Does Costco Take EBT Card, Snap or Food Stamp – If you are a recipient of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and love to shop at Costco then you would be interested to know whether you can use the SNAP benefits at Costco warehouses. There are various details to consider before utilizing your EBT benefits at Costco. For instance, your EBT card will be valid for transactions within Costco warehouses but not online at food courts or Costco gas stations. You can use a card for approved items like groceries and staple food items. This guide will provide an overview of Costco’s policy about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaways
- Yes, Costco accepts SNAP benefits (EBT cards) at all warehouse locations.
- Only SNAP-approved groceries and food items can be purchased with EBT cards.
- Hot meals from the food court and Costco memberships cannot be bought with EBT.
- Annual membership fee and bulk buying might not be cost-effective for all SNAP users.
- Consider alternative stores or EBT online options if membership isn’t a good fit.
What is Costco?
Costco Wholesale Corporation, commonly known as Costco, is a popular American multinational corporation that operates a chain of membership-only big box warehouse club retail stores. The company is ranked 11th on the Fortune 500 ranking of the biggest U.S corporations by total revenue. As of 2023 Costco is the third biggest retailer in the world and as of 2026 it is the world’s largest retailer of choice and prime beef, grocery, wine and organic foods. The following is the list of countries served by Costco:
- Australia
- Canada
- China
- France
- Iceland
- Japan
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Puerto Rico
The company opened its first warehouse in 1983 in Seattle. As of February 2024, there are 871 warehouses of Costco across the globe– 118 in Canada, 602 in America, 33 in Japan, 40 in Mexico, 18 in South Korea, 29 in the United Kingdom, 16 in China, 15 in Australia, 2 in France, 4 in Spain, 1 in each New Zealand, Iceland and Sweden.
Does Costco Accept EBT Cards?
Yes, SNAP recipients can use their food stamps or EBT cards at Costco. Costco is a popular warehouse retailer that is accepting EBT benefits at all of its warehouse locations. However specific restrictions and guidelines need to be followed at every step for recipients using EBT benefits here.
In some cases, the company policy may limit how and where within Costco you can use your food stamp benefits. Your local Costco warehouse abides by the state guidelines that regulate the use of EBT benefits. Costco addresses the state laws about the type of items that you can purchase with your food stamps benefits card.
What Are The Limitations Of Using Your EBT Card At Costco?
SNAP recipients who want to shop with their EBT benefits at Costco must know both the pros and cons that Costco provides to its customers. For instance, Costco abides by the state or national limitation on what you can purchase with your food stamp benefits. Items such as vitamins are not eligible for purchase with EBT benefits. You cannot use your food stamp benefits to pay for prepared meals at the Costco food court.
Even though this is not a major limitation it can be frustrating for a lot of SNAP recipients so you must be aware of this fact before heading to your local Costco warehouse. There can also be limitations regarding how you are paying for your groceries and food.
One limitation that a lot of SNAP recipients face is at the time of purchasing both grocery and non-grocery items which can make things more complicated.
One way to perform both transactions simultaneously is to pay for the SNAP-eligible food items with your EBT card and then pay for the remaining items with an alternate source of payment. You can also approach the cashier and ask to split the payment times into a single transaction so that you can use different forms of payment for different items in your cart. Based on your state laws and eligibility you can qualify for EBT cash benefits and EBT food benefits so you can pay for some items with the help of your cash account.
What To Consider Before Using Your EBT Card At Costco?
Before using your food stamps or EBT benefits at Costco it’s worth considering the potential savings since there is an annual membership fee of $60 involved. Customers who want to pay the annual membership fee to shop at Costco must make sure the potential savings on their food and grocery expenses can help them offset the membership cost. You need to analyze the monthly spending to determine if the annual fee of $60 is justified for you.
It is critical to note that not all individuals and families receive maximum SNAP benefits so there can be restrictions on how you can receive benefits and potential savings.
Costco provides executive membership with 2% cash back on purchases so you have to evaluate whether the savings will outweigh the cost specifically well considering the huge sum payment of $120 for getting the executive membership.
Increasing the annual membership fee is a big hurdle then there are better alternatives to shop at Costco without membership. For instance, you can ask a member to take you and they can use the membership card or you can pay with the debit card.
