With inflation still elevated and Americans in the middle of summer travel season, many people are undoubtedly watching gas prices. The average price per gallon of gas is $3.59 right now, which, thankfully, is more than $1 cheaper than at this time last year, according to AAA.
Those looking for even lower gas prices may want to consider a discount club membership at Costco or Sam's Club. Both of which offer significant discounts to the average gas prices.
But which one has better prices? A quick look across five cities shows that it's fairly evenly split across the two companies.
Both stores offer below-average gas prices
I did a snapshot of gas prices across Atlanta, Georgia; Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Sacramento, California; Houston, Texas; and Springfield, Missouri. On the day I checked, gas prices at Sam's Club and Costco were the same at all locations, except in Cherry Hill, where Costco's fuel price was $0.08 cheaper per gallon than a comparable Sam's Club location.
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It's difficult to directly compare Sam's Club and Costo gas prices in some cities because their store locations differ. But what's clear is that both clubs offer steep fuel discounts compared to the average. For example, AAA says the average per-gallon gas price in the Atlanta area is $3.39, and I found that both Sam's Club and Costco fuel prices were $0.25 cheaper.
An analyst at GasBuddy, a website that helps people find the best gas prices, said in an interview with Consumer Reports last year that warehouse clubs typically have gas prices that are $0.05 to $0.25 cheaper per gallon than gas stations. They also tend to keep their prices lower longer when fuel prices are on the rise.
And if you're buying Costo gas, you're not skimping on good-quality gas. AAA research shows that Costco's Signature Kirkland Gasoline meets independent TOP TIER standards, which AAA said is proven to be cleaner and help engines perform better.
Should you buy a Costco or Sam's Club membership just for the gas?
If we take the average savings based on the GasBuddy analysis, the median amount that Sam's Club and Costco members save is $0.15 per gallon. Based on the 489 gallons of fuel that Americans buy annually per vehicle, according to the American Petroleum Institute, then Sam's Club and Costco members could save up to about $73 a year. If you fuel up more than one vehicle or burn through more gallons than the average, then your savings will be even higher.
Of course, your savings mileage may vary depending on the price of gas and the discount prices where you live. But even with this conservative estimate, the gas savings easily pays for the cheapest $50 Sam's Club membership or $60 Costco membership. Which means that spending the money for membership could be a smart decision for your personal finances.
And if you're looking to maximize your gas savings, you may want to consider the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, which gives 4% cash back on gas purchases up to $7,000, then 1% after that. Similarly, a Sam's Club Mastercard offers 5% cash back on fuel purchases up to $6,000, then 1% after.
So if you're looking for cheap gas, both Sam's Club and Costco memberships will save you money. Sometimes Costco will be cheaper, and sometimes Sam's Club will be. But if you're looking for a good deal on gas prices, you can't go wrong with either.
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FAQs
While both Costco and Sam's Club offer unleaded, premium, and diesel fuels (here's how to know which you should be getting), only Costco offers Top Tier fuel. If you don't have a Costco membership, you can still find Top Tier gas at other stations. “Yes, Top Tier gas is worth the extra money,” CarFax reported.
Who has better prices Costco or Sam's Club? ›
However, there are some differences: A review by Business Insider in May 2022 found that although Costco has lower prices, Sam's Club has a cheaper membership fee. There were no substantial differences in price or quality between the two chains, suggesting that the best store for you is the one closest to your home.
Is Costco gas really Top Tier? ›
Costco is listed as a TOP TIER™ gasoline retailer. Find out more at www.toptiergas.com. Kirkland Signature™ Gasoline contains five times the EPA detergent requirement in both regular unleaded and premium grades, and is formulated to clean your engine and help your vehicle run like new.
Which gas station has the best quality gas? ›
You'll know you're filling up with the good stuff if you spot a small green sticker on the pump that says “TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.” As of early 2022, the following stations sold Top Tier gasoline in the U.S.: 76, ARCO, Aloha, Beacon, Breakaway, CITGO, Cenex, Chevron, Conoco, Costco Wholesale, CountryMark, ...
Is Costco fuel good quality? ›
Good station operation and maintenance means the fuel is filtered and that contaminants, such as sediment and water, do not find their way into our members' vehicles. Costco fuel stations are well-maintained by our capable attendants so you may be confident that the fuel going into your car is clean.
What does Costco have that Sam's doesn't? ›
Sam's Club, for example, serves soft pretzels and ICEE drinks, two items you won't find at Costco. Meanwhile, Costco's food courts offer chicken Caesar salads, massive chocolate chip cookies, Chicken Bakes, and as of last month, a new turkey Swiss sandwich. These are all options that you won't see at Sam's Club.
Why do people like Costco more than Sam's Club? ›
Costco often offers a wider selection of brands compared to Sam's Club, giving you more shopping options. Compare the two online or in-person to see if your local Costco offers a better section of the brands you prefer.
Does Sam's Club honor Costco prices? ›
Sam's Club does not price match competitors.
Does Costco gas have detergent in it? ›
As with any Kirkland Signature™ product, you can trust that Kirkland Signature™ Fuel is no exception to quality and value. The additional fuel detergent additives we've included in our Kirkland Signature™ licensed formulas, help clean your engine and keep your vehicle running it's best.
What company does Costco get its gas from? ›
It could be any one of dozens of different refiners Depending on the locale of your Costco. Just like every other gasoline retailer they do not have their own specific supplier at every location.
Yes. All Costco fuel stations have dispensers for high flow diesel and ultra high flow specially installed for trucks. Where does Costco source its fuel from? Currently, Costco sources its quality fuel from Mobil which is specified to meet Australian Standards.
Which gas lasts the longest? ›
93 octane fuels are more refined and contain more stable hydrocarbons. These stable hydrocarbons can last 2-3 times longer than 87 octane fuel. Even in proper storage 87 octane gas can start to degrade in 3 months, 93 octane fuel should last closer to 9 months before degradation is noticeable.
What is the best gas to put in your car? ›
Should I use regular or premium gas? You should use the type of fuel the vehicle's manufacturer recommends. A vehicle that runs on regular gas will not run any better on premium fuel. Using premium gas in a vehicle designed for premium gas will help the car perform better and avoid damaging the engine with regular gas.
Is any brand of gas better? ›
Gasoline brands do differ in their additives and quality, but the impact on engine performance is minimal. Premium gasoline may not be worth the extra cost for most drivers, unless their vehicle specifically requires it.
Why is Costco gas cheaper than everywhere else? ›
So why is it so much cheaper than the competition? The short answer is that unlike pretty much every other retail business that sells gasoline, Costco doesn't care about making money from its gas pumps. In fact, Costco typically sells its gas at a moderate loss.
Does Costco gas have additives? ›
All gasoline at Costco contains deposit control additives. Since March of 2014, Kirkland Signature™ Gasoline has been certified to meet the TOP TIER™ performance standards: www.toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/ and we are proud to offer our high quality product to our members.
Does Costco or Sam's pay more? ›
Average employee pay
Costco: Average hourly wage of $20.91/hour, or $43,493/year. Sam's Club: Average hourly wage of $19.31/hour, or $40,165/year.
How do you know if a gas station is Top Tier? ›
Many fueling stations selling TOP TIER™ Licensed Brands prominently display the TOP TIER™ logo on the pump, pump handle, canopy or in a station window. The TOP TIER™ logo means you're getting fuel that meets the performance requirements set by engine manufacturers.
