Tracking Costco Gas Prices During a Global Fuel Crisis

8/25/2026 at 1:06:39 AM

  Costco gas is famously a loss leader, typically running 15 to 20 cents below surrounding stations.

Is this true? I always assumed that Costco just had better deals/longer horizon commitments so it could undercut local stations. Maybe they even own a refinery just to maintain the best margin.

by 0cf8612b2e1e

8/25/2026 at 3:41:59 AM

It makes sense. The ~$10 someone saves pumping at Costco is easily made up in the >$100 shopping trip they are making, or compared to lifetime spend.

by wyre

8/24/2026 at 9:16:51 PM

https://archive.ph/qX4vF

by Ductapemaster

8/25/2026 at 12:48:27 AM

I started screenshotting my local Costco warehouse gas prices weekly since the week prior to Trump's inauguration, mostly so my Trump supporting brother inlaw couldn't just spew his Fox brainwashing on me without me hitting back with this data.

by jmpman

8/25/2026 at 1:09:54 AM

I've been tracking every fuel purchase I've made for 12 years now across 5 or 6 different cars. Not sure what I'll ever do with that information, but I suppose it may come in handy for a political argument.

by hydrogen7800

8/25/2026 at 12:55:50 AM

I’d be amazed if it actually changed anything with him.

by Waterluvian

8/25/2026 at 1:03:46 AM

Oh it won't, doesn't mean I'm not planning to rub it in his face.

by jmpman

8/24/2026 at 7:19:54 PM

It's too bad there's no API to find the current wait time at the Costco gas station. I'm not going to spend an extra hour of my day to save $5.

by jerlam

8/24/2026 at 7:24:56 PM

If only they exposed this data!! Would have been so fun adding the display to the site

by lafond

8/24/2026 at 9:59:35 PM

i go befoe costoco opens at 7am . they have different timings.

by dominotw

8/24/2026 at 11:24:52 PM

Or don't go at 9AM with the Executive rush. Wait 30m.

by caminante

8/25/2026 at 3:25:38 AM

Doesn’t matter at all for my local Costco. It’s busy open to close with very little variance.

The only times I’ve seen it relatively empty were during bad storms.

That said, it’s not an hour wait. Around 20 minutes is average, but I rarely fill up there since I value my time much more than that.

by phil21

8/25/2026 at 2:40:43 AM

Just wait until you have an EV! Then you will get to wait in line for an outlet, and then wait while the electrons trickle into your tank! Good times.

by ButlerianJihad

8/24/2026 at 11:43:34 PM

[dead]

by Sohcahtoa82