What Can You Buy At Costco With Food Stamps?
Almost all Costco retail locations are accepting EBT cards as a method of payment for approved food items from SNAP beneficiaries including the following:
- Bread and cereals
- Dairy products
- Meat poultry and fish
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Seeds and plants that produce food
- Cooking oil
- Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages.
Do you know which retailers in California accept EBT payments? Head over to our next guide to learn about the comprehensive list.
What Can’t You Purchase At Costco With Your Food Stamps?
Costco addresses state laws about SNAP-eligible food and groceries so there are many items that you cannot purchase with your EBT benefits card. This includes the following options:
- Alcoholic beverages like wine, beer, liquor
- Tobacco products like cigarettes and cigars
- Non-food items such as paper products, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, cosmetics and household supplies
- Costco shop card.
It is important to note that although Costco accepts EBT cards it is not an approved WIC-retailer which means if you’re a recipient of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children you cannot shop with Costco. You need to shop only at retailers that are WIC-approved.
How To Use Your EBT Card or Food Stamps At Costco?
Using your EBT card or food stamp benefits at Costco is a simple and pretty straightforward process.
Before You Shop
Before you shop at Costco you need to attend to the following points carefully.
- Plan Your Purchase: SNAP recipients need to familiarize themselves with the EBT-eligible items including fruits, vegetables, dairy, bread, meat and so on. You must check USDA guidance for the specific products that you can cover with the help of the EBT card.
- Locate EBT Symbol: When it comes to using your EBT benefits look for SNAP or EBT logo near the register or ask an associate to confirm with your local Costco shop. This is because not all locations can be SNAP-approved to accept EBT benefits so confirming before shopping would help you to avoid the guesswork.
- Mind The Minimums: A few departments such as deli counters may have minimum purchase requirements for using food stamp benefits or EBT cards. You need to ask an associate or check signage to avoid the guesswork.
At Checkout
- Separate Your Purchase Items: The next step is to divide the EBT-eligible items from anything else in the cart. This will help to avoid confusion and make checkout smoother.
- Present Your EBT Card Or Food Stamps: The next step is to swipe or insert your EBT card at the designated terminal during checkout.
- Enter Your PIN and Pay The Remaining Amount With Alternative Payment Source: You need to authorize the EBT payment enter the four-digit secret PIN. You can use an alternative payment like a debit or credit card to complete the purchase for SNAP-ineligible items.
Is The Annual Costco Membership Worth It For SNAP Recipients?
Costco is a popular retailer that comes with several deals and promotions however you need a membership card to purchase food from the retailer. The Gold Star membership costs at Costco comes with a price tag of $60 per year whereas the executive membership includes a 2% annual reward as well as discounted service that costs somewhere $120 annually.
SNAP recipients who are trying to decide whether or not to get an annual membership to shop at Costco with their EBT card must take a look at the following points to make a well-informed decision.
You Cannot Use Your EBT Card To Pay For Your Costco Membership
You can use their EBT card for eligible grocery or staple food purchases at Costco but this does not include the annual membership fee. You have to pay the cost of the fee from your pocket using an alternative source of payment.
If you choose a $60 membership with the cost of the new, you can save $45 each month for the membership to pay for itself. If purchasing groceries and food at Costco does not help you save in the long run the membership will not be worth it.
Costco Is Not Always The Cheapest Option Since Bulk Purchasing Is Not Suitable For Everyone
Costco has amazing deals however you can find affordable prices at your local grocery store. Purchasing items in bulk may not be practical for every household especially if they do not have a storage place for perishable items or have no need for huge quantities of items. It is a more cost-effective way to purchase groceries in smaller quantities from your local grocery store.
You Don’t Always Need An Annual Membership To Shop At Costco
If you have a family member or friend with a Costco membership card who is willing to shop with you then you can save yourself the annual fee. Your friend or family member can show the membership card at the entrance and check out, then you can use the EBT card to pay at the register.
Costco Provides Other Ways To Save Money
Even though you can make savings on food with a Costco membership you can find additional ways to save your dollars for instance take advantage of special discounts, weekly deals and sales. You can find amazing deals by shopping at Costco’s online platform. On keeping the receipts you can scan them into cash back apps and get rewards on your Costco purchase.
