Sam's Club Just Raised Prices to $60/Year — Is Your Membership Still Worth It?
Sam's Club raised Basic membership from $50 to $60 and Plus from $110 to $120 in May 2026. Here's how to decide if you should keep, downgrade, or cancel.
Effective May 1, 2026, Sam's Club is raising membership prices for the first time in four years:
- Basic: $50/yr → $60/yr (+$10)
- Plus: $110/yr → $120/yr (+$10)
Here's how to decide whether to keep, downgrade, or cancel.
The Quick Math
At $60/year, your Basic membership costs $5/month. If you visit Sam's Club once a month, each trip needs to save you just $5 in bulk pricing vs retail to break even. Most bulk shoppers save $20-50 per trip on groceries alone.
The Plus membership at $120/year earns 2% cashback on purchases (up to $750/year). Break-even point: $6,000/year in Sam's Club spending (~$500/month). If you're spending less than that, Basic is sufficient.
Sam's Club vs Costco After the Price Increase
| Sam's Club Basic | Costco Gold Star | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $60 | $65 |
| Cashback tier | Plus at $120/yr (2%, max $750) | Executive at $130/yr (2%, max $1,250) |
| Unique advantage | Scan & Go mobile checkout | Kirkland brand quality |
| Gas stations | Yes | Yes (typically cheapest) |
| Pharmacy | Yes | Yes |
| Online delivery | Club pickup free | Via Instacart |
Sam's Club is still cheaper at both tiers, but Costco's Executive membership has a higher cashback cap ($1,250 vs $750). If you spend $15,000+/year at warehouse clubs, Costco's Executive tier returns more.
Who Should Cancel
Cancel if: You visit fewer than 6 times per year, you're within driving distance of a Costco and prefer their products, or your primary reason for membership was the low $50 price point.
Keep if: You visit monthly or more, use Scan & Go for quick trips, your local Sam's Club has a gas station you use regularly, or you're a Plus member earning meaningful cashback.
Switch to Costco if: You value store brand quality (Kirkland consistently rates higher in blind tests), you spend $15,000+/year and want the higher cashback cap, or your local Costco is more convenient.
How to Cancel and Get a Refund
Sam's Club offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee on membership. Visit the membership desk, call 1-888-746-7726, or cancel online at samsclub.com. You'll receive a full refund regardless of when you cancel during your membership year.
How Much Would You Save?
How many lines do you need?
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With 1 line, you'd save
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That's $0.00/mo back in your pocket