Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (2024)

A Costco in Los Angeles has everything Costco is known for having.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (1)

Foto: A Costco in Los Angeles, California.sourceKevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Source: Business Insider

Including vast isles filled with food and drink items.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (2)

Foto: The inside of a Costco in Los Angeles, California.sourceDave Johnson

Source: Business Insider

All the technology you could ever need.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (3)

Foto: The tech section at a Costco in Los Angeles, California.sourceDave Johnson

Source: Business Insider

A wide selection of clothing.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (4)

Foto: The clothing section at a Costco in Los Angeles, California.sourceDave Johnson

Source: Business Insider

And things you never knew you needed in bulk, like 72 Eggo Homestyle waffles.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (5)

Foto: Eggos in the frozen section at a Costco in Los Angeles, California.sourceDave Johnson

Source: Business Insider

There's also a "small batch" of Kentucky straight bourbon.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (6)

Foto: A lot of whiskey for sale at a Costco in Los Angeles, California.sourceDave Johnson

Source: Business Insider

And some things you never knew you needed at all, like this electric fireplace.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (7)

Foto: An electric fireplace for sale in a Costco in Los Angeles, California.sourceDave Johnson

Source: Business Insider

Most of the world's Costco warehouses are in the US and Canada. But in Canada, Costco is the only warehouse club store.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (8)

Foto: A Costco entrance in Toronto, Canada.sourceZoran Karapancev/Shutterstock

Source: Narcity, Canadian Grocer, CBC

That means that in Canada, Costco doesn't have to compete with other stores like Sam's Club or BJ's Wholesale.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (9)

Foto: Costco bakery section in Hamilton, Canada.sourceAlastair Wallace/Shutterstock

Source: Narcity, Canadian Grocer, CBC

So Costco does really well in Canada.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (10)

Foto: The food court at a Costco in Toronto, Canada.sourcedennzin/Shutterstock

Source: Narcity, Canadian Grocer, CBC

In fact, it's the second-largest retailer in all of Canada after Walmart.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (11)

Foto: The tech section in a Costco in Hamilton, Canada.sourceAlastair Wallace/Shutterstock

Source: Narcity, Canadian Grocer, CBC

While Costco warehouses around the world have many local vendors supplying their products, Costco Canada's selection may be more like Costco warehouses in the US than any other country.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (12)

Foto: Costco bakery section in Hamilton, Canada.sourceAlastair Wallace/Shutterstock

See Also
I tried store-brand peanut butter from Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Costco, and Wegmans. My kids couldn't get enough of the winner.Why Costco Wholesale Is Not Your Average Dividend Stock | The Motley FoolIs There A Costco In Poland - DIY WebsiteCostco is opening up to 28 stores this year

Source: Narcity, Canadian Grocer, CBC

And this is because Costco Canada gets some of its vendors from the US.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (13)

Foto: A tire section in Costco, Toronto.sourcedennizn/Shutterstock

Source: Narcity, Canadian Grocer, CBC

"If we notice in the US something's doing extremely well, and it makes sense with what we know our member wants today, we'll call that vendor and say, 'Want to come up in Canada and meet with us?'" a senior food VP at Costco told Canadian Grocer.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (14)

Foto: The clothing section in a Costco in Hamilton, Canada.sourceAlastair Wallace/Shutterstock

Source: Narcity, Canadian Grocer, CBC

Across the pond, Costco has 28 locations in the UK, one of which is in Manchester, England.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (15)

Foto: The Costco in Manchester, England.sourceAlastair Wallace/Shutterstock

Source: Forbes, The Guardian, The Kitchn

Costco works a bit different in the UK. Aside from plenty of UK brands, one other trait sets UK Costco warehouses apart.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (16)

Foto: Customers inside the Costco in Manchester, England.sourceAlastair Wallace/Shutterstock

Source: Forbes, The Guardian

In the UK, Costco memberships are cheaper, but they're not for everyone.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (17)

Foto: The bakery section at the Costco in Manchester, England.sourceAlastair Wallace/Shutterstock

Source: Forbes, The Guardian, Costco

In order to get a membership at Costco in the UK, you have to have one of only a few different occupations.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (18)

Foto: Customers inside the Costco in Manchester, England.sourceAlastair Wallace/Shutterstock

Source: Forbes, The Guardian, Costco

The different occupations range from finance to public service, and they can all be found on Costco's website.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (19)

Foto: Customers inside the Costco in Manchester, England.sourceAlastair Wallace/Shutterstock

Source: Forbes, The Guardian, The Kitchn

This is because, in the UK, Costco keeps a "low profile," and only wants customers with "steadier jobs," according to the Guardian. And the result is a lower membership fee.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (20)

Foto: The clothing section in Costco in Manchester, England.sourceAlastair Wallace/Shutterstock

Source: Forbes, The Guardian, The Kitchn

Across the globe, Costco has 26 stores in Japan.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (21)

Foto: A Costco in Chiba, Japan.sourceEd Snowman/Shutterstock

Source: Business Insider

In Japan's Costco stores, you'll see both English and Japanese languages on products and throughout the store.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (22)

Foto: The tech section at a Costco in Chiba, Japan.sourceEd Snowman/Shutterstock

Source: Business Insider

While sections like tech are pretty similar to other Costco stores ...

