A handful of discounted basics can effectively offset the cost of a Costco Membershipaccording to a recent report on the retailer’s biggest savings.
The club’s $65 annual Gold Star membership, or $130 Executive Membership, may seem pricey to budget-conscious shoppers, but the math can reverse quickly: A few well-chosen purchases can end up paying for the membership itself.
The issue was raised on Reddit, where a potential member asked the question: “What items (other than gas) do you get to justify your membership if you’re not a bulk buyer?” »
“Do the basics offer enough of a discount to make membership worth it? » asked the poster late last month. “I know the excitement of seeing good deals on random items will push me to buy more, but if I really only need basics like the ones I listed, what would you recommend?”
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Customers examine food items at a Costco store in Colchester, Vermont. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Reddit users were quick to weigh in, with some pointing out that over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or antihistamines, as well as paper goods and the popular roast chicken, were worth joining.
Another user said the smoked salmon alone justifies the fee, while another pointed out the savings of buying diapers from the wholesale club.
To quantify these assertions, Business Insider analyzed which Costco items provide enough savings to offset the cost of a $65 membership.
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A shopper loads items into a vehicle at a Costco store in Vallejo, California on May 29, 2025. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
The publication said it focused on shelf-stable items commonly used throughout the year, comparing prices at Costco with those at retailers such as Amazon, Target and Walmart.
Business Insider reported using ChatGPT, artificial intelligence tool, to estimate the annual use of each item in a two-person household.
The analysis assigned each product a “recovery score” to show how much of the membership fee could be offset by purchasing that item at Costco for a year. A score of 100 indicated that the savings were equal to the cost of membership, while a score of 200 meant that the savings were twice the cost of membership. A score of 50 meant the product recouped half the cost.
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Everyday Costco staples, like pet food diapers and coffee, can quickly offset the $65 membership fee, according to a new analysis of annual savings. (Marlene Awaad/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Pet food was found to be a major value in the analysis. A 38-pound bag of Blue Buffalo dog food costs about $65 at Costco, compared to about $111 at a typical retailer, enough savings on two purchases to exceed the annual fee.
The dog food received a recovery score of 713, indicating that the savings would offset the cost of membership more than six times.
Diapers and baby wipes emerged as another strong value, with a recovery score of 373. A giant pack of Huggies diapers costs about $50 at Costco, compared to about $70 at Costco. other retailersenough savings to offset the membership fee in less than four purchases.
The formula produced similar savings. A large container of Similac sells for about $55 at Costco, compared to about $68 elsewhere, with the analysis showing the cost of membership could be recouped after about five purchases, yielding a recovery score of 240.
Two-pound bags of Starbucks’ Pike Place roast coffee beans sell for about $8.40 a pound at Costco, compared to about $12 elsewhere. Based on an annual consumption of 30 pounds, the analysis gave the cafe a recovery score of 166, with the cost of membership being recouped after around 18 pounds.
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Savings on toilet paper were less. A 30-pack of Charmin costs about $1.10 per roll at Costco, about 37 cents less per roll than at other retailers, producing a recovery score of 67 if four packs are purchased in a year.
Business Insider added a caveat, noting that “this analysis assumes no further purchases at Costco, which in our experience is extremely unlikely.”
