Is a Costco membership worth cheaper gas? Here’s what to know at high Sacramento prices
Costco is known to have competitive gas prices.
And with fuel moving closer to $6 per gallon on average everyday, some California motorists are exploring a Costco membership to access the gas station.
In California, the average price per gallon of regular gas was $5.75 on Tuesday, 31 cents more than a week ago. In the Sacramento metro, the average is $5.67.
The current cheapest Costco gas price in the Sacramento-area, is $5.14 per gallon at the Citrus Heights location, for regular unleaded gasoline, according to Gas Buddy, a fuel price monitoring website.
The second cheapest price Costco is currently offering its members in the area is $5.19 per gallon at the Sacramento, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova and Folsom locations.
At $5.19 per gallon, it would cost about $68.50 to fill a 2013 Honda Civic’s tank.
But are the cheaper prices worth the membership? Here’s what you should know:
Do you have to be a Costco member to access the gas station?
Yes. The gas station is members only, according to a Costco FAQ page.
Is Costco gas the cheapest?
According to Gas Buddy, the cheapest gas in Sacramento is $5.04 (if you’re paying with cash) at Great Gas located on Auburn Boulevard. If you pay with a card, it’ll cost you 20 cents more than at Costco’s cheapest gas station.
Scott’s Corner located on Arden Way is currently charging motorists $5.11 at the pump, regardless of the form of payment. That’s 3 cents less the area’s cheapest location.
Costco’s Citrus Heights location came in at No. 3.
Warehouse chains like Costco can more easily maintain lower gas prices as they as an incentive for shoppers to go inside and spend more money on other items, CNN Business and Yahoo Money reported. It also relies on memberships.
How much does a Costco membership cost?
A gold star membership costs $60 per year plus tax and an executive membership costs $120 a year plus tax. The discount warehouse is known for its bulk food and other supplies, including electronics.
It also has:
- Food courts
- Car services
- Optical and hearing services
- Pharmacies
- Gas stations
A Honda Civic, with a 13.2 gallon tank, takes roughly $68 to fill up at the cheapest Sacramento-area Costco gas station as of March 15.
At the statewide average, the same car would take more than $75 dollars to fill. That’s $15 more than the cheapest Costco yearly membership.
If you apply the Sacramento area average, that’s just under the $75 mark for a full tank.
This story was originally published March 15, 2022 at 1:11 PM with the headline "Is a Costco membership worth cheaper gas? Here’s what to know at high Sacramento prices."