Costco membership price in Canada: Gold Star vs Executive vs Business

The Costco membership price in Canada is $65 a year for Gold Star or Business and $130 a year for Executive, plus sales tax. Most households should start with Gold Star; Executive only pays off at higher spending.

All three tiers get you into the same warehouses and gas stations. The real differences are who the membership is for and whether a yearly reward is worth $65 more to you.

How much is a Costco membership in Canada?

$65 for Gold Star or Business, $130 for Executive.

Prices last changed on September 1, 2024, when Gold Star and Business rose from $60 to $65 and Executive from $120 to $130.

What do you get with a Gold Star membership?

Access to every Canadian warehouse, Costco gas stations and Costco.ca, plus a free household card for anyone over 16 living at your address. It is the right default for most people.

Your card also lives in the Costco app as a digital membership card once your Costco.ca account is verified. Costco accepts it at checkout, returns, the pharmacy, optical, hearing aid and tire centres, but not yet at the gas station, so keep the plastic card for fill-ups.

Costco Optical is one of the member services; see Costco eyeglasses.

What is a Costco Business membership?

It is a $65 membership for business owners buying for their business. It includes a household card, and you can add up to 6 affiliate members (partners or staff) at $65 each, each with their own free household card. If you buy in bulk for a restaurant, office or store, read our Business Centre guide.

Is Executive worth the extra $65?

Only if your household spends more than about $3,250 a year on eligible Costco purchases. The 2% reward arrives once a year as a coupon mailed with your renewal notice, and gas, pharmacy and food court purchases don't count. Our Executive break-even guide has the full table.

Which Costco membership should you get?

• Most households: Gold Star. You can upgrade to Executive later at any warehouse membership counter.
• Spending over about $3,250 a year (not counting gas): Executive.
• Buying for a business: Business, with Executive if that spending is high.

Still deciding whether to join at all? Our Costco review weighs what the membership gets you, category by category.

Is there a Costco membership discount?

Not on the fee itself: Costco's membership conditions list fixed prices ($65 for Gold Star and Business, $130 for Executive). Costco's offers come as extras instead, such as the $25 online voucher that first-time auto-renew sign-ups got from September 28 to October 16, 2026; see renewal offers. Ways to pay less out of pocket: an Executive member's 2% reward can pay a renewal, a Costco Shop Card can cover the fee, and Aeroplan points can be redeemed for a membership.

Costco Canada doesn't publish a student membership or a CAA membership discount; the fixed fees above apply to everyone. The closest thing to a sign-up offer is Costco.ca's Refer a Friend page, checked October 5, 2026: when an existing member brings a new member (or one expired for 18 months or more) to the membership counter, you each get a $50 Costco.ca voucher on an Executive sign-up (minimum $200 online spend) or $25 on a Gold Star sign-up (minimum $125).

Can you get a refund on a Costco membership?

Yes. Costco's membership conditions say: "We will cancel and refund your membership fee at any time if you are dissatisfied." Ask at the membership counter of any warehouse.

How can you pay at Costco in Canada?

Canadian warehouses take Mastercard credit cards, debit and cash. If you will shop there often, compare the best credit cards for Costco before your first big trip.