Costco raised its membership fees in September 2024 — the first increase in seven years. As of 2026, Gold Star costs $65 per year and Executive costs $130 per year. The $65 gap can pay for itself, or it can be a waste of money. Which tier wins depends almost entirely on how much you spend at Costco annually, and whether you pair your membership with the Citi Costco Anywhere Visa card.
Quick Comparison: Gold Star vs Executive
| Feature | Gold Star | Executive |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $65 | $130 |
| 2% Annual Reward | No | Yes (on most qualifying purchases, capped at $1,250/yr) |
| Exclusive Shopping Hours | No | Yes (since June 30, 2025) |
| Instacart Credit | No | $10/month for orders $150+ same-day delivery |
| Costco Travel Discounts | Standard | Additional exclusive benefits |
| Services Discounts | Standard | Extra discounts on auto/home insurance, identity protection |
| Costco Visa Eligible | Yes | Yes |
| Satisfaction Guarantee | Yes (full refund) | Yes (full refund) |
Gold Star Membership: $65/Year
Gold Star is the base Costco membership, available to any individual. At $65 per year, it gives you full access to all Costco warehouse locations, Costco.com, the food court, and the pharmacy. You can also apply for the Citi Costco Anywhere Visa card with a Gold Star membership, which stacks its own rewards on top.
Gold Star members do not earn the 2% annual reward on purchases, do not get exclusive early-shopping hours, and do not receive the $10 monthly Instacart credit. If you make an occasional warehouse run, Gold Star is the right fit.
Executive Membership: $130/Year
Executive costs $65 more than Gold Star and adds four meaningful perks.
2% Annual Reward: This is the headline benefit. Executive members earn 2% back on most qualifying Costco purchases each year, paid out as a reward certificate in February. The maximum reward is $1,250 per year, which would require $62,500 in qualifying Costco spending — far beyond most households. The realistic ceiling is whatever your annual Costco spend actually is.
Break-even math: To earn back the $65 upgrade cost entirely through the 2% reward, you need to spend $3,250 at Costco per year — roughly $271 per month. If your household spends more than that, Executive saves money. If you spend less, Gold Star is cheaper.
Exclusive Shopping Hours: Since June 30, 2025, Executive members get early shopping access before the warehouse opens to the general public. This is a real convenience benefit during busy weekend mornings.
$10 Monthly Instacart Credit: Executive members receive a $10 Instacart credit per month for same-day delivery orders over $150. That is up to $120 in annual value if you use it consistently.
Services and Travel: Executive members receive additional discounts on Costco Auto Program, home and auto insurance through Costco's partner providers, and select Costco Travel products beyond the standard member pricing.
Costco offers a satisfaction guarantee on the Executive upgrade — if at the end of the year your 2% reward does not cover the $65 upgrade fee, Costco will refund the difference. This effectively makes the Executive upgrade risk-free to try.
The Citi Costco Anywhere Visa Card
Both Gold Star and Executive members can apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi. As of June 2026:
- Annual fee: None with an active Costco membership
- Purchase APR: 18.74% to 26.74% variable (based on creditworthiness)
- Cash advance APR: 28.74% variable
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% variable
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rewards: 4% on eligible gas and EV charging (up to $7,000/year, then 1%); 3% on restaurants and eligible travel including Costco Travel; 2% on all other Costco and Costco.com purchases; 1% on all other eligible purchases
- Reward payout: Annual reward certificate issued in February billing statement, redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses through December 31 of that year
Important: the Citi Visa card requires a paid Costco membership to maintain. If your membership lapses, you cannot use the card. For a full review of how the card's rewards structure works in practice, see our Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi review.
How Executive + Citi Visa Stacks Up
If you stack Executive membership ($130/year) with the Citi Costco Visa (no additional fee), you earn:
- 2% Executive reward on most Costco warehouse purchases
- 2% Citi Visa reward on Costco.com purchases
- 4% Citi Visa on gas and EV charging (up to $7,000/year)
- 3% on restaurants and travel
- $10/month Instacart credit ($120/year potential value)
A household spending $500/month at Costco ($6,000/year) earns $120 from the Executive 2% reward alone, fully offsetting the $65 upgrade premium while earning net positive cash back. For a comparison of how the Costco Citi card holds up against a top general travel card, see the Costco Citi card vs Chase Sapphire breakdown.
