Is Costco Gas Really Worth It? A Data-Driven Look at Savings vs. Time

I love a good experiment, especially when it comes to optimizing my everyday life. Recently, I set out to answer a question I’ve had for a while: is Costco gas really worth it compared to just filling up at the gas station on my way to work?

I tracked my gas fill-ups, time, and costs for several weeks to find out. Here’s what I learned.

The Setup

My commute: 17 miles one way (used to be 38, so this feels amazing!).
Both jobs had a Costco gas station less than a mile away.
Downsides: there’s always a line at Costco pumps.
Alternative: a 7-Eleven station on the way to work—no lines, but gas is consistently about $0.26 more per gallon.

So, I gathered the data:

June: exclusively filled up at Costco.
July: exclusively filled up at 7-Eleven on the way to work.

The Data

Average commute plus fill-up times

Costco: 36 minutes
7-Eleven: 27 minutes
→ That’s +9 minutes at Costco.

Savings per trip

Average Costco savings: $3.53 per fill-up

Trips per year

About 2.5 trips per month = 30 trips per year

Annual breakdown

$105.90 savings at Costco
+$10.75 in credit card cashback (5% Costco, 4% other stations)
Total: $117 savings per year

But… it costs me 4.5 hours of extra time to save that $117.

The Trade-Off

Here’s the way I look at it:

My effective “hourly rate” for going to Costco = $26/hour

So technically, it’s worth it to get Costco gas—but it really depends on what that time means to me.

If I were giving up weekend hours—time with family, friends, or doing something I love—I’d say forget the $100 savings. But since my Costco fill-ups happen during the work week, when I’d otherwise just be heading home to rest, the trade-off doesn’t feel as big.

My Strategy Going Forward

During the week: I’ll stick with Costco and only fill up when the gas light comes on—this keeps trips minimal.
On weekends or personal time: I’ll choose convenience and go with the cheapest station on my way.

Final Thoughts

The real takeaway? It’s not just about money—it’s about optimizing both time and energy. If Costco fits into my routine without eating into valuable personal hours, it’s worth it. Otherwise, convenience wins.

Sometimes, optimization isn’t about squeezing every last dollar—it’s about knowing when time is worth more than money.

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