Filling up at the Bellingham Costco has been a Lower Mainland habit for decades. The question is whether the Bellingham Costco gas price still beats Langley and Abbotsford once you convert US dollars per gallon into Canadian cents per litre, and once you count the drive, the border and your card's fees. We ran the numbers with our own daily prices and the Bank of Canada exchange rate.
Short answer: Not for gas alone, as of our September 29, 2026 reading. Bellingham regular at $4.859 US/gal works out to about 182.1¢/L at the Bank of Canada rate, or about 186.7¢/L on a typical Canadian card with a 2.5% foreign transaction fee. That was 9.8¢/L cheaper than Langley before the card fee but 5.2¢/L dearer than Abbotsford. A trip from Langley needs a gap of roughly 28¢/L on a 60 L fill just to pay for the fuel you burn getting there. It only makes sense if you are already crossing.
What is the Bellingham Costco gas price in Canadian cents per litre?
On our September 29, 2026 reading, Costco Bellingham posted regular at $4.859 US per gallon and premium at $5.699. To compare it with a BC gas bar you need two conversions: US dollars to Canadian dollars, and gallons to litres (one US gallon is 3.78541 litres).
The formula:
USD per gallon × USDCAD rate ÷ 3.78541 × 100 = ¢/L (CAD)
The Bank of Canada's daily average rate for September 29, 2026 was 1.4188 Canadian dollars per US dollar. So:
- Regular: 4.859 × 1.4188 ÷ 3.78541 × 100 = 182.1¢/L
- Premium: 5.699 × 1.4188 ÷ 3.78541 × 100 = 213.6¢/L
Your card won't give you that rate. Most Canadian credit cards add a 2.5% foreign transaction fee on US purchases, which pushes Bellingham regular to about 186.7¢/L.
A quick rule of thumb: at today's price, every 1¢ move in the exchange rate (say 1.41 to 1.42) moves Bellingham's price by about 1.3¢/L. A weaker loonie makes the trip less worthwhile. For the wider picture, including taxes on each side, see Costco gas in Canada vs the US.
Bellingham vs Langley, Abbotsford and other Lower Mainland Costcos
Our database has daily prices for three Lower Mainland Costco gas bars: Abbotsford, Langley and Port Coquitlam. We don't have price data for Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey or Vancouver, so check those on the British Columbia page or at the pump.
| Station | Regular (¢/L) | Gap vs Bellingham at BoC rate | Gap vs Bellingham with 2.5% card fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA (converted) | 182.1 (186.7 with fee) | – | – |
| Abbotsford, BC | 176.9 | Bellingham 5.2¢ dearer | Bellingham 9.8¢ dearer |
| Langley, BC | 191.9 | Bellingham 9.8¢ cheaper | Bellingham 5.2¢ cheaper |
| Port Coquitlam, BC | 188.9 | Bellingham 6.8¢ cheaper | Bellingham 2.2¢ cheaper |
Premium told a similar story: Bellingham's 213.6¢/L was 3.3¢ below Langley (216.9) and 16.7¢ above Abbotsford (196.9). The BC Costco average was 186.7¢/L (all of Canada: 173.0¢/L).
Why Abbotsford is so much cheaper than Langley
Abbotsford sits outside the TransLink region. BC's motor fuel tax on gasoline is 27¢/L in the Vancouver area (including 18.5¢/L for TransLink) and 14.5¢/L in most of the rest of the province, a 12.5¢/L difference before GST. BC's consumer carbon tax has been zero since April 1, 2025, while Washington's state gas tax rose to 55.4¢ US/gal in July 2025 (plus a small inflation increase in July 2026 and the federal 18.4¢).
If you live in the eastern Fraser Valley, Abbotsford Costco usually beats crossing. The US Costco south of Bellingham, Burlington, WA, was $5.059/gal, dearer still.
