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Costco is known for its ultra-low prices. And that extends to its food court. Where else can you get a giant hot dog and soda for only $1.50, or a massive slice of pizza for $1.99?

It used to be that anyone could get a meal from Costco’s food courts. But that rule recently changed. Now, food court access is limited to paying members only.

If the idea of not getting to dine at Costco is upsetting to you, then you may be considering joining for the food court alone. But does that make financial sense? Let’s find out.

The numbers could work

A basic Gold Star membership at Costco costs $65 a year, while an Executive membership costs $130. The Executive membership offers the benefit of 2% cash back on Costco purchases. However, food court purchases are not eligible to earn that 2% cash back. So if you’re thinking of joining for the food court alone, then it certainly doesn’t pay to get the more expensive membership.

From there, though, you’ll need to ask yourself whether you’ll enjoy $65 in savings or more in the course of a year. And if you go to a Costco food court often enough, you just might.

Say you happen to work near a Costco and typically go there for lunch twice a week, getting a hot dog combo one day and a pizza slice the second day. That’s about $3.50 for both meals.

At another eatery, you might pay $10 for a single meal, or $20 for two. So if joining Costco allows you to save $16.50 per week on food, then joining is actually an easy call.

At that rate, you’ll make back your $65 membership fee in about four weeks. And all told, you could end up saving over $800 in the course of a year on meals you purchase outside the home.

You might as well reap some of the other benefits

So you can make the case for joining Costco even if the only thing you intend to do there is eat at the food court. And even if you only go there once a month, if you’re able to spend $1.50 on a hot dog combo vs. $10 at a restaurant, you’re saving $8.50 per month, or $102 per year, which is more than the $65 a Gold Star membership costs.

But if you’re going to pay that money, you might as well see if there are other Costco perks you can benefit from. And that list may be longer than you’d think.

Chances are, you’re getting to Costco by car, not by foot. But did you know that Costco gas is typically some of the cheapest fuel in town? And it’s also high in quality, as evidenced by its TOP TIER™ designation. This means it might give you better gas mileage. So even if you don’t care to shop at Costco, or if buying in bulk doesn’t make sense, you might as well fill up on your car and enjoy savings on fuel.

There are also perks of a Costco membership you can use without setting foot in the store. These include booking vacations and using Costco’s approved contractors for home improvement services.

And remember, Costco stocks plenty of non-bulk items at its warehouse clubs, from apparel to electronics to home goods. You might enjoy a world of savings thanks to Costco’s competitive prices — especially if you use the right credit card for extra rewards. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for Costco shoppers.

If eating at Costco’s food courts is something you enjoy doing, then it could pay to get a membership for that access alone. But it also pays to explore the many benefits that Costco members get to enjoy.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

We love versatile credit cards that offer huge rewards everywhere, including Costco! This card is a standout among America’s favorite credit cards because it offers perhaps the easiest $200 cash bonus you could ever earn and an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, even when you shop at Costco.

Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

Click here to read our full review for free and apply before the $200 welcome bonus offer ends!

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Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.