Does Costco Take EBT in Florida? What Shoppers Should Know in 2026

Yes, Costco takes EBT at every U.S. warehouse, and that includes all of Florida.

Swipe your Florida EBT card for SNAP-eligible groceries at any Costco, from Pensacola to Miami.

But here’s the part that trips shoppers up: Your benefits pay for the food, but they won’t pay for the membership, and Costco still won’t wave you through the door without one.

Does Costco Take EBT in Florida?

Costco takes EBT in Florida the same way it does in every other state.

The warehouse club accepts SNAP benefits for eligible food nationwide, and Florida gets no separate rulebook.

So the Costco off I-4 in Orlando follows the identical policy as the warehouses in Jacksonville, Fort Myers, and Miami-Dade.

Same everywhere.

Florida runs its SNAP program through the state Department of Children and Families, and residents sign up through ACCESS Florida.

Once benefits land on your card, the cashier rings your eligible groceries against it like any other payment at checkout.

Costco has processed SNAP at its warehouses nationwide for years, so a Florida cashier won’t blink when your EBT card comes out.

What Can You Buy With EBT at Costco?

EBT covers actual groceries at Costco, and the warehouse sells them in Florida-family quantities.

Fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, and dairy all qualify.

So do breads, cereals, most snack foods, milk, water, and 100% juice.

That giant flat of strawberries, the two-dozen carton of eggs, and a case of bottled water for hurricane season are all fair game with SNAP.

Canned goods, baby formula, cooking oil, coffee, and cheese sit under the same green light.

Cold deli items make the cut as well, so a packaged veggie tray or a tub of Kirkland hummus counts as long as nobody heats it.

You can even buy seeds and food-producing plants, which comes in handy if you start a fall garden once the worst heat breaks.

It counts.

The only trick is knowing which Costco bulk buys earn their space in a Florida pantry, EBT or not.

Which Costco Items Aren’t EBT-Eligible?

Costco stocks plenty your Florida EBT card won’t touch.

Anything hot at the point of sale falls outside SNAP, by federal rule.

That rules out the rotisserie chicken pulled straight from the warmer and the food court hot dog and soda combo.

No dice.

Alcohol is out too, so that case of Kirkland wine rings up on a separate payment.

Non-food items don’t qualify either.

Your paper towels, dish soap, vitamins, and dog food all need a debit card, a credit card, or cash instead.

Gift cards, batteries, patio furniture, and anything from the pharmacy counter land on that non-food side too.

Do Costco’s Kirkland Products Qualify for EBT?

Kirkland Signature is Costco’s own label, and its food products qualify for EBT just like any name brand.

A bag of Kirkland rice, a jar of Kirkland peanut butter, or a pack of Kirkland ground beef all ring up on SNAP.

Brand doesn’t matter.

The non-food Kirkland goods, from trash bags to laundry detergent, stay on your backup payment.

SNAP looks at what the item is, not whose name sits on the box.

Which Foods Florida Cut From SNAP in 2026

Florida changed what SNAP covers in 2026, and the new limits apply at Costco just like everywhere else in the state.

Under a federal waiver that took effect April 20, 2026, Florida dropped soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts from the SNAP-eligible list.

Brand new rule.

So a case of Coke, a Monster four-pack, a bag of Kirkland gummy bears, or a bakery cake now rings up on your backup payment instead of your EBT card.

The change runs as a two-year pilot, so it’s the rule Florida shoppers live with through 2027 at least.

Milk, water, meat, and produce all stay covered, so you notice it on the checkout-lane treats more than on the weekly staples.

How Paying With EBT Works at Checkout

Paying with EBT at Costco happens in one transaction, split across two payments.

The cashier scans your whole cart at once.

Your SNAP-eligible food rings against the EBT card, and the cashier applies that total to your benefits.

Then the leftovers, from the paper towels to the wine, go on whatever backup you brought.

One trip.

Just one receipt.

Your EBT card still needs its four-digit PIN at the register, the same digits you’d punch in at Publix or Winn-Dixie.

Check your balance before a big warehouse run because a loaded Costco cart adds up faster than a normal grocery trip.

If your benefits run thin mid-month, you can put the whole cart on a card and save the SNAP dollars for a smaller run later.

Do You Still Need a Costco Membership?

Yes, you still need a Costco membership to shop with EBT in Florida.

Costco is a members-only warehouse, and a SNAP card doesn’t unlock a members-free exception.

No exceptions.

You also can’t put that membership fee on EBT.

That fee isn’t food, so SNAP won’t cover it.

A Gold Star membership runs $65 a year, and you pay that part yourself at the counter with a card or cash.

That fee buys the same warehouse access for everyone, so an EBT shopper walks the aisles on identical terms as any other Costco member.

No second-class card.

Snowbirds who only winter in Naples need the card just like year-round residents up in Tampa.

Can You Use EBT for Costco Online or Delivery?

Here’s where Costco splits the difference for Florida shoppers.

Costco.com won’t take your EBT card for a standard online order.

But Costco Same-Day, the delivery and pickup service powered by Instacart, does accept SNAP for eligible food in participating areas.

Big difference.

You add your EBT card to the Instacart-run checkout, and it covers the same groceries it would inside the warehouse.

Just keep a backup card ready.

SNAP won’t pay the delivery fee, the service fee, or the driver’s tip, so those charges land on your second payment method.

You enter your EBT PIN right in the Instacart app before the order goes through.

Coverage isn’t everywhere, though, so a shopper in rural Hendry County may not see the same Costco Same-Day option a Miami address does.

Does Costco Offer Discounted Memberships for EBT Users?

No, Costco doesn’t run a discounted membership for EBT or SNAP recipients in Florida.

There’s no reduced rate tied to your benefits, and the warehouse has never advertised one.

None exists.

What Costco does offer is a sign-up deal open to everyone, not just EBT holders.

New members who join at the $65 Gold Star level currently get a $20 Digital Costco Shop Card back.

That shop card spends like store credit on your next trip, including on the SNAP-eligible food your benefits already cover.

Stretching a grocery budget takes real planning in Florida, which is why comparing Publix and Aldi prices pays off before you ever load the car.

Frequently Asked Questions

A few last questions Florida shoppers ask before their first EBT run at Costco.

Can you use EBT at Costco without a membership?

No. Costco is a members-only warehouse, so you need an active Costco membership to shop with EBT, and you can’t buy that membership with your SNAP benefits.

Does Costco accept EBT for online orders?

Costco.com doesn’t accept EBT, but Costco Same-Day delivery and pickup, powered by Instacart, does accept SNAP for eligible food in participating areas. You’ll still need a second payment method for fees and non-eligible items.

Can you buy a rotisserie chicken with EBT at Costco?

No. Costco’s rotisserie chicken is sold hot, and SNAP doesn’t cover foods that are hot at the point of sale. The same goes for the food court and any other hot prepared item.

How do you apply for SNAP in Florida?

Florida residents apply through ACCESS Florida, run by the state Department of Children and Families. Once you’re approved, your benefits load onto a Florida EBT card you can use at Costco and other authorized retailers.

Can you buy soda or candy with EBT in Florida?

Not anymore. A state waiver that started April 20, 2026 removed soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts from Florida’s SNAP-eligible list, so those items ring up on a separate payment at Costco and every other store.