How the gap moved over the last 30 days
One day can mislead, so we converted Bellingham's regular price every day from August 31 to September 29, 2026 using that day's Bank of Canada rate (the previous business day's rate on weekends and Labour Day). September 18 is missing from our data, which leaves 29 days.
| Comparison (regular, 29 days) | Average gap | Range | Days Bellingham was cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Langley minus Bellingham, BoC rate | 19.2¢/L | 9.8 to 32.2¢ | 29 of 29 |
| Langley minus Bellingham, with 2.5% fee | 14.8¢/L | 5.2 to 28.0¢ | 29 of 29 |
| Port Coquitlam minus Bellingham, with 2.5% fee | 11.7¢/L | 1.9 to 22.8¢ | 29 of 29 |
| Abbotsford minus Bellingham, BoC rate | 1.8¢/L | −12.9 to 15.1¢ | 18 of 29 |
| Abbotsford minus Bellingham, with 2.5% fee | −2.7¢/L | −17.4 to 10.7¢ | 13 of 29 |
Bellingham beat the Metro Vancouver Costcos every day, but the gap shrank from about 32¢/L on August 31 to under 10¢ by September 29, partly because the loonie weakened from 1.3866 to 1.4188. Against Abbotsford it was a coin toss. And Abbotsford's price swung by as much as 25¢/L within the month, while Bellingham moved in a narrower band ($4.579 to $4.999). Check both before you go.
What does a cross-border gas trip really cost?
The price gap is only the gross saving. Take off:
- Fuel burned getting there. Driving distances below are one way from each BC Costco to the Bellingham Costco, by road. We assumed a car using 9 L/100 km, which is typical of a mid-size SUV in mixed driving.
- Card fees. About 2.5% on most Canadian cards, already shown above.
- Time at the border. Zero minutes on a quiet Tuesday morning, an hour or more on a long weekend.
Break-even table for a 60 L fill
| Starting from | Round trip (km) | Fuel burned (L) | Cost of that fuel | Gap needed to break even on 60 L | Gap on Sept 29 (with fee) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotsford Costco | 86 | 7.7 | $13.70 | 23¢/L | −9.8¢/L |
| Langley Costco | 99 | 8.9 | $17.00 | 28¢/L | 5.2¢/L |
| Surrey Costco | 100 | 9.0 | $17.00 | 28¢/L | no data |
| Port Coquitlam Costco | 135 | 12.1 | $22.90 | 38¢/L | 2.2¢/L |
| Burnaby or Richmond Costco | 139–142 | 12.5–12.8 | $23.80–$24.40 | 40¢/L | no data |
Fuel is costed at each station's own September 29 price (about 190¢/L where we have no price). On September 29, a Langley driver would have saved about $3.12 on a 60 L fill (5.2¢ × 60) and spent about $17 in fuel to get it. Even on the best day of the month, the 28.0¢ gap on August 31 fell just short of break-even from Langley. From Abbotsford, Bellingham never came close.
This ignores wear and your time, so real break-even is higher. A bigger tank helps: an 80 L truck fill needs 21¢/L from Langley rather than 28¢.
When the drive is free
The maths flips if the trip is happening anyway. If you're already going to Bellingham for groceries, Bellis Fair or parcels, the Costco pumps are close to I-5 and the extra detour costs almost nothing. Then every cent of the gap is savings: about $8.90 on a 60 L fill at the 30-day average Langley gap after card fees. Fill up just before heading north, since the tank-fuel exemption (below) makes a full tank duty-free.
Border waits: which crossing to use
Four crossings connect the Lower Mainland to Whatcom County:
| Crossing (BC / WA) | Hours | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Douglas / Peace Arch (Surrey / Blaine) | 24 hours | Surrey, White Rock, Richmond; the busiest in BC |
| Pacific Highway (Surrey / Blaine) | 24 hours | Same corridor, often a shorter car line |
| Aldergrove / Lynden | 8:00 AM to midnight | Langley; quieter on weekends |
| Abbotsford-Huntingdon / Sumas | 24 hours | Abbotsford, Chilliwack |
NEXUS lanes at Peace Arch and Pacific Highway are reported to run roughly 7 AM to midnight, with shorter hours at Lynden and Sumas; check CBSA and CBP before relying on them. NEXUS is the single biggest factor in whether this habit makes sense, because it takes the unpredictable wait out of both directions.
Check waits before leaving: the CBSA's Border Wait Times page (US to Canada) and the CBP Border Wait Times site (Canada to US) both list these crossings, and WSDOT posts the southbound waits on I-5.
