Kudos has partnered with CardRatings and Red Ventures for our coverage of credit card products. Kudos, CardRatings, and Red Ventures may receive a commission from card issuers. Kudos may receive commission from card issuers. Some of the card offers that appear on Kudos are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Kudos tries to include as many card companies and offers as we are aware of, including offers from issuers that don't pay us, but we may not cover all card companies or all available card offers. You don't have to use our links, but we're grateful when you do!
11 Costco Membership Benefits You Probably Aren't Using
July 1, 2025
Most Costco members think of their card as a pass to bulk toilet paper and $1.50 hot dogs. And sure, those deals are solid. But your membership actually unlocks a surprising range of Costco benefits that can save you real money—if you know where to look.
The warehouse giant has quietly built out an ecosystem of services that most members never touch. Travel bookings, prescription drugs, insurance quotes, tire maintenance—it's all there, waiting to be used.
Here's what you might be missing.
Why This Matters for Your Wallet
A basic Gold Star membership runs $65 per year. The Executive membership costs $130 but includes 2% back on most Costco purchases (capped at $1,250 annually). For frequent shoppers, executive members often earn back enough to cover the upgrade cost—and then some.
Either way, you're paying for access to benefits that extend well beyond the warehouse floor. The question isn't whether these perks exist—it's whether you're actually using them. Many members renew year after year without realizing how much value they're leaving on the table.
1. Travel Packages That Often Beat the Competition
Costco Travel bundles flights, hotels, rental cars, and sometimes activities into packages that often undercut what you'd pay when booking separately. These aren't bare-bones deals either—many include perks like resort credits, room upgrades, or complimentary breakfast.
The service particularly shines for resort vacations and theme park trips, where the bundled pricing and added extras create genuine value. Their vacation packages to destinations like Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean—plus popular theme parks like Disney and Universal—consistently rank well in price comparisons.
The catch? You can't always customize every detail, and the selection is more curated than a site like Expedia. But if you're flexible and want a streamlined booking experience, it's worth checking before you default to other travel sites.
Worth noting: Always compare prices. Costco Travel is often competitive, but not universally cheaper.
2. Rental Cars at Member-Only Rates
Before you book through Hertz or Enterprise directly, check Costco Travel's rental car section. They partner with major rental companies to offer member-exclusive pricing that can be noticeably lower—sometimes 10-20% below standard rates.
The real bonus? Adding a second driver is often free, a perk that typically costs $10-15 per day elsewhere. Over a week-long trip, that's $70-100 in savings on a single line item.
3. Cruises with Actual Value-Adds
Costco offers cruises from major lines—Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, and others—with extras that justify browsing their options. We're talking onboard credit (often $50-200 depending on the sailing), specialty dining packages, cabin upgrades, and beverage credits.
Their travel specialists can help you navigate the choices if you're new to cruising. Some packages even include a Costco Shop Card as a bonus, giving you warehouse credit on top of your vacation.
4. Discounted Gift Cards
Here's a straightforward hack: Costco sells gift cards for restaurants, entertainment venues, and retailers at a discount. You might pay $80 for $100 worth of dining credit at a popular chain. That's an instant 20% return on money you'd spend anyway.
The selection includes movie theaters, casual dining restaurants, and fast food chains. Check regularly—it rotates, and popular options sell out quickly.
5. Pharmacy Savings (Even Without Insurance)
Costco's pharmacy prices are some of the lowest around, often beating insurance co-pays. You don't need a membership to use the pharmacy (it's legally required to be open to non-members in most states), but members get additional perks and the convenience of one-stop shopping.
Generic medications in particular can be dramatically cheaper than at traditional pharmacies. If you're paying out of pocket for prescriptions—or even if you have health insurance—compare Costco's prices before assuming your current option is the best deal. The savings on a single medication can sometimes cover your annual membership fee.
6. Optical Services Worth Considering
Need glasses or contacts? Costco Optical offers eye exams, frames, and lenses at prices hard to match at traditional optical shops. Eye exams typically run $70-90 (varies by location), and frames plus lenses often come in well under what you'd pay at LensCrafters or a similar chain.
