So, it finally happened. You’re standing at the register with a cart full of Kirkland seltzer and a five-pound rotisserie chicken, and the screen flashes that dreaded message. Your membership expired. It's time to cough up the cash for another year.
Honestly, the costco card renewal cost used to be something we didn't even think about because it stayed flat for ages. But things changed recently. If you haven't renewed since the late 2024 price hike, you’re in for a small surprise at the checkout.
The Actual Dollars and Cents
Basically, you’ve got two main paths here. If you’re a standard Gold Star member—the one most of us have—the renewal fee is now $65. It used to be $60, but Costco bumped it up by five bucks in September 2024. It’s not a bank-breaker, but it’s enough to make you double-check if you're actually using the card enough.
Then there’s the Executive Membership. This is the big one. It’ll set you back $130 to renew. Again, that’s a $10 increase from the old $120 price tag.
Business members? You're in the same boat as the Gold Star folks. It’s $65 for the base business card. If you want to add people to a business account, it's another $65 per "affiliate" card.
Is the Executive Upgrade Still a Trap?
Most people see that $130 price and immediately back away. I get it. It’s double the price. But here is the thing: the math actually works out for a lot of people who shop there every week.
The Executive card gives you a 2% annual reward on almost everything you buy. Since the price hike, they also raised the "reward cap." You can now earn up to $1,250 back per year instead of the old $1,000 limit.
To make that extra $65 upgrade fee pay for itself, you need to spend about **$3,250 a year** at Costco. That sounds like a lot, right? But break it down. That’s roughly $270 a month. If you buy gas there, get your tires done once a year, and do your big grocery hauls at the warehouse, you’re probably hitting that number without even trying.
If your reward check comes back at $70, the membership basically cost you $60 instead of $65. If it comes back at $130, your membership was free. Sorta. You still had to spend the money to get the reward, but you get the point.
The "Quiet" 2026 Perks
Moving into 2026, Costco has been trying to justify these higher costs with some new "perks." Executive members are now getting a $10 monthly Instacart credit for same-day delivery orders (as long as you spend over $150). It’s a bit specific, sure, but if you’re a regular delivery user, that’s $120 in value right there.
There's also been a big push for exclusive shopping hours. In many locations, Executive members can get in at 9 a.m.—an hour before everyone else—on weekdays and Sundays. If you’ve ever fought the Saturday afternoon crowds, you know that an hour of peace is worth its weight in gold.
How to Handle the Renewal
You don't have to wait for the cashier to call you out in front of a line of ten people. You've got options:
- The Warehouse Counter: Just walk up to the membership desk. They’ll take your money and you're good to go.
- Online or App: You can handle the costco card renewal cost through the app. It's probably the least painful way.
- Auto-Renewal: This is what Costco wants. If you sign up for auto-renew, they often dangle "Shop Card" (gift card) promos for new members. If you're already a member, it just ensures you never have that awkward "card expired" moment at the register.
What if You Want to Quit?
Costco has one of the best return policies in the world, and that extends to the membership itself. If you're halfway through the year and realize you're just not a "bulk person," you can actually get a full refund on your membership fee. They call it their 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
They won't even give you a hard time about it, usually.
A Few Realities to Keep in Mind
Don't forget that these prices can be subject to sales tax depending on where you live. Some states tax membership fees, others don't.
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Also, your renewal date doesn't reset just because you waited three months to pay. If your card expired in January and you renew in March, your next renewal is still due the following January. The only way to "reset" the clock is to let it stay expired for more than two months. If you wait more than two months to renew, your 12-month cycle starts from that new payment date.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your spending: Look at your bank statements from the last six months. If you're spending more than $270 a month at Costco, you're losing money by not being an Executive member.
- Verify your address: If you’re sharing a membership, make sure both people on the account still live at the same address. Costco has been getting way stricter about "household" rules lately, including checking IDs and scanning cards at the entrance.
- Download the app: It’s 2026; having a physical card is getting annoying. The digital card in the app works for everything except the gas pumps (in some older locations), and it’ll tell you exactly when your renewal is due so you aren't surprised at the till.