How To Save Your Dollars While Using Your EBT Card At Costco?
No matter whether you’re shopping with or without food stamp benefits cards you will be eligible to increase your savings while shopping at Costco. Here are a few ways through which you can maximize your savings and state your food budget further while shopping at Costco.
- Stick To Your Budget: The first and foremost step is to avoid impulsive buying and stick to your budget to make sure you use your benefits for purchasing essential goods only.
- Shop Seasonal Sales: Customers must keep an eye out for seasonal sales available at Costco. This will help them to get discounted prices on a variety of items they need throughout the year.
- Be Creative With Bulk Buying: Customers love to shop at Costco as it sells its products in bulk which leads to huge amounts of savings over time, particularly for non-perishable items and goods that can be frozen for later use.
- Consider Kirkland Signature Brand of Costco: Costco store brand is Kirkland Signature where products are available at affordable rates than their name brand counterparts and you can get similar quality at discounted prices here.
Can I Use My EBT Card At The Costco Food Court?
The majority of SNAP beneficiaries are not able to purchase prepared meals at the food court. This is because prepared meals or food served hot at the time of sale is a SNAP-ineligible item as per USDA guidelines. However, the Restaurant Meals Program can allow certain SNAP recipients who qualify to buy hot prepared meals using food stamp benefits.
Benefits are designed to purchase cold food and beverages that you can take home and prepare meals. This leaves a huge problem for disabled, elderly and homeless SNAP recipients who are unable to cook food themselves. This is the reason why USDA has launched the Restaurant Meals Program. This state-run initiative enables elderly, homeless and disabled SNAP recipients to buy food at authorized restaurants with the help of their EBT cards.
Till now only a few states have been participating in the program such as:
- Arizona
- California
- Rhode Island
- Michigan
- Illinois
- Maryland and so on.
Other states like New York or Massachusetts also have enrolled in the program however are yet to launch their program fully. Not every EBT cardholder can access or prepare meals so you need to fulfill your state requirement. You can use your EBT card to purchase or prepare meals only if you are living in a state that is participating in the Restaurant Meals Program and qualify for it.
Another way to use your EBT card to enjoy food at Costco food court is to use government benefits such as cash benefits through the temporary assistance for needy families program. In this case, you can withdraw benefits from ATMs that accept EBT cards and use the funds for purchasing or preparing meals at the food court. In case you do not qualify for the TANF program nor live in an RMP-enrolled state then you cannot use the card at the Costco food court.
There are even restaurants that take EBT payments in Virginia. To know about them in detail take a look at our next blog.
Can I Use My EBT Card At Costco Gas Station?
If you have been to a local Costco gas station then you must have seen long lines of cars leading up to the bumps. Costco gas stations are popular since they cost somewhere between $0.05 to $0.30 and are much affordable, unlike other traditional gas stations. Sadly gasoline is not covered under the USDA SNAP eligible item so you will not be able to use the EBT benefits to purchase gas or fuel at Costco gas stations.
Apart from grocery stores there are even bakeries that are accepting EBT payments throughout the country. You can read them in our next guide.
Can I Use My EBT Card to Shop Online With Costco?
Online grocery shopping became quite popular during the COVID-19 pandemic which enabled a lot of shoppers to purchase food and groceries online and get them delivered to their doorstep.
A lot of people purchased groceries ahead of time and then walked into Costco and picked up their ordered items even though this option is convenient and easy.
SNAP recipients often wonder whether they can use their EBT card to purchase goods online with Costco. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is No! A lot of retailers are not allowing online shopping with EBT benefits and Costco is one of them.
Alternate Retailers That Accept EBT Payments Online
While the online platform of Costco is presently not accepting EBT as a method of payment major retailers accept food stamps in order to provide more convenience and flexibility to SNAP recipients. Let’s take a look at the major retailers that have piloted programs allowing for online EBT payments.
Amazon
Amazon is a platform that allows all EBT cardholders to shop online and get them delivered to their doorstep. Customers need not become Amazon Prime members to shop with Amazon. Depending on the type of food you need and whether you want to purchase quantity in bulk Amazon provides three options such as: Amazon Core Groceries, Amazon Pantry and Amazon Fresh.