The selection skews toward practical over designer, but they do carry some brand names. Even if you have vision insurance, Costco's out-of-pocket prices sometimes beat what you'd pay using your benefits elsewhere. Worth comparing before you assume insurance is the better route.
7. Hearing Aids at a Fraction of Typical Costs
Hearing aids are notoriously expensive—often $2,000 to $6,000 per ear at traditional providers. The markup in this industry is significant, and many people delay getting the help they need because of the cost.
Costco Hearing Aid Centers offer high-quality devices at significantly lower prices, often 50% less than those from traditional audiologists. They also provide free hearing tests and ongoing support. If you or a family member needs hearing assistance, this benefit alone could justify years of membership fees.
8. The Auto Program: Skip the Haggling
Buying a car is stressful, partly because of the negotiation dance at the dealership. Costco's Auto Program connects you with authorized dealerships that offer pre-arranged, low pricing. You walk in knowing the price—no back-and-forth required.
The program covers both new and certified pre-owned vehicles from a range of manufacturers. The savings vary depending on the vehicle and market conditions, but the reduced stress has its own value.
9. Insurance Options Beyond Auto
Through partnerships with providers like CONNECT (powered by American Family Insurance), Costco offers member-exclusive rates on home and auto insurance. But that's not all—members can also access life insurance and pet insurance through Costco's insurance marketplace.
Whether you actually save depends on your specific situation, but getting quotes takes minutes. Insurance is one of those expenses worth shopping for every couple of years anyway, so adding Costco's options to your comparison list makes sense.
10. Tire Installation and Lifetime Maintenance
Buy your tires at Costco, and you get installation, rotation, balancing, and flat repairs for the life of the tire—all included in your purchase price. That's essentially an in-store warranty on maintenance that would cost hundreds elsewhere.
The tire selection covers most standard vehicles, and their prices are competitive with Discount Tire and other major retailers. Even if you didn't buy your current tires there, keep Costco in mind for your next set. Factor in the free ongoing service, and the total cost often beats competitors.
11. The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "751", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Costco Members", "headerHint": "5% Cash Back on Costco Gas Stations"} ]]
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is exclusive to Costco members and offers a straightforward cash back structure with no annual fee beyond your membership:
- 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging (on up to $7,000 per year, then 1%)
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel worldwide
- 2% cash back on Costco and Costco.com purchases
- 1% cash back on everything else
Your annual cash back reward comes as a certificate redeemable at Costco warehouses. No complicated points systems—just straightforward cash back. For members who regularly fill up at the Costco gas station and shop the warehouse, the rewards add up quickly.
A Few More Worth Knowing
Costco Next: This members-only program offers direct-from-manufacturer pricing on items like furniture, appliances, and outdoor equipment—often with free shipping. It's a separate site from the main Costco website, so many members don't even know it exists.
Home improvement services: Costco connects members with pre-screened, licensed contractors for flooring, countertops, HVAC installation, and custom closets. Members often receive exclusive discounts.
Business services: If you run a small business or side hustle, Costco offers competitive payment processing rates and bottled water delivery.
Identity protection: Through a partnership with Experian, members can access credit monitoring and identity protection services at member-exclusive pricing.
A note on employment perks: If you're a Costco employee, you likely already know about additional benefits—but it's worth checking whether family members can access member pricing on services like insurance and travel through your employment.
The Bottom Line
Your Costco membership—whether Gold Star or executive—is worth more than bulk groceries and gas-station savings. The travel deals, pharmacy prices, tire services, and credit card rewards add up, but only if you actually use them.
Next time you need to book a trip, fill a prescription, buy new tires, or shop for insurance, check Costco first. You might be surprised by what your membership already covers.
How Kudos helps you choose the right credit card
Kudos Explore shows you how the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi stacks up against other gas and grocery rewards cards based on your actual spending. You can compare cash back rates, see whether a different card beats Costco's 4% gas rewards, and filter by categories like dining, travel, or warehouse clubs.
Instead of assuming the Costco card is your best option just because you're a member, Kudos displays earning rates and redemption structures side by side. This helps you see whether pairing the Costco Visa with another card—or choosing a different strategy entirely—puts more money back in your wallet.
Unlock your extra benefits when you become a Kudos member
Turn your online shopping into even more rewards
Join over 400,000 members simplifying their finances
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
.webp)
