Should You Buy Prescriptions at Costco or Sam's Club?

One of the top concerns people encounter in their daily lives is healthcare, and the costs that come with medical expenses and prescriptions can be overwhelming. It's important to explore different options to get the best deals on your prescriptions. Two popular options are Costco and Sam's Club. But with so many variables to consider, it can be challenging to determine which one offers the most value. Here is a comparison of Costco and Sam's Club and how they stack up when it comes to prescription refills.

Costco vs. Sam's Club: Membership costs

Costco and Sam's Club are unique in that they charge a membership fee to shop there, but neither requires a membership to buy prescription medications. However, members at both clubs get a discount on prescriptions, while non-members pay full price.

Costco offers two membership tiers, $60 a year for the Everyday Value Gold Star membership. $120 a year for the Executive membership. Sam's Club also offers two membership tiers, $45 a year for the Basic membership and $100 a year for the Plus membership. Plus members save even more on prescription medication than regular Club members do.

A Sam's Club membership is $15 to $20 cheaper than Costco, and Plus members get an extra discount on prescription meds. So if the membership price is your main factor, Sam's Club may be best for you. However, there are other reasons why Costco may be worth the extra cost.

Costco vs. Sam's Club: Prescription prices

The prices vary widely based on the medication and the type of membership you have. The comparisons below are for common drugs. The Sam's Club prices are for both Club members and Plus members. Plus members get an additional discount on prescriptions as part of the benefits package.

The Costco prices listed below are for members who have joined the Costco Member Prescription Program, a prescription drug discount card program. This is offered at no additional charge to all Costco members.

In general, prices at both retailers are cheaper than at many other pharmacies. Costco states that savings are estimated between 2% and 40%. Sam's Club states that the program delivers average savings of 65%, with potential savings of up to 80% off of the regular retail prices.

Both are competitive so it's best to check the price of your medication at both pharmacies to see which one offers the best deal.

Costco vs. Sam's Club: Convenience

The pricing available through Costco's Member Prescription Program applies at local Costco pharmacies, Costco mail order, and thousands of participating neighborhood pharmacies, including Walgreens, Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Saveon, Bestcare, Nowrx, Delta, United, Better Life, and more.

Sam's Club members can save money on prescriptions through the RxSavings Program network. Rx Savings grants all members access to generic medications starting at $4. In addition to generic drug price discounts, there are discounts to brand-name medications at Sam's Club pharmacy and 62,000 other participating pharmacies.

You can get your medication at both Costco and Sam's Club either in-store or online. Sam's Club's Pharmacy delivery services are offered by DoorDash within a 10-mile radius of participating Sam's Clubs. The standard delivery fee is $7.99. The first two deliveries are free for Sam's Club members, and delivery is not available in Puerto Rico, Kansas, and Hawaii.

Costco's Mail Order Pharmacy offers three delivery options: Standard UPS, which takes six to 14 days and is free, three-day UPS for $10.95, and two-day UPS for $13.95. Costco delivers prescriptions everywhere in the U.S.

Do a little research to save the most money

Both Costco and Sam's Club offer excellent options when it comes to filling your prescriptions. When it comes to convenience, Costco has an edge, but Sam's Club wins out when it comes to its membership prices. Both pharmacies have lower prices than many retailers, but when you compare Costco and Sam's Club with each other, the prices for certain medications vary widely.

To save even more money, Sam's Club Mastercard holders can earn up to 3% cash back on pharmacy purchases. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is similar, with 2% on all purchases.

Ultimately, it's up to you to choose which is best for you. Both options are worth considering, depending on your location and needs. Before you shop, compare prices side by side so you can ensure you get the best deal possible on your prescriptions!