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Is Costco Executive Membership worth it? The break-even math in CAD
Executive costs $130 a year, $65 more than Gold Star. The 2% reward pays that back once your household spends about $3,250 a year at Costco.
By Cost Check Editorial · Last reviewed Oct 1, 2026 · 3 min read
Costco Executive membership is worth it if your household spends more than about $3,250 a year ($271 a month) on purchases that earn the reward. Below that, Gold Star is cheaper. Our default for most households is Gold Star, with an upgrade once your receipts show you are over the line.
The decision is pure arithmetic: a fixed $65 extra against a 2% return. Everything below is that calculation, plus the rules that decide which purchases count.
How much does Costco Executive membership cost?
Executive costs $130 a year before tax, against $65 for Gold Star.
| Membership | Yearly fee | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Star | $65 | None |
| Executive | $130 | 2% on eligible purchases, up to $1,250 a year |
Costco raised fees on September 1, 2024: Gold Star from $60 to $65, Executive from $120 to $130, and the yearly reward cap from $1,000 to $1,250.
How much do you need to spend for Executive to pay off?
You need $3,250 of eligible spending a year: the $65 upgrade divided by the 2% reward.
| You spend a month | A year | Executive reward | Versus Gold Star |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 | $2,400 | $48 | −$17 |
| $300 | $3,600 | $72 | +$7 |
| $500 | $6,000 | $120 | +$55 |
| $800 | $9,600 | $192 | +$127 |
| $1,500 | $18,000 | $360 | +$295 |
The reward stops growing at $1,250, which takes $62,500 of eligible spending. Very few households get near it. To run your own number, use the Executive calculator.
Which purchases earn the Executive reward?
Purchases rung through the warehouse registers earn it. Costco's membership conditions exclude gas stations, pharmacies, food courts, optical centres in Quebec, tobacco, services (including auto services), membership fees, deposits and taxes, plus purchases restricted by law and other categories Costco names from time to time. If most of your Costco spending is gas, pharmacy or the food court, the upgrade is hard to justify.
When do you get the Executive reward?
Once a year, as a reward coupon mailed with your membership renewal notice. It goes to the primary member and is spent in the warehouse: Costco's terms say it can't be used at the gas station or online at Costco.ca. It is not cash, so it only pays off if you keep shopping there.
Can you try Executive and switch back?
Yes. Costco's membership conditions say: "We will cancel and refund your membership fee at any time if you are dissatisfied." You can also return to Gold Star at renewal. Ask at the membership counter how the refund applies to an upgrade before you decide.
Does Executive stack with the Costco Mastercard?
Yes. The Executive reward comes from Costco and the CIBC Costco Mastercard pays its own cash back from CIBC, so one purchase can earn both. That pairing is why heavy Costco shoppers carry both; our Costco Mastercard cash back review runs the card's numbers.
Should you upgrade to Executive?
Upgrade if you spend more than about $3,250 a year at the warehouse registers (not counting gas, pharmacy or the food court), buy big-ticket items like appliances, TVs or tires there, and will keep shopping there all year.
Stay on Gold Star if you mostly go for gas, shop a few times a year, or would rather keep $65 now than wait a year for a store coupon. That is the trade: a certain $65 today against a reward you only collect if your spending is high enough.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is Costco Executive membership in Canada?
- $130 a year before tax, $65 more than the $65 Gold Star membership.
- What is the Costco Executive reward cap in Canada?
- $1,250 a year. You reach it at $62,500 of eligible spending.
- How much do I need to spend at Costco for Executive to be worth it?
- About $3,250 a year of eligible purchases, or $271 a month.
- Does gas count toward the Costco Executive reward?
- No. Gas does not earn the 2% reward, so it does not help you reach the $3,250 break-even.
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