Paying at the Bellingham Costco pump with a Canadian card
US Costco pumps take Visa credit, most PIN debit, Apple Pay and physical Costco Shop Cards. They do not take Mastercard credit, so the CIBC Costco Mastercard you use at home won't work. Our guide to which cards Costco gas accepts covers the full lists; here are the points that matter at the border:
- The ZIP code prompt. US pumps often ask for a 5-digit ZIP to check your billing address. Canadian drivers widely report that entering the three digits of their postal code followed by "00" works (V2S 1A1 becomes 21100). This is a workaround people report, not an official rule, and some report it failing or locking the card after repeated tries. Don't try more than once or twice.
- The backup. Buy a physical Costco Shop Card inside the warehouse and use it at the pump. Costco gas stations have no cashier to prepay with.
- Foreign transaction fees. Most Canadian cards add 2.5% on US-dollar purchases. A no-FX Visa, or a Visa that pays extra on USD spending, removes most of that cost.
- The pre-authorization hold. Costco's US gas FAQ says the hold on Visa and PIN debit purchases may be up to $150 US. On a Canadian card that shows up as a CAD amount after conversion, and a debit card with a thin balance can be declined.
For how things work on the Canadian side (Mastercard, Interac, why Visa doesn't work), see how to pay at Costco gas in Canada.
Does a Canadian Costco membership work at the Bellingham gas station?
Yes. Costco Canada's membership terms say your card "is valid at any Costco warehouse worldwide," and the gas station is part of the warehouse. Bring the plastic card: Costco Canada's digital card is not accepted at Canadian gas bars, and Costco doesn't say whether a Canadian digital card scans at US pumps. Scan it, then pay with a card the US pump accepts. More on tiers, household cards and borrowed cards in do you need a membership to buy Costco gas.
Do you have to declare US gas at the Canadian border?
Fuel in your vehicle's original tank is not something you pay duty on, even on a same-day trip. The CBSA told Daily Hive in 2024 that where no personal exemption applies, Canadian residents "may only import duty- and taxes-free fuel in their conveyance in the original tank supplied and installed by the conveyance manufacturer," meaning within the "manufacturer's normal tank capacity." You still answer the officer's questions honestly, and keeping the receipt costs nothing.
Jerry cans and add-on tanks are different. The CBSA says gasoline in jerry cans or extra tanks is "subject to full duty and taxes" for residents who don't qualify for a personal exemption. The exemptions depend on how long you've been away:
| Time outside Canada | Personal exemption |
|---|---|
| Under 24 hours | None: declare everything, duty and taxes may apply |
| 24 hours or more | Up to $200 CAD; go over and you pay on the full amount |
| 48 hours or more | Up to $800 CAD; you pay only on the excess |
So a day trip with two full jerry cans is technically taxable, and undeclared goods can draw penalties of 25% to 55% of their value. Transporting fuel in containers also has safety rules; see can you fill gas cans at Costco.
Bellingham Costco gas hours
The Bellingham Costco gas station at 4125 Arctic Ave is open 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM on weekdays, 6:00 AM to 8:30 PM on Saturday and 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM on Sunday, per Costco's warehouse page and our data. That is half an hour later on weekday evenings than BC gas bars, which close at 9:30 PM. Holiday hours differ; our Costco gas hours guide covers them.
Our verdict
It's worth it when:
- You're already crossing for shopping, parcels or travel, so the drive and the border wait cost you nothing extra.
- You have NEXUS and can cross at a quiet time.
- You live in Metro Vancouver, the loonie is stronger than in September 2026, and the gap after card fees is above about 28¢/L from Langley or Surrey (38–40¢ from farther west).
- You pay with a no-FX Visa or US dollars.
It isn't when:
- You live near Abbotsford. On our 30-day data, Abbotsford Costco was often cheaper than Bellingham after card fees.
- You're making a dedicated trip from Burnaby, Richmond or Vancouver. The drive alone eats about $24 of fuel.
- It's a long weekend or a Saturday afternoon and you don't have NEXUS.
Compare today's prices on the Washington and British Columbia pages, or search any station from our station finder, before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How much is gas at the Costco in Bellingham, Washington?
