How much a Costco eye exam actually costs in Canada
Updated · Tested by DailyStash editors
[DRAFT — Gil to fill]: Open scene: 'You need new glasses. Someone in your group chat said Costco does eye exams. Is it cheaper than the strip-mall optometrist?'
What the exam actually costs (2026)
[DRAFT — Gil to fill]: Adult exam CA$[VERIFY]-[VERIFY]. Kids exam CA$[VERIFY]. Fees vary by the leasing optometrist, not Costco — Costco doesn't set the exam price. Membership card required to enter the store, but the optometrist office may not require Costco membership themselves — [VERIFY] this because it's often misreported online.
Provincial coverage: what you don't actually pay for
[DRAFT — Gil to fill]: OHIP (Ontario): fully covered under 20, over 65, and for specific medical conditions. MSP (BC): similar. Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba — no routine adult coverage; you pay full fare. [VERIFY] each province against the latest schedule of benefits.
Costco vs walk-in optometrist
[DRAFT — Gil to fill]: Costco is usually price-competitive, not dramatically cheaper. Where Costco wins is on eyewear pricing (frames + lenses), not the exam itself. Standalone frames at Costco are often 40-60% below chain-store retail.
Do you need a Costco membership?
[DRAFT — Gil to fill]: Costco Optical (the retail store) requires membership to buy glasses. The eye exam performed by the independent optometrist inside Costco does NOT require Costco membership — this is federally regulated in Canada. Confirm at your local location [VERIFY].
When Costco is not the right choice
[DRAFT — Gil to fill]: Complex prescriptions, dry eye or specialist follow-up, kids under 6 who need play-based exams, anyone who wants same-day glasses. Costco's turnaround on prescription glasses is [VERIFY] days.
What to bring to the appointment
[DRAFT — Gil to fill]: Provincial health card, previous prescription if you have one, current glasses, list of medications. Kids: parent or guardian ID.
Paying for the exam or glasses by e-Transfer? Our limits-by-bank guide shows what your bank lets you send in a single transfer.