Instacart
Instacart is a popular grocery delivery service that appoints staff to shop for groceries and food items from your preferred stores and deliver the ordered items to your doorstep. With the latest version of the Instacart online you can see local grocery stores that accept EBT SNAP cards.
Walmart
Walmart is another big online platform that enables EBT cardholders to order online groceries and pick them up at the store. Few stores also provide delivery options. Walmart Plus membership costs $98 annually and provides free online delivery for orders more than $35.
Target
Target accepts EBT or SNAP payment options online. Shoppers can buy EBT-eligible grocery items and products on Target.com through the company’s delivery service known as Shipt. Customers need to create an account with Target.com without paying any fees to place an order with their food stamp benefits.
DoorDash
The latest app-based delivery service that accepts EBT payments is DoorDash. Similar to Amazon, Instacart, Walmart and Target DoorDash enables SNAP recipients to use their EBT card for online grocery delivery and pickup. For this, you have to create a DoorDash account and add your EBT information to the account.
A few more retailers that accept EBT to offer a plethora of food choices to recipients are as follows.
- Friendly Foods
- Albertsons
- ALDI
- Walgreen
- CVS
- Piggly Wiggly
- Harris Teeter
- Rite Aid
- Speedway
- All Stores
- Safeway
- Jubilee Foods
- Kroger
- Market Basket
- Dollar Stores
- Foodland
- Food Lion
- H Mart
- Big Y Foods
- Sam’s Club
- City Market
- Family Food Stores
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Hometown Foods
- Meijer
- Pick N Save
- Price Chopper
- Publix
- QFC Supermarkets
- Raley’s
- Ralphs
- Save Mart
- Schnucks Market
- Shaw’s
- ShopRite
- Smith’s Food and Drug
- Sprouts
- Stater Bros
- Stop & Shop
- Super 1 Foods
- Superior Grocers
- Tops Markets
- Trader Joe’s
- Vons
- Wegmans
- Weis Markets
- Whole Foods
- WinCo etc.
Conclusion
Being a popular retailer throughout the United States of America Costco enables shoppers to purchase a variety of items in bulk at a reasonable cost. Individuals and families enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program wonder if Costco accepts EBT or not. Fortunately, this retailer is taking EBT as a method of payment so that more families and individuals can access healthy and nutritious food and groceries. It is important to consider that you can purchase only SNAP-eligible food and items that have been mentioned in the above section of the article using EBT benefits at Costco. This does not include hot prepared meals at Costco food court. You cannot purchase products online from Costco using EBT nor cover Costco membership costs using food stamps. In addition, we have listed the major retailers that are accepting EBT online including states that are participating in RMP.
We hope this article has been informative enough to give you all the details you need regarding Costco’s policies on EBT. You can learn more about the government grants and financial assistance program at the Get Government Grants’ blog section today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Purchase Hot Prepared Meals From Costco Food Court Using EBT?
No food stamps or EBT cards cannot be used at the Costco food court. This is because the USDA SNAP guidelines do not permit the use of food stamp benefits for hot or prepared food that can be eaten at the store. You can use your Electronic Benefits Transfer card for the purchase of eligible food items in the Costco store.
Can I Pay My Costco Membership With EBT?
No SNAP recipients can use Electronic Benefits Transfer Cards for the purchase of USDA-approved food and beverage items. This does not include the cost of a Costco membership.
Can I Use My EBT Card At Costco.com?
Costco.com is not a part of the USD online purchasing pilot program. you cannot use your food stamp benefits for online purchases at costco.com. You can use the ebt card at Costco warehouse locations for the purchase of snap eligible items only. Presently snap recipients cannot use their food stamp benefits to purchase stuff at Costco online.
Can I Use My EBT Card At Costco Business Center Locations?
Yes you can use your food stamp benefits at Costco business center location provided you make eligible purchases as per USDA guidelines. It is not possible to purchase products online from Costco business center using your EBT benefits.
Where Can I Use My EBT Card?
You can use your EBT card for SNAP-eligible purchases at grocery stores, farmers markets, specialty stores, super stores, gas stations, pharmacies, convenience stores and online retailers like Amazon and Walmart. You can check the SNAP Retailer location to find an authorized retailer near you.