As of our September 29, 2026 reading, the Bellingham Costco charged $4.859 US per gallon for regular and $5.699 for premium. At that day's Bank of Canada rate of 1.4188, regular works out to about 182.1¢/L.
How do I convert US dollars per gallon to cents per litre?
Multiply the US price per gallon by the USD-to-CAD exchange rate, divide by 3.78541, and multiply by 100. For example, $4.859 × 1.4188 ÷ 3.78541 × 100 = 182.1¢/L. Add about 2.5% if your card charges a foreign transaction fee.
Is Bellingham Costco gas cheaper than Abbotsford Costco?
Not reliably. Over August 31 to September 29, 2026, Bellingham was cheaper than Abbotsford on only 13 of 29 days once a 2.5% card fee is included, and it was 5.2¢/L dearer on September 29 even at the Bank of Canada rate.
Can I use my CIBC Costco Mastercard at the Bellingham Costco gas station?
No. US Costco gas stations take Visa credit, PIN debit, Apple Pay and physical Shop Cards, not Mastercard credit. Bring a Visa or buy a Shop Card inside the warehouse.
Do I pay duty on gas I bring back from the US in my tank?
No, as long as the fuel is in the vehicle's original manufacturer-installed tank, according to CBSA guidance quoted by Daily Hive. Fuel in jerry cans or add-on tanks is subject to duty and taxes unless it fits within a personal exemption, which requires at least 24 hours outside Canada.
What if the pump asks for a ZIP code?
Many Canadians report success entering the three digits from their postal code followed by "00". It doesn't work with every card, so if it fails after one or two tries, use a physical Costco Shop Card instead.
Which border crossing is fastest from Langley to the Bellingham Costco?
It depends on the day, so check live waits on the CBSA and CBP border wait time pages first. Aldergrove–Lynden is closest to Langley and often quieter, but it is only open 8:00 AM to midnight; Pacific Highway and Peace Arch are open 24 hours.
Sources
- Daily exchange rates, Bank of Canada (seen in search results) and the Bank of Canada Valet API, FXUSDCAD series — daily USD/CAD rates for August 28 to September 29, 2026, including 1.4188 on September 29.
- Bellingham, WA Warehouse, Costco — gas station hours and warehouse hours.
- Membership Conditions & Regulations, Costco Canada — membership card "valid at any Costco warehouse worldwide."
- Getting gas in the US? Canada's border rules fuel confusion for some BC drivers, Daily Hive — CBSA statements on fuel in the original tank, jerry cans and penalties (April 2024).
- Personal exemptions mini-guide, Travel.gc.ca — no exemption under 24 hours, $200 after 24 hours, $800 after 48 hours.
- Border wait times: United States to Canada, CBSA — live waits at Douglas, Pacific Highway, Aldergrove and Abbotsford-Huntingdon.
- Border Wait Times, US Customs and Border Protection — southbound waits into Washington.
- Border crossings, WSDOT (seen in search results) — Washington's border wait information; and Peace Arch Border Crossing, Vancouver's Best Places (seen in search results) — crossing and NEXUS lane hours.
- Motor fuel tax and carbon tax rates, Province of British Columbia — 27¢/L Vancouver area (18.5¢ TransLink) vs 14.5¢/L rest of BC.
- No carbon tax in B.C. as of April 1, 2025, BC Gov News (seen in search results) — end of BC's consumer carbon tax.
- Washington's gas tax is going up, Washington State Standard and Gas tax will rise in Washington on July 1, OPB (seen in search results) — Washington's 55.4¢/gal gas tax and the July 2026 inflation adjustment.
- Canada's best no foreign transaction fee credit cards, Ratehub.ca (seen in search results) — the typical 2.5% foreign transaction fee on Canadian cards.
- Canadians: What to do if a US gas pump asks for a ZIP code, Oil Depot and Postal code numbers to use in zipcode at gas stations, DISboards (both seen in search results) — the reported postal-code-plus-"00" workaround and reports of it failing.
- Driving distances: OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) between each warehouse's coordinates in our data.
- Prices: costcogaspricedb.com daily readings, August 31 to September 29, 2026.