This 1 Costco item has skyrocketed 125% in price over just 2 years. And the retail behemoth is limiting member purchases

This 1 Costco item has skyrocketed 125% in price over just 2 years. And the retail behemoth is limiting member purchases Jing Pan Sun, September 13, 2026 at 12:45 PM GMT+2 7 min read COST GC=F Gary Hershorn/ Getty Images. jpg Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.

For bargain hunters, Costco has long been a go-to destination for cheap eats and great deals. The warehouse giant famously still sells its hot dog and soda combo for $1. 50 — the same price it launched with back in the mid-1980s.

But not every Costco item has held its price as stubbornly as the hot dog combo. Case in point: Costco gold bars. Top Picks Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one A record 45% of central banks plan to grow gold reserves — and many investors are following suit.

Get your free gold IRA guide from Priority Gold A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change In late 2023, Costco began selling 1-ounce gold bars. At the time, shoppers could choose between two types: the PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan bar and the Rand Refinery bar, priced at $1,979. 99 and $1,949.

99, respectively, according to Business Insider. Despite the hefty price tag, both quickly became hot sellers (1). Fast forward to today, and not much has changed — except the price.

As of Sept. 11 2026, the Pamp Suisse 1-ounce bar sells for $4,459. 99, an increase of 125% (2).

At the time of writing, gold was trading at about $4,300 per ounce, according to Goldprice. org (3). The difference is due to additional carrier fees on Costco's side.

However, Costco members can get 2% cash back on this purchase, netting a clean $89. 20 at mid-September's going rate. The jump in price is in line with the broader trends in the gold market.

Gold had a banner year in 2025 before retreating in early 2026. Now, the precious yellow metal has stabilized in price, which for bulls could mean that it's time to buy. What's may be more surprising is the continued demand, and the restrictions that have come with that sustained interest.

Customers are limited to "one transaction per membership, with a maximum of 4 units per 24 hours" according to Costco's website. Why investors are flocking to gold Gold has long been viewed as a way to preserve purchasing power. Unlike fiat currencies, it can't be printed at will by central banks.

This limited supply, coupled with a historic perception of value, can give it remarkable staying power. It's also considered a classic safe haven. Gold isn't tied to any one country, currency or economy, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors tend to flock to it — driving prices higher.

This means that, in an ideal scenario, when the rest of your portfolio drops due to stock or bond shocks, gold can hold steady — or even sometimes shoot up in price. Story Continues Ray Dalio, founder of the world's largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has also highlighted gold's importance as part of a resilient portfolio. "People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio," Dalio told CNBC.

"When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier (4). " He isn't alone in his praise for gold, either. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has also said that gold could "easily go to $5,000 or $10,000 (5).

" However, it's important to remember that holding gold is different compared to stocks and bonds since it's fundamentally a physical asset. Read More: Vanguard reveals what's coming for U. S.

stocks — and it could be bad news for this group of investors How to invest in gold While Costco has imposed purchase limits on its gold bars, many bullion dealers still offer gold coins and bars without such restrictions. Just be sure to check the premium — dealers (including Costco) typically sell gold at a markup over the spot price. Making sure you're aware of any storage fees is a key part of fitting gold into your portfolio.

You can combine the recession-resistant properties of the precious metal with the tax advantages of an IRA by opening a gold IRA with the help of Newport Gold . Even better, you can get free setup, shipping, and storage for up to three years with Newport Gold's Liberty bundle to minimize some of those upfront costs. Plus, you can roll over an existing IRA or 401(k) into a precious metals IRA completely tax and penalty-free.

Newport Gold also offers a streamlined buyback program with no fees , ensuring you can liquidate your holdings whenever needed, along with best-price assurance . If you want to read more about their services, you can download their gold guide for free and get up to $20,000 in complimentary silver upon making a qualifying purchase. But gold isn't the only way to diversify your portfolio against inflation.

Other alternative assets can find a place in your balance sheet, too. And some of them can even produce passive income. A time-tested income play Gold isn't the only asset investors turn to for preserving their purchasing power — real estate has also proven to be a powerful tool.

When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation. Over the past five years, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.

S. National Home Price NSA Index has jumped by more than 50%, reflecting strong demand and limited housing supply (6). Real estate investments — without the headache of homeownership Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated.

And being a landlord isn't exactly hands-off work. Managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns). The good news?

You don't need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate today. For accredited investors looking to diversify beyond public equities, Bonaventure offers access to institutional-grade multifamily real estate investments in high-growth markets with a minimum investment of $25,000. Bonaventure focuses on income-producing apartment communities, offering potential tax advantages through structures like 1031 exchanges and UPREITs, allowing you to build passive income and wealth while the company manages the properties.

Plus, Bonaventure has a fully-loaded resource center that teaches you everything you need to evaluate multifamily investments. Sign up today, explore your options and construct your real estate portfolio . If you'd prefer to test the waters a bit before committing, another option is Arrived .

Backed by world-class investors, including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property. All you have to do is sign up, then you can view a selection of vetted properties and start investing with just $100 . That way, you can make sure the platform is right for you.

Once you become an investor with Arrived, you'll have access to more than 596 properties in 67 plus markets . Arrived also offers a secondary market for fully funded properties after a holding period of six months. And, for a limited time, if you want to go big investors can get a 1% account match when opening an account and adding $1,000 or more.

What To Read Next The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028. Here are 4 moves to make before the window closes Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP Millionaires under 43 hold only 32% of their wealth in stocks.

Here's where their money is actually going Dave Ramsey says this 1 indulgent purchase stops Americans from becoming wealthy. Here's what he recommends instead Get Warren Buffett's best investing lessons, free. Join 250,000 readers getting Moneywise's sharpest money reporting every week.

Subscribe and we'll send you our guide to the ideas that built Buffett's fortune as a welcome gift. Article Sources We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines .

Business Insider ( 1 ); Costco ( 2 ); Gold Price ( 3 ); CNBC ( 4 ); Fortune ( 5 ); S&P Global ( 6 ) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.