The $1.50 hot dog and soda combo isn't going anywhere — Costco's new CEO said so himself.
But that doesn't mean every item at the food court has escaped the last few years untouched.
Some prices have crept up, and the menu itself looks different than it did in 2019.
Here's what actually costs more, what's still a steal, and the one trick that makes the food court dramatically cheaper.
The biggest jump hit the chicken bake, which moved from $2.99 to $3.99 in many warehouses.
The 20-ounce soda went from 59 cents to 69 cents.
The double chunk chocolate cookie arrived at $2.49.
None of these are shocking on their own, but they add up if you're feeding a family of four.
Meanwhile, the famous hot dog combo has held at $1.50 since 1985 — a promise Costco executives have repeatedly defended even as inflation pushed the real value past $4.
The $9.95 whole pizza and $1.99 slice have also stayed put, which is why they're the busiest items in the building.
The sleeper deal is the rotisserie chicken at $4.99, but that's technically outside the food court.
Inside, the $1.99 slice and the $1.50 combo remain the two cheapest full meals you can buy anywhere in American retail.
A hot dog, a drink, and a slice runs about $3.50 — less than a single coffee at most drive-thrus.
One catch: you technically need a membership to buy food court items at most locations.
Costco has loosened this in some warehouses by letting non-members order at the walk-up window, but policies vary by store and many still check cards at the register.
If you're buying for a group, the $60 basic membership pays for itself in about 30 food court visits.
Another quirk worth knowing: prices differ slightly by region.
Warehouses in Alaska, Hawaii, and some urban markets charge a bit more for the same items, which explains why your cousin in Seattle swears the chicken bake costs $4.49.
There's no national price list published, so what you see on the board is what you pay.
The food court has also quietly trimmed its menu over the years.
The Polish dog, the combo pizza, the turkey sandwich, and the churro have all come and gone in various markets.
What's left is a shorter list that's easier to run at high volume — which is exactly how Costco keeps the hot dog at a buck fifty.
If you're watching grocery bills, the food court is one of the last places in America where a family can eat lunch for under $10 without coupon apps or rewards math.
It's arithmetic. **Our take:** The food court isn't the bargain it was a decade ago, but it's still the cheapest hot meal in retail.
Final Thoughts
Treat the $1.50 combo as the anchor, skip the add-ons that quietly doubled, and you'll walk out ahead of almost any other lunch option in town.