Costco Makes First Change to Hot Dog Combo in 4 Decades

Costco’s famously consistent food court menu is getting a small change, but not the one many longtime customers might expect. According to reports, the retailer has updated its iconic $1.50 hot dog combo for the first time in more than 40 years—while keeping the price exactly the same.

The quarter-pound all-beef hot dog, which has traditionally been sold with a 20-ounce fountain soda, can now also be paired with a 16.9-ounce Kirkland Signature bottled water. While customers have always been able to fill a cup with water from the soda fountain, this marks the first time a sealed bottle of water has officially been included as an option.

Some shoppers had already noticed the change before it was formally confirmed. Online posts in recent months described cashiers offering bottled water instead of soda, and more recent sightings showed signage promoting the new choice. Reactions have been mixed, with some customers welcoming the option as a more practical or healthier alternative. Others argue that the refillable soda still offers better value.

Despite the adjustment, Costco has remained firm on one key point: the price is not going up. The company has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to keeping the $1.50 combo unchanged, even as inflation has driven up costs. In 2022, then-chief financial officer Richard Galanti said the company does not view the hot dog combo as a major profit driver, noting that other areas of the business make up the difference. That same year, then-chief executive Craig Jelinek gave a direct “no” when asked whether the price would ever increase, reinforcing a long-standing stance tied to co-founder Jim Sinegal’s insistence that the price remain fixed.

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