For the first time in decades, Costco is tweaking its famously unchanged $1.50 hot dog combo — but not in the way fans might fear.
The Issaquah-based wholesale giant is now allowing members to swap the traditional fountain soda for a 16.9-ounce bottle of Kirkland Signature water at no extra cost. The update keeps the price intact while offering a new option for customers who prefer a non-soda drink.
The combo — a quarter-pound all-beef hot dog paired with a 20-ounce fountain drink with free refills — has remained largely untouched since it debuted in the 1980s. The new water option marks the first notable change in more than 40 years.
While small, the shift reflects changing preferences among shoppers. Some customers may prefer a resealable bottle, while others are cutting back on sugar or simply don’t drink soda.
The combo remains available at Costco food courts and still requires an active membership, which starts at $65 annually for Gold Star members and $130 for Executive members.
Despite the tweak, Costco leadership has made clear the deal’s defining feature isn’t going anywhere.
“The hot dog price will not change as long as I’m around,” Costco CEO Ron Vachris said in a recent video, joining a viral trend of executives sampling their company’s food.
The $1.50 combo has long stood out in a fast-food landscape where prices continue to climb, often cited as a rare holdout against inflation — and a point of pride for the company.
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