Who Should Choose Gold Star
Gold Star fits members who:
- Shop at Costco fewer than once a month
- Spend under $200 to $250 per warehouse trip
- Do not use grocery delivery services
- Want the simplest, lowest-cost entry point
Who Should Choose Executive
Executive fits members who:
- Spend $3,250+ at Costco per year (that is the break-even point)
- Want early shopping access or Instacart credits
- Plan to pair the membership with the Citi Costco Visa for compounded rewards
- Already buy gas, travel, or restaurant meals regularly (Citi card stacks those categories)
If You Want Rewards on Spending Outside Costco
Both Costco memberships are Costco-specific. If you are looking for a rewards card that earns cash back broadly across everyday purchases — not just at warehouse clubs — consider alternatives with wider category rewards. The Aspire Mastercard is a Mastercard-network card with cash-back rewards for fair-credit borrowers that works anywhere Mastercard is accepted, not just at a single retailer.
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard. Prequalify* For Up To $1000 Credit Limit. No security deposit. Packed with great benefits, it’s designed to give you more flexibility—and purchasing power—along with up to 3% cash back rewards!** Good anywhere Mastercard is accepted, it’s the go-to card for any lifestyle.
Standout feature
Up to 3% cashback rewards
Fees
$49 to $175; after that $0 to $49 annually; - $60 to $159 annually billed at $5 to $12.50 per month after the first year.
Pros
No Deposit Required. Prequalify for up to $1000 credit limit
Cons
High APR. 25.74% to 36%, based on your creditworthiness.
The Perpay Credit Card is another Mastercard option for borrowers building or rebuilding credit, with rewards tied to everyday purchases and no security deposit required. It reports to all three major credit bureaus.
Perpay Credit Card
Perpay Credit Card
Meet the only card powered by your paycheck. With automatic transfers from your paycheck, you can manage payments stress-free and build credit with ease.
Fee
$9/month plus $9 account opening fee
APR
Marketplace: 0% / Credit Card: 27.74% to 29.99% depending on your creditworthiness.
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Credit Check
No
Cashback
2% reward on purchases made in Perpay Marketplace
Benefit
2% rewards, no security deposit
If you already have strong credit and want a high-yield cash rewards card for everyday spending alongside or instead of the Citi Costco Visa, Robinhood Gold offers a 3% cash back card (on eligible purchases for Gold subscribers) with broad everyday acceptance as a Visa card.
Terms and conditions apply. APRs vary by creditworthiness.
Robinhood
Robinhood
Robinhood is a trading platform that brings stocks, ETFs, options, futures, prediction markets, crypto, and retirement accounts together in one app.
Standout feature
One platform for stocks, ETFs, options, futures, prediction markets, and crypto
Fees
$0 commission on stocks, ETFs, and options.
Pros
Zero-commission trading on stocks, ETFs, and options
Cons
Best perks (high APY, lower margin rates) require Gold subscription ($5/month)
Next Steps
Log into your Costco account and review your last 12 months of warehouse spending. If it exceeds $3,250, upgrade to Executive — the 2% reward alone covers the $65 cost. Pair the Executive tier with the Citi Costco Anywhere Visa for compounded rewards on gas, restaurants, and travel. If your Costco spending is lighter, Gold Star at $65 is the better value, especially if you use the Citi Visa to earn in other categories. If you also shop at Sam's Club or other warehouse clubs, the Citi Double Cash vs Wells Fargo Active Cash comparison shows general 2% flat-rate cards that are not tied to a single retailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need to spend at Costco for Executive membership to pay off?
You need to spend at least $3,250 per year at Costco for the 2% Executive reward ($65) to fully cover the $65 upgrade cost over Gold Star. Costco's satisfaction guarantee means they will refund the difference if the reward does not cover the upgrade fee at year-end — making the upgrade essentially risk-free to try.
Can Gold Star members get the Citi Costco Anywhere Visa card?
Yes. The Citi Costco Anywhere Visa card is available to all Costco members, including Gold Star. The card has no additional annual fee as long as your Costco membership is active and paid. Gold Star members with the Citi Visa earn the card's own rewards (4% on gas, 3% on dining and travel, 2% at Costco) without needing Executive status.
What happens to my Executive 2% reward if I do not use it by year-end?
The annual reward certificate is issued in February billing statements and is redeemable through December 31 of the same calendar year at U.S. Costco warehouse locations, including Puerto Rico. The certificate can be redeemed for cash or merchandise in a single transaction. Unused certificates expire at year-end.
Can I downgrade from Executive to Gold Star if it is not worth it?
Yes. Costco's satisfaction guarantee covers the Executive membership. If at annual renewal the 2% reward did not cover the $65 upgrade premium, you can request a refund of the difference and downgrade to Gold Star. This makes Executive membership a low-risk upgrade to test for one year before committing long-term.
