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For bargain hunters, Costco has long been a go-to destination. The warehouse giant still sells its hot dog and juice combo for $1.50 — the same price it launched it at in the mid-1980s. But not every Costco item has held its price as stubbornly as the hot dog combo.
Case in point: gold bars.
In late 2023, Costco began selling 1-ounce gold bars. At the time, buyers could choose between two types: the PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan bar and the Rand Refinery bar, priced at $1,979.99 and $1,949.99, respectively, according to Business Insider. Despite the high price, both quickly became hot sellers (1).
Fast forward to today and not much has changed except the price.
As of December 2025, the Pamp Suisse bar retails for $4,119.99, up 108% (2).
The price increase is in line with the broader gold market, which is up about 65% through 2025. What’s more surprising is the continued demand.
Customers are now restricted to “one transaction per member, with a maximum of 4 units per 24 hours,” according to Costco’s website (3).
Gold has long been seen as a way to preserve purchasing power. Unlike fiat currencies, it cannot be printed at will by central banks.
It is also considered a classic safe haven. Gold is not tied to any country, currency or economy, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors often flock to it, driving up prices.
That’s exactly what seems to be happening now. Markets are gripped by tariff uncertainty, widening deficits and global tensions – and gold has emerged as a rare bright spot.
Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, also emphasized the importance of gold as part of a resilient portfolio.
“People typically don’t have an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” he told CNBC. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier (4).”
Gold hit an all-time high of $4,371.78 an ounce in October, and many experts expect it to continue rising as the stock market outlook turns dire (5).
Read more: Warren Buffett used 8 solid, repeatable rules to turn $9,800 into a $150 billion fortune. Start using them today to get rich (and stay rich)’
While Costco has imposed purchase limits on its gold bars, many bullion dealers still offer gold coins and bars without such restrictions. Be sure to check the premium – dealers (including Costco) usually sell gold at a markup over the spot price.
One method that many people use to invest in gold is a self-directed gold IRA.
A gold IRA allows you to invest in gold and other precious metals in physical form while still providing the significant tax advantages of an IRA.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can check out some of Moneywise’s top picks for gold IRAs to compare your options for free. Keep in mind that gold is often best used as part of a well-diversified portfolio.
Gold isn’t the only asset investors are turning to to preserve their purchasing power – real estate has also proven to be a powerful tool.
When inflation rises, property values often rise as well, reflecting higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to rise, giving landlords an income stream that adjusts to inflation.
Over the past five years, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller US National Home Price NSA Index has risen by more than 50%, reflecting strong demand and limited housing supply (6).
Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more difficult, especially with mortgage rates still high. And being a homeowner isn’t exactly hands-off work. Tenant management, maintenance and repairs can eat up your time (and your returns) quickly.
The good news? You don’t have to buy a property outright – or deal with running faucets – to invest in real estate today.
Homeshares gives accredited investors access to the billions in equity locked up in owner-occupied homes.
Instead of buying properties, investors participate through a portfolio of Home Equity Agreements (HEA) – allowing homeowners to unlock cash with no monthly payments, while investors share in future appreciation.
The result is exposure to a large, underserved market in top U.S. cities without the hassle of ownership or the risk of overhead.
HEAs come with built-in protection: They typically cover 25 to 35 percent of a home’s value in a lien-backed position, which helps protect your investment if the market drops. And unlike traditional real estate, HEAs are also resistant to interest rate changes, offering attractive risk-adjusted returns even during economic uncertainty.
With diversified portfolios of high-quality homes and target returns of 14% to 17%, Homeshares offers a practical way to gain exposure to a growing corner of the real estate market.
Another way to invest in real estate is through crowdfunding platforms like Arrived, which make it easier for you to cut yourself a piece of that pie.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived lets you invest in rental housing shares for as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets, or managing difficult tenants.
The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you want to buy and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.
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Business Insider (1); Costco (2); Entrepreneur (3); CNBC (4); GoldPrice.org (5); S&P Global (6)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. Offered without warranty of any kind.
