Costco Canada Guide (2026) — Is the Membership Fee Worth It? Must-Buy List + Money-Saving Tips

Updated: 2026-06-17｜Membership fees, ticket prices and credit card policies are subject to official announcements

In Canada, Costco is almost a must-visit for new immigrants — an annual-fee warehouse wholesale store with food, electronics and household goods all under one roof, and the quality is relatively reliable. But is Costco right for everyone? In this post I share my own honest experience from these past few years of using it: from whether the membership fee is worth it, to a must-buy list, to the things you actually shouldn’t buy here.

Let’s start with membership. Costco Canada currently offers three types of membership cards: Gold Star (personal) has an annual fee of CAD $65 and is the most basic membership — one card can be shared by two people, with an add-on card for $35; Business is also $65 and is suited to business purchasing; Executive is $130 and adds a 2% reward on all annual spending (capped at about $1,250).

Is upgrading to Executive worth it? It costs $65 more than Gold Star, but gives you a 2% reward. Working it out, as long as your annual spending exceeds about CAD $3,250, the 2% reward will exceed the extra $65 you paid. A family that goes to Costco regularly once a month usually reaches this threshold quite easily, and in that case upgrading is worth it. Conversely, if you only go a few times a year and don’t spend much, just stay with Gold Star. Overall, for people who have two or more living in the household, have a car to haul the bulk packs, regularly buy food and daily necessities at Costco, and spend more than $200 a month, getting a membership is well worth it; but if you live alone with no roommate to split with, have no car (although Costco.ca offers online delivery, there is a threshold), or live in a small studio with nowhere to store bulk packs, then the value of this card to you will be diminished.

Must-buy list: the items that are truly great value

Food is the section I think is most worth browsing. Korean seaweed in bulk packs is 30 to 40 percent cheaper than at a regular Asian supermarket; Kirkland olive oil in large bottles is good quality at a low unit price; Kirkland almonds and cashews come in big portions and are fresh, the top choice for healthy snacks. For seafood, the frozen salmon fillets (Atlantic salmon) are fresher and cheaper than at the supermarket; and that nationally fixed-price Rotisserie Chicken is something everyone knows about. Others such as organic eggs (30-pack), Kirkland pasta that can be portioned and frozen, and high-protein Kirkland Greek yogurt (1.5kg) are all great value.

Daily necessities are likewise a Costco strength. Toilet paper in extra-large packs is the most economical and saves you frequent trips; Kirkland laundry detergent in large tubs is up to half the price of retail; Ziploc storage bags / zipper bags in bulk packs are a kitchen essential; batteries (Kirkland or Duracell) are very economical over the long term too.

A few little money-saving tricks: keep an eye on the monthly “Instant Savings” booklet, where specific products are discounted within the valid period; the in-house brand Kirkland often matches name brands in quality but is 20 to 30 percent cheaper, so choose it when you can; before buying fresh produce in bulk, make sure you can use it all up so it doesn’t go to waste; splitting bulk packs with roommates or neighbours can push the unit price down further; and costco.ca online has some products cheaper than in-store, and also offers free delivery to the store for pickup. To compare other channels, see our complete Canada supermarket ranking comparison, or for buying Asian ingredients specifically, check the recommended Asian supermarkets in Canada.

Of course, not everything should be bought at Costco. Fresh vegetables, unless you have a large household, easily spoil in big quantities; spices and seasonings come in portions so big you simply can’t finish them; clothing is mostly non-brand with limited styles; and books are usually even more expensive than on Amazon. Leave these few categories to other channels.

Finally, a few of the questions I often get asked. Can you get in without a membership card? In principle no — you need a valid Costco membership card, but there are exceptions: have a cardholder friend bring you in (one card can bring in up to two adults), or shop online at Costco.ca first (some products don’t require a membership). What cards can you pay with? In-store, Costco Canada only accepts Mastercard and Debit (no Visa or American Express), while online at costco.ca both Visa and Mastercard work; if you want rewards, you can choose a cash-back Mastercard, or Scotiabank’s Costco co-branded card. Can you return things you’re not happy with? Yes — Costco’s return policy has almost no time limit (electronics are 90 days), take the product to the Customer Service counter, scan your membership card to look up your purchase record, and the refund is usually done in a few minutes. For details on the return process you can also refer to the guide to Canada’s return culture.