Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog Price Remains Unchanged, CEO Confirms

Costco has kept its iconic food court hot dog and soda combo at $1.50 for over 40 years, despite inflation.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 10:46pm

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Costco's CEO Ron Vachris has reassured customers that the $1.50 price for the company's famous hot dog and soda combo will not change as long as he is in charge. Costco has maintained this low price point for over four decades by producing its own hot dogs in-house to control costs. This commitment to keeping the price stable has become a point of pride for the company and a major perk for Costco members.

Why it matters

Costco's unwavering $1.50 hot dog price is seen as a symbol of the company's commitment to providing value to its customers, even as inflation has driven up prices across the economy. This pricing strategy has helped Costco build a loyal customer base and differentiate itself from competitors.

The details

Costco has kept the $1.50 price for its hot dog and soda combo since the 1980s. In a recent Instagram post, CEO Ron Vachris reiterated that the price will not change as long as he is leading the company. Costco has been able to maintain this low price by taking hot dog production in-house, building its own manufacturing plants in Los Angeles and Chicago. This allows Costco to control costs and keep the price stable, even as inflation has driven up the prices of many other goods.

  • Costco has kept the $1.50 hot dog price since the 1980s.
  • In 2024, Costco CFO Gary Millerchip confirmed the $1.50 hot dog price would remain unchanged.

The players

Ron Vachris

The president and CEO of Costco who has vowed to keep the $1.50 hot dog price as long as he is in charge.

Gary Millerchip

The CFO and executive vice president of Costco who confirmed in 2024 that the $1.50 hot dog price would not change.

W. Craig Jelinek

A former CEO of Costco who helped the company build its own hot dog manufacturing plants to keep costs down and maintain the $1.50 price.

Jim Sinegal

The co-founder of Costco who threatened to "kill" Jelinek if he raised the hot dog price from $1.50.

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What they’re saying

“The hot dog price will not change as long as I'm around.”

— Ron Vachris, CEO, Costco

“If you raise the hot dog, I will kill you. Figure it out.”

— Jim Sinegal, Co-founder, Costco

What’s next

Costco plans to continue producing its own hot dogs in-house to maintain the $1.50 price point for the foreseeable future.

The takeaway

Costco's commitment to keeping the $1.50 hot dog price has become a point of pride for the company and a major perk for its loyal customers, even as inflation has driven up prices across the economy. This pricing strategy has helped Costco differentiate itself and build a devoted customer base.