Fast facts:
- SNAP recipients can purchase approved grocery items at Costco with an EBT card.
- Any non-grocery items must be purchased in a separate transaction using a traditional payment method accepted by Costco.
- Costco memberships cannot be purchased with an EBT card.
Costco’s members-only, buy-in-bulk retail warehouses are a great way for working families to stock up on food and other essentials, with most members’ savings vastly outweighing the $65 cost of an annual membership. But can folks with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, AKA food stamps, use their EBT cards to pay for their Costco purchases?
The short answer is yes, but there are several key considerations to take into account. Here’s what you need to know about shopping at Costco with your Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.
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Does Costco take EBT (food stamps)?
Yes, all Costco locations accept payment via EBT cards. However, recipients of SNAP benefits are limited in what they can purchase with their EBT cards, and Costco abides by these limitations. In general, this means that only approved food products can be purchased with EBT.
What can you buy at Costco with an EBT card?
According to the USDA, SNAP recipients can purchase the following types of groceries at Costco with their EBT cards:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads and cereals
- Other foods (including snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages)
- Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat
What can’t you buy at Costco with an EBT card?
The following types of items cannot be purchased with an EBT card (at Costco or anywhere else):
- Hot food
- Pet food
- Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store)
- Food and drinks that contain controlled substances (e.g., marijuana or CBD)
- Beer, wine, and liquor
- Cigarettes and tobacco
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements
- Household supplies
- Cosmetics and hygiene products
How to use your EBT card to pay for groceries at Costco
Because EBT cards can only be used to pay for certain food items, it’s important to separate those items from everything else you’re purchasing during your Costco visit as you prepare to check out, as any non-eligible items will have to be paid for in a separate transaction using a traditional payment method like cash or card.
In other words, if you’re buying a mix of groceries and other items, you’ll need to pay for your groceries in one transaction with your EBT card, then pay for the remainder of your items in a second transaction using a different payment method.
What other payment methods does Costco accept?
For items that can’t be purchased with your EBT card, Costco accepts all of the following payment methods:
- Visa credit cards
- Most PIN-based debit/ATM cards
- Cash
- Checks
- Traveler’s checks
- Costco Shop Cards
- Mobile payment methods like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay (if these are connected to a credit card, it must be a Visa)
Can you pay for a Costco membership with an EBT card?
Costco memberships cannot be purchased with an EBT card. However, if you purchase an Executive Membership for $130, you get 2% cash back on all of your Costco purchases for the year, up to $1,250, in the form of a voucher. If you earn $130 or more in cash back over the year, you can use your voucher to pay for your next year of your Costco Executive Membership and continue to do this year after year.
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