April 27, 2026
If you’re on the fence about whether a $65 Costco membership is “worth it,” here’s a data point worth considering: one common pet prescription could cover the annual fee in a few months.
Costco recently shared that more than half of its new member signups are from shoppers under 40. Around the same time, the American Pet Products Association reports that Gen Z now makes up 20% of U.S. pet-owning households (18.8 million homes), a 43.5% rise from 2023. Translation? A growing group of younger pet parents is looking for smart ways to stretch their budgets, especially when it comes to their pets’ health. A GoodRx Research survey last year found that 46% of dog owners and 27% of cat owners said they spent at least $200 a year on prescription meds for their four-legged family members.
Enter the Costco membership perk many people still overlook: Costco’s pharmacy fills pet prescriptions. (As well as Ozempic and Wegovy but that’s a discussion for another day.)
The retailer’s Gold Star membership costs $65 per year, and plenty of potential members hesitate at the upfront fee. I get it. But as a pet parent—and someone who writes about pet health industry and personal finance—I learned quickly how that fee how that fee can pay off in dividends based on what you save at the pharmacy counter.
Read more about how using Costco can save pet parents money on Inc.com.
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