Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
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- I visited two Costco stores, one in the Midwest and one in New York City.
- New York City’s Costco store was smaller, which made it feel more crowded.
- The prices and offerings were mostly identical, though the food courts featured different sodas.
As someone who grew up in Wisconsin and moved to New York City a decade ago, I enjoy analyzing the similarities and differences between the two regions I call home.
As part of a series comparing nationwide chains like Target and Trader Joe’s in the Midwest and New York City, I visited Costco locations in Wisconsin and Manhattan in 2023. My Gold Star membership, which costs $60 per year, grants me entry to all Costco stores.
Costco remains a popular brand across the US and the world, offering bulk items at lower prices than many retailers. Its net sales added up to $249.6 billion in the 2024 fiscal year, a 5% increase from 2023.
While its stores are pretty standardized, which I found when I visited a Costco in Iceland, I was still interested to see if there were any regional variations in their prices, items, and shopping experiences.
Here are the most surprising differences I noticed.
During a trip home to Wisconsin in November 2023, I visited a Costco store in Grafton, Wisconsin, measuring 151,000 square feet.
Talia Lakritz/BI
A large technology section was set up at the entrance.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
There were also tables full of winter coats, sweaters, and other apparel.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider