superior.
• You want security: The refund policy on the membership is unbeatable.