Few people enjoy shelling out large sums for essentials such as groceries. A common way many households trim grocery bills is by shopping at warehouse club stores. Purchasing certain grocery and home items in bulk cancut your costs substantially. That said,warehouse club memberships can carry a hefty price tag.How can you tell which membership provides the best value? You don’t always get to browse the store before signing up — and weighing all the choices takes time and effort.So, we handled the warehouse club comparison for you.
How to Pay for a Warehouse Club Membership
If you’re ready to invest in a warehouse club membership (and this guide will help you pick the right one), you might be wondering how to cover the cost. If you need ways to come up with cash for a membership, several of our favorite quick-earn strategies can help.
Warehouse Club Comparison on Membership Prices
We matched Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s against each other. We examined not only their membership costs, but also the perks and member benefits that canhelp you trim expenses. *Fees subject to change
Membership Fees
The first consideration is the annual membership charge you must pay to shop, and what that fee includes.
For this piece, we’ll evaluate the base (i.e., least expensive) memberships, which primarily grant basic shopping access.
Each chain also sells higher-tier memberships with extras like cash-back rewards, but those plans generally cost $100 or more. With 2% cash back on qualifying purchases, you’d need about $2,000 in spending to break even — not trivial. Still, that might be achievable over a year if you do much of your shopping at the warehouse.
For simplicity, we’ll use the lower-tier figures in this comparison.
- BJ’s charges $60 for an individual membership and includes a free second card for another household member.
- Costco is the costliest at $65, but like BJ’s, it supplies a complimentary secondary member card.
- Sam’s Club’s Savings Membership rings in at just $50, the most budget-friendly choice here. It also provides a free additional member card.
Next, let’s examine what each retailer provides to the everyday shopper and club member.
BJ’s
Basic Membership benefits
A standard BJ’s membership grants access to 278 warehouses nationwide. Locations are concentrated mostly on the East Coast, especially in New York and Florida. BJ’s advertises roughly 25% savings on grocery items, reduced prices at BJ’s gas stations, same-day delivery and curbside pickup for members.
It also offers adiscounted $25 membership ratefor certain groups: college students, first responders, veterans and active-duty military, teachers, government employees, and medical professionals. This year-round discounted fee is consistent across those groups.
Additional Services
Every BJ’s Warehouse features extra services available to members, including a tire and auto service center, an optical department that can perform eye exams and fill prescriptions, a travel booking service and installation services for home improvement projects.
Club+ Membership
In addition to its basic plan, BJ’s offers an upgraded option for$120. The Club+ plan provides deeper gas discounts, 2% rewards on most in-store purchases and complimentary curbside pickup.
Costco
Costco currently doesn’t run a reduced membership price or limited-time enrollment special. Membership rose to $65 fairly recently — the first hike since 2017. That said, it does havea promotional gift card of up to $50for applicants who also sign up for the Costco Anywhere Visa card.
Basic Membership benefits
Costco operates over 800 locations across the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico and other regions. Prices are comparable to BJ’s, with some brand-name goods sometimes costing slightly less at Costco. Like its peers, it offers discounted fuel, same-day delivery and curbside pickup to members.
Rather than the specific discounted rates for groups offered by BJ’s, Costco instead provides a $10 monthly credit on SameDay.Costco.com or Costco via Instacart purchases of $150 or more.
Additional Services
Costco stores offer several additional services. Unlike BJ’s, it maintains a fullpharmacy with home deliveryoptions. Costco also, like BJ’s, has tire centers, optical departments and travel services. The stores are also well-known for their food courts, which famouslysell hot dogs for just $1.50.
Executive Membership
Costco’s premium tier, the Executive membership, costs $130 per year and offers 2% back on purchases, up to $1,250 in annual rewards. It also promotes further discounts across its service offerings.
Sam’s Club
Basic Membership Benefits
By many measures, Sam’s Club provides the lowest overall prices of the three major chains. As a Walmart subsidiary, it operates about 600 locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Like the others, Sam’s Club offers free curbside pickup and same-day delivery.
It does have membership discounts for select service groups, but they vary. Military veterans, for instance, receive amembership discount, while college students may get a 45-day free trial.
Additional Services
Similar to Costco, Sam’s Club provides an in-store pharmacy as well as discounted fuel stations, tire installation, optical care and travel services, mirroring the offerings of both Costco and BJ’s.
Sam’s Club advanced membership
The Plus Cardis priced at $110 per year. Beyond the standard 2% reward, the Plus plan includes free shipping on orders over $50, half-off tire installation, optical discounts, extra shopping hours at certain locations and $0 prescription services.
The Final Verdict
BJ’s, Costco and Sam’s Club each present different ways for shoppers to save. Overall, the most budget-friendly choice is Sam’s Club, which has the lowest membership fee, competitive grocery pricing and the most avenues for extra savings through its premium program.
That said, Costco generally offers the best reach and arguably the broadest set of services and conveniences, though it has the highest membership price.
BJ’s, on the other hand, gives notable discounts for service professionals and, depending on your location, may be more convenient than Costco or Sam’s Club. In short, all three warehouse chains are worth considering if you aim to reduce grocery spending for your household.
Alex Rivers, a former contributor at Savinly, contributed. Senior managing editor Morgan Hale updated information as of November 2025.
