Costco changes $1.50 hot dog and drink combo. What to expect at NC locations
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Shoppers can swap a 20-ounce soda for a 16.9-ounce Kirkland water in the $1.50 combo.
- Bottled Kirkland water costs $0.25 in-store, employee confirmed.
- Multiple North Carolina warehouses had the hot dog and water option available.
Fans of Costco’s food court will notice a small tweak to the wholesaler’s iconic $1.50 hot dog and soda deal.
Don’t worry. The budget-friendly combo — which has held steady in price since 1985 — isn’t changing much. Instead, shoppers can now swap the 20-ounce fountain drink for a 16.9‑ounce bottle of Kirkland Signature water, multiple reports say.
The bottled water is also available as a standalone item and costs just a quarter, a food court employee at Costco’s warehouse in Charlotte told The Raleigh News & Observer.
It’s not clear when the hot dog and water combo officially rolled out, but the option was available at multiple North Carolina Costco locations — including Raleigh, Durham, Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Matthews — as of Wednesday, April 29, The News & Observer confirmed.
“What’s new is the flexibility for shoppers who don’t want soda now have an official alternative,” according to USA Today, which first reported the change. “The move may seem minor, but for a deal that has remained virtually untouched for decades, even a small adjustment is big news.”
The News & Observer reached out to Costco’s corporate office for more information but didn’t immediately hear back.
It’s just the latest shake up at Costco’s food court. Earlier this month, the wholesaler debuted a seasonal caramel churro sundae featuring classic soft serve, caramel sauce and churro bites.
Customers can pick from a chocolate, vanilla, or swirl ice cream base.
Costco also returned Coca-Cola fountain drinks to its food court last summer after switching to Pepsi products back in 2013, McClatchy News reported. At the time, company executives said the move was necessary to maintain the price of its $1.50 hot dog combo.
“The hot dog price will not change as long as I’m around,” Costco CEO Ron Vachris said in a video posted on Instagram.
The price of other items has risen, however, including its popular chicken bake — jumping from $2.99 to $3.99 in recent years. The price of a 20-ounce soft drink also rose 10 cents in 2022.