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (23)

Foto: The tech section at a Costco in Chiba, Japan.sourceEd Snowman/Shutterstock

Source: Business Insider

... the significant differences come in the seafood section, as you might've guessed, where this crab was on sale for almost $200.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (24)

See Also
Is It Too Late to Buy Costco Stock? | The Motley Fool

Foto: 19,900 Japanese yen is almost $200 in the US.sourceFacebook/Michael Gozzard

Source: Business Insider

There's even seafood incorporated into their prepared foods, like this pizza, which has shrimp and squid on it.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (25)

Foto: A pizza in a Japanese Costco has shellfish on it.sourceFacebook/Michael Gozzard

Source: Business Insider

Costco in Japan is also known for its meat section, which includes beef bulgogi, a product that isn't sold in Costco warehouses in the US.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (26)

Foto: The meat section at a Costco in Japan.sourceAP Photo/Itsuo Inouye

Source: Business Insider, Forbes

Also, in Japan, Costco warehouses are open 364 days a year — every day except January 1, unlike US locations, which close for major holidays.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (27)

Foto: A Costco parking lot in Chiba, Japan.sourceEd Snowman/Shutterstock

Source: Business Insider

Just southwest of Japan, Costco in China has a really interesting situation.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (28)

Foto: Shopping bags at Costco Shanghai.sourceCabagin/Shutterstock

Source: Business Insider

In all of China, there is only one Costco.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (29)

Foto: There is one Costco in Shanghai, China.sourceGoogle Maps

And it just opened in the summer of 2019.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (30)

Foto: The Costco in Shanghai, China.sourceAly Song/Reuters

Source: Business Insider

Opening day at Costco Shanghai was extremely crowded and chaotic.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (31)

Foto: A crowded opening day at the Costco in Shanghai, China.sourceAly Song/Reuters

Source: Business Insider

In fact, the sheer volume of members at Costco Shanghai's opening day broke records.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (32)

Foto: A crowded opening day at the Costco in Shanghai, China.sourceHECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images

Source: Business Insider

So much so that the warehouse had to close early.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (33)

Foto: A crowded opening day at the Costco in Shanghai, China.sourceAly Song/Reuters

Source: Business Insider

In Shanghai, Costco's customers are drawn to the meat section for its low prices ...

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (34)

Foto: A crowded opening day at the Costco in Shanghai, China.sourceAly Song/Reuters

Source: Business Insider

... especially those rotisserie chickens.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (35)

Foto: Rotisserie chickens in Costco's Shanghai location on opening day.sourceCabagin/Shutterstock

Source: Business Insider

After such a crazy opening day, Costco plans to open another store in Shanghai, China.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (36)

Foto: A crowded opening day at the Costco in Shanghai, China.sourceAly Song/Reuters

Source: Business Insider, China Knowledge

Just southeast of China, Costco has 13 locations in Taiwan. This one is in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (37)

Foto: The Costco in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.sourceAndy.LIU/Shutterstock

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Vice

It has an escalator that holds shopping carts ...

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (38)

Foto: The main elevator in the Costco in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.sourceAndy.LIU/Shutterstock

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Vice

... and ads line the walls in light-up boxes.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (39)

Foto: Ads on the walls of the Costco in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.sourceAndy.LIU/Shutterstock

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Vice

About two-fifths of the products in Taiwan's Costco warehouses come from the US.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (40)

Foto: The frozen section in the Costco in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.sourceAndy.LIU/Shutterstock

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Vice

Some of their locally sourced items include these fresh cakes that come in many flavors.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (41)

Foto: Fresh cakes come in all different flavors at Costco in Taiwan.sourceAndy.LIU/Shutterstock

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Vice

Far south of Taiwan, Australia has 11 Costco locations.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (42)

Foto: A Costco on a cloudy day in Sydney, Australia.sourceCarrigan English/Business Insider

Source: Business Insider

All Costco warehouses locally source vendors, and Australia's Costco warehouses are no different.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (43)

Foto: The clothing section at a Costco in Sydney, Australia.sourceCarrigan English/Business Insider

Source: Business Insider

In fact, most of the produce in Australia's Costco warehouses is locally grown.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (44)

Foto: The produce section at a Costco in Sydney, Australia.sourceCarrigan English/Business Insider

Source: Business Insider

And Costco sells Australian Angus beef, which also supports the local farming industry.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (45)

Foto: The meat section at a Costco in Sydney, Australia.sourceCarrigan English/Business Insider

Source: Business Insider

This particular Australian Costco has a shockingly huge home section, according to Business Insider.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (46)

Foto: The home section at a Costco in Sydney, Australia.sourceCarrigan English/Business Insider

Source: Business Insider

Like in the other countries, Australia's Costco warehouses look like Costco warehouses in the US, but some key differences are worth noting if you're a traveling Costco member.

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (47)

Foto: A Costco in Sydney, Australia.sourceCarrigan English/Business Insider

Source: Business Insider

Shopping at Costco can look completely different depending on the country — here are all the main differences (2024)

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