Costco vs Sam's Club vs BJ's: which membership costs less?
All three warehouse clubs have a basic membership and a pricier one that pays 2% back. Here's how the fees and rewards compare, and which works out cheapest at your spending.
Fees and rewards checked October 18, 2026. Sam's Club changed its fees on May 1, 2026.
Quick pick
- Lowest fee: Sam's Club or BJ's, at $60 a year for the basic membership, $5 less than Costco Gold Star.
- Top tiers, typical spending: Sam's Plus and BJ's Club+ pay the same 2% for at least $10 a year less than Costco Executive ($120 vs $130).
- Very big spenders: Costco Executive. Its 2% keeps paying up to $62,500 of spending a year, while Sam's Plus stops at $37,500 and BJ's Club+ at $25,000.
- Online orders and travel: Costco's reward also counts Costco.com and Costco Travel. Sam's Cash leaves out delivery and shipped orders.
- Lots of gas: BJ's Club+ takes 5¢ a gallon off at BJ's Gas. Costco's 2% doesn't apply to gas.
- In practice: the club you'll actually drive to. A far-away warehouse can cost more in gas and time than the fee difference; try the gas savings calculator.
Side by side
| Costco | Sam's Club | BJ's | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic membership | $65 Gold Star | $60 Club | $60 Club |
| Top membership | $130 Executive | $120 Plus | $120 Club+ |
| Extra cost of the top tier | $65 | $60 | $60 |
| Reward on the top tier | 2% | 2% in Sam's Cash | 2% in rewards |
| Reward cap per year | $1,250 | $750 | $500 |
| Where the reward applies | Warehouse, Costco.com and Costco Travel | In club (including Scan & Go) and Curbside Pickup; not delivery or shipping | In club, BJs.com and the BJ's app |
| Gas | Doesn't earn the 2% | See Sam's Club terms | Doesn't earn the 2%; Club+ gets 5¢ off per gallon |
| Top tier pays off above | $271/mo | $250/mo | $250/mo |
Fees are the regular yearly prices. BJ's often discounts the first year heavily for new members, then renews at the regular fee.
Which is cheapest for you?
What the numbers show
- At low spending, a basic membership wins. Below about $250 to $271 a month, none of the top tiers earns back its extra cost.
- In the middle, the cheaper top tiers win. Sam's Plus and BJ's Club+ cost less than Costco Executive, so they come out ahead at moderate spending.
- Big spenders do best at Costco. Costco's reward cap ($1,250) is much higher than Sam's ($750) or BJ's ($500), so once you spend about $3,169 a month or more on qualifying purchases, Costco Executive works out cheapest.
What the fee comparison leaves out
The membership fee is the smallest part of the bill. What really decides which club is cheaper for you:
- Which one is closer. A club 25 minutes further away costs more in gas and time than the difference in fees. BJ's clubs are mostly in the eastern U.S., so check there's one near you.
- The prices of what you actually buy. Compare a basket of your regular items, by unit price, at each club.
- How you shop. Costco's reward covers its website and travel bookings; Sam's Plus covers in-club and curbside orders but not delivery or shipped orders; BJ's covers in-club, BJs.com and its app.
- Gas. Costco and BJ's both leave gas out of the 2%. BJ's Club+ instead takes 5¢ off each gallon at BJ's Gas. See Costco gas stations near you.
- Other perks on each top tier. Check each club's site for the current list.
Common questions
Which warehouse club membership is cheapest?
On the regular fees, Sam's Club ($60) and BJ's ($60) basic memberships cost $5 a year less than Costco Gold Star ($65). Which one costs you least overall depends on how much you spend; use the calculator above.
Is Costco Executive, Sam's Plus or BJ's Club+ worth it?
Each pays 2% back, so it comes down to whether 2% of your yearly spending beats the upgrade cost. That happens above about $271 a month at Costco, $250 at Sam's Club and $250 at BJ's.
What about Amazon Prime or Walmart+?
They're a different kind of membership, built around shipping and streaming rather than warehouse prices, so we don't include them here.
Sources
- Costco: Executive 2% reward
- Sam's Club: membership renewal payments and options
- Sam's Club: Sam's Cash FAQ
- BJ's: membership terms (rewards, cap and exclusions)
- ConsumerAffairs: BJ's fee increase (regular fees; BJ's own site shows only new-member offers)