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Money & cards

Make your membership pay for itself.

Membership tiers, the Executive break-even and the Costco Mastercard: the math, in CAD.

Calculator

Is Executive Membership worth it for you?

Executive members earn an annual reward on eligible Costco purchases. Enter what your household spends at Costco in a year.
Sample data
$

Break-even: about $3,250 a year ($271/month).

Upgrade: you come out ahead

+$55.00

net per year vs. Gold Star

Reward
$120.00
Extra fee
$65.00
Reward cap
$1,250

Membership tiers

Gold Star vs. Executive

Gold Star

$65/yr
  • Warehouse, gas and Costco.ca access
  • Free household card
  • Full refund if not satisfied

Executive

$130/yr
  • 2% annual reward on eligible purchases
  • Reward capped at $1,250 per year
  • Reward coupon mailed with your renewal notice

Best credit cards for Costco

Which Mastercard should you use at Costco?

Costco warehouses in Canada take Mastercard as their only credit card, so the real question is which Mastercard earns you the most on your Costco spend.
Sample data

The Costco Mastercard

Best for: Members who spend at Costco gas and restaurants

Rewards arrive once a year, in January, as a gift certificate only redeemable at Costco.

Flat-rate cash-back Mastercard

Best for: Big one-off purchases (TVs, appliances, tires)

Check annual fees and whether the rate is capped.

Grocery-rewards Mastercard

Best for: Households whose Costco run is mostly groceries

Costco is often coded as a warehouse, not a grocery store, so bonus rates may not apply.

Travel-points Mastercard

Best for: Members who book Costco Travel or fly often

Points value depends on how you redeem; compare in cents per point.

Compare every Costco credit card · CIBC Costco Mastercard details · Cardholder sign-in help

Card picks

Get our Costco card rankings when they're published.

Cash-back card

The Costco Mastercard, by the numbers

No annual fee for members. Cash back is paid once a year, with your January statement, as a gift certificate redeemable at Costco, so factor that in.

Read the full breakdown
Sample data
  • Restaurants3%
  • Gas at Costco3%
  • Other gas & EV charging2%
  • Everything else, incl. Costco1%

Rates and annual caps are illustrative. Confirm current terms with the card issuer.