Costco vs. Sam’s Club: Which $1.50 Hot Dog Is Better?

As part of my bulk shopping routine, I stop at the food court at Costco for a hot dog and a soda combo. The $1.50 price point is so beloved that it is reportedly said Costco’s own CEO has threatened bodily harm against anyone who tries to change it.

Recently, I ventured to Sam’s Club with a friend and learned they offer the exact same combo in their café—for exactly the same price. While I have my personal reasons for choosing Costco over Sam’s Club for my bulk shopping, I was open to Sam’s Club having a better hot dog—especially since Costco has recently made some changes to its hot dog bun.

Just for fun, I spent an afternoon hopping between Sam’s Club and Costco to try their $1.50 hot dog and soda combos to find out who has the best dog. Here’s what I found.

Sam’s Club Hot Dog and Soda Combo

I headed to Sam’s Club on a Friday afternoon when it was very busy, but I knew from their website that anyone can head to the café area and order food without a membership. My total with tax was $1.64, and I got my warm hot dog, plate, and cup for soda right away.

In the café area, you can fill your cup with Pepsi products and top your hot dog with a variety of toppings, including the standard relish, mustard, and ketchup, as well as chopped onions and Parmesan. I did appreciate that Sam’s Club's hot dog comes wrapped in paper atop a paper plate.

I ate my hot dog in the privacy of my car, leaving it plain to really get a taste for the hot dog and bun, alongside my Dr. Pepper. This hot dog is a jumbo-sized beef frank on a standard hot dog bun. The casing has a delicious snap, and the bun is pleasantly savory.

Costco’s Hot Dog and Soda Combo

My regular Costco warehouse was also very busy the day I stopped for my hot dog. Instead of ordering in person, I placed my order at a kiosk (for $1.61 with tax) and waited for my number to be called. Costco’s hot dog comes in a bag, though plates are available in the food court area, along with the standard relish, mustard, and ketchup. Coke products are available for filling your soda cup.

I will admit that my Costco hot dog wasn’t quite as warm once I got to the car. Still, the snappy and peppery hot dog was worth the few extra minutes it took to walk there from the warehouse. Like Sam’s Club's hot dog, Costco’s is an all-beef jumbo dog served in a soft, slightly sweet bun. Bun controversies aside, it’s notable that the bun varies a bit from region to region, depending on Costco’s supplier.

My Pick: Costco's Hot Dog and Soda Combo 

It’s not just because I prefer a crispy Coke with my hot dog (I do) or that I saved a few cents on my combo ($1.61 at Costco compared with $1.64 at Sam’s Club), but simply that I liked Costco’s hot dog more. I didn’t love the bun at Costco—it was softer and didn’t hold up as well for eating in the car as Sam’s Club’s bun did.

Still, the hot dog had an audible snap when I bit into it and was incredibly juicy, with lots of beef flavor and just a hint of peppery spice in each bite. Costco moved to producing their own hot dogs a few years ago to ensure they could keep the $1.50 price tag. You truly can’t go wrong with the savings on either combo, regardless of whether you shop at Sam’s Club or Costco.

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