What is shopping at Costco in France really like?
While spending a week visiting friends in the French countryside, we headed back to Costco in France again!
There’s something a little funny, and honestly a little comforting, about traveling across France and suddenly spotting a familiar red-and-blue sign for Costco. Our latest stop at a Costco in France is outside Paris in Villebon-sur-Yvette. What we found that it’s not just another warehouse run. It felt like a little cultural crossroads, where American habits and French tastes meet in the same oversized shopping cart.
If you follow our blog, you may remember The Wall Street Journal interviewed the Cajun Explorers. They noted how we treat international Costco visits as part of our travel adventures. In that article, we said we’d gladly make time for Costco abroad. Proof that for some of us, travel includes cathedrals, cobblestone streets, and occasionally a Costco warehouse aisle. In fact, we’ve previously posted on our visits to Costco in Canada, France, Australia, and Honolulu.
The Food Court Menu and Prices
The food court was our first stop, because of course it was. What surprised us most is how familiar it felt while still being unmistakably French. You still get that classic American-style Costco comfort. The quick bite, the casual crowd, the sense that everybody knows exactly why they came. But there are subtle reminders that you’re not back home in United States. The whole experience feels a little less rushed, a little more European. Somehow that makes even a simple food-court lunch feel like part of the trip. Although, there are a few differences.
So, what did we order?
We decided to try the all beef hotdog with chicken tenders and French fries. We immediately noticed that they also have Coca-Cola products now like at home. Of course in the US, we don’t have chicken tenders or French fries ☹️.
We remember from our last visit that you have to scan your receipt bar code for the drink dispenser to work. I assumed it’s a way to ensure that you paid for your drink prior to serving yourself. In other words, if you don’t pay, you don’t get a bar code. However, that’s not the case at all. I now know that free refills are illegal in France since 2017! It’s an effort to curb obesity and diabetes from sugary drinks and juices, since the original soda tax didn’t work. So, you get a bar code on your receipt that only works for one drink. No refills. How do I know? Well, I had to try it for myself. Neither of the scanners would accept the bar code a second time around.
The condiment options are similar to those at home—ketchup, relish, and mustard. But, they also have mayo. And yes, the only mustard available is of course French Dijon mustard. The hotdog and drink is 1.5 euros, but with the exchange rate that brings it to $1.76 US. The all beef hotdog dog tastes exactly the same as in the US, so no difference there. Though I wish they’d bring back the polish dog. We miss those.
The chicken tenders and fries are 5.49 euros or $6.44 US. There are 6 crispy tenders and a heap of fries on the plate. These are very good, served hot and are not at all greasy. So, a nice quick meal.
French menu options?
Sadly, I didn’t see traditional French menu options like I had hoped for. There’s a focaccia sandwich with turkey, cheese and pesto for 3.99 euros and two coffee options (regular and café au lait) at .80 euros that we don’t have. These remaining options are similar to our Costco food court menu such as the chicken bake, pizza, chicken Cesar salad and sundaes. Although the BBQ chicken pizza is really good and I’m surprised that’s not an option at home. I think it’d sell quite well.
Treasure Hunt down the Aisles
Then came the real fun: wandering the aisles. One minute we are looking at deeply familiar American staples—big boxes, giant jars, and peanut butter. The products that instantly make you think of home. The next minute we are staring at shelves stocked with French cheeses, charcuterie, pastries, regional wines, and everyday groceries. All the products that remind us we are still very much in France. That contrast may be the best part. Costco in France isn’t just an American store dropped overseas. It’s more like a small snapshot of how two cultures shop, eat, and live. Here are just a few samples of the items we found specific to each culture.
American Products
We did see quite a few American products below like alcohol and wine, peanut butter, BBQ sauce, yellow mustard, brownie mix, Alaskan salmon, and seasonings. So if you’re an American in France missing a taste of home, there are treats here that will keep your cravings at bay.
Then of course there are the “American style” products I discovered, like the mini American pancakes (made in France). There is also Cajun seasoning, Dunkin Donuts, Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake, and Costco’s delicious chocolate layer cake, to name a few.
French Finds
There are tons of awesome local products that makes entering every French supermarket a special treat. Costco offers the typical array of French pastry and bread products, an incredibly large wine, charcuterie and cheese selection, lots of pâté options, special kitchen appliances like crepe makers and raclette pans. Oh, and don’t forget the giant sausage!
Of course, throw in beautiful produce and other fresh items and you can stock up just like at home. The roasted chicken is always a great buy. One significant difference from home is that stores here do not refrigerate milk and eggs. Instead, they usually keep these products on shelves at room temperature. Apparently, farmers vaccinate hens against salmonella, and producers leave eggs unwashed so they retain their natural protective coating — unlike in the US, where companies wash and spray eggs before selling them which then requires refrigeration. As for the milk, it’s due to UHT pasteurization (ultra high temp) killing all bacteria and offering a long shelf life of 6-9 months in the pantry.
One shocking surprise we saw while we browsed the clothing aisle is men’s jean shorts! I thought “jorts” are an out of style fashion people joke about back home. But, what do I know? Seeing Levi’s jean shorts selling in Costco, I wonder if they are really back in style? Funny how fashion always seems to circle back around eventually. I hope I’m not stereotyping here, but we don’t see many French men wearing shorts, much less jean shorts. As American tourists, we often feel self conscious wearing shorts while vacationing here, as we feel we stand out from the crowd. It’ll be interesting to see if this old trend takes off. What do you think of jorts?
Unexpected prices
The day we visited, we filled up our rental car with gas. I understand everyone is complaining about the cost of gas in the US with what is happening globally. But, it’s much more expensive here. Today’s cost for regular gas is $1.96 euros per liter, or about $8.75 per gallon. Premium is 2.09 euros, or about $9.30 per gallon. So easily twice the price as the US.
Finally, the other surprising cost is the price of the Costco membership. Currently the cheapest membership option in the US starts at about $65 per year. Here, it’s 36 euros annually, which is approximately $42 USD. So more than $20 cheaper in France. Of course you only have 3 stores in France. There are two outside of Paris and one in Mulhouse near the Swiss and German borders. That could explain the lower fee.
Here’s a final money saving tip about Costco. We rented our car through Costco Travel. The pricing is about $40-50 less for the weekly rental than booking it direct with Enterprise. In addition, Costco customers a second driver free. But the really big savings of an extra $150-200 is because Enterprise did not charge a one way rental fee. We picked up the rental car from Orléans and returned it to the airport in Paris. Every other rental car quote I researched listed a one way fee that ranged from $150-200 extra. So, when shopping for car rentals, don’t forget to price shop at Costco Travel. It may save you money.
At the End of the Day
What stayed with us most was the surprise of it all. You don’t expect a warehouse club to become a travel memory, but somehow it does for us. Between the familiar food court, the mix of French and American products, and the simple fun of seeing everyday life from a slightly different angle, this turned into one of those unexpected travel moments we always enjoy and remember. Sometimes the hidden gems aren’t always tucked into old villages or beside ancient churches. Sometimes they’re hiding just beyond the parking lot of a Costco in suburban Paris.
Do you have any Costco adventures of your own? Share your story with us in the comments.
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