Costco and Sam's Club are the nation’s most popular wholesale clubs, with more than 600 locations apiece. But is one store better than the other for your pocketbook? It’s close, but we give the edge to Costco.
Membership Fees
Winner: Sam's Club. Costco's $55 basic membership will soon increase to $60 a year. A Sam's Club basic membership costs $45. Plus, Sam's also frequently discounts its fee or throws in freebies for new members.
Better Products
Winner: Costco. Consumer Reports found prices to be comparable at both warehouse clubs. But when it comes to quality, Costco's Kirkland brand has earned more kudos than Sam's Club's products for everything from olive oil to tequila.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Return Policies
Winner: Costco. At Costco you can return virtually any item at any time, no questions asked, without a receipt or the original packaging. (There are some exceptions including electronics.) Return policies are similar at Sam's Club, except Sam's highly recommends a receipt and the original packaging.
Read more about the pros and cons of shopping at Costco versus Sam's Club.
-
Dow, S&P 500 Slip on December Rate Cut Worries, Nvidia Boosts Nasdaq: Stock Market TodayNvidia became the first company ever to boast a $5 trillion market cap, but it wasn't enough to lift the Dow and the S&P 500.
-
Where You Choose to Stash $100k Now Comes with a Big Opportunity CostThe Fed recently cut rates. Here's where to maximize your savings while rates remain higher.
-
21 Last-Minute Gifts for Grandparents Day 2025 to Give Right NowHoliday Tips Last-minute gifting is never easy. But here are some ideas to celebrate Grandparents Day.
-
Texas Sales Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday Here's what you needed to know about the Texas sales tax holiday.
-
Alabama Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 back-to-school Alabama sales tax holiday.
-
The Sweet 23: States Where Twix and Kit Kat Avoid the ‘Candy Tax’State Taxes There’s something spooky this Halloween, and it’s not just the ghouls. Find out if your state’s sales tax takes a bite out of sweet savings.
-
Florida Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday 2025Sales Taxes The new tax-free holiday in Florida brought month-long savings on computers, clothing and other school supplies.
-
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Shop Amazon's Prime Big Deal DaysSmart Buying Are Amazon Prime Big Deal Days still a good deal? We'll break it down.
-
Best Cash Back Credit Cards of 2025Credit Cards If you're searching for a credit card that rewards you for everyday purchases, we've chosen the best.
-
How to Spend $1,000: Find Cheap (or Free) Online Courses to Build Career SkillsSmart Buying There's a huge array of skill-building online courses that can level up your career for under $1,000.
