The Exact Dollar Amount That Makes Costco's Executive Membership Pay For Itself - Tasting Table

"There's something almost philosophical about the Costco checkout line. All that bulk, all that value, all that existential math. You've just spent a few hundred dollars on paper towels, coffee beans, and a kayak, and the cashier asks, "Would you like to upgrade your membership to Executive?" The main difference between Executive and Gold Star is that for $130 ($65 more than the Gold Star membership) a year, the deal is 2% cash back on most purchases, capped at $1,250."

"For many Costco devotees, families, small businesses, or the kind of people who impulse-buy a pallet of Perrier, that threshold is easy to clear. The 2% reward applies to nearly everything that can be purchased in the warehouse, like groceries, appliances, furniture, and even travel booked through Costco's in-house agency. When you get the reward, you can even use it toward renewing your membership."

Costco Executive membership costs $130 per year and provides 2% cash back on most eligible warehouse purchases, capped at $1,250 annually. The incremental cost over the Gold Star plan is $65, so members must spend roughly $6,500 in eligible purchases annually—about $541 per month—to recoup the upgrade. The 2% reward covers groceries, appliances, furniture, and travel booked through Costco's in-house agency, but excludes tobacco, fuel, pharmacy, and optical services. Rewards must be used in store by the primary cardholder and can be applied toward membership renewal or discretionary purchases.

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