Costco hot dog combo stays at $1.50, and now you can have a bottle of water with it

Warehouse retailer Costco is famed for its $1.50 beef hotdogs, which come with a 20 oz. soda and haven't gon up in price since its 1980s debut. Occasionally rumors of a price increase spread, only to be squashed by the company's management; co-founder Jim Sinegal once threatened a previous CEO with death if he considered it. The latest news is in fact a new addition to the deal: an option for bottled water.

Costco has quietly rolled out a hot dog and bottled water combo, giving Costco members the choice to swap the traditional 20-ounce refillable fountain soda for a 16.9‑ounce bottle of Kirkland Signature water—all while keeping the price at $1.50. The hot dog hasn't changed. It's still the same quarter‑pound, all‑beef staple served on a soft bun, with classic condiments available at the food court. What's new is the flexibility for shoppers who don't want soda now have an official alternative. The move may seem minor, but for a deal that has remained virtually untouched for decades, even a small adjustment is big news.

Why is the dog so cheap? They're an enticement to become a member, which costs at least $65 a year; most Costcos have the food court past the entrance.

There might be a shenanigan at hand, though, in the margins: some reports suggest that soda (or refills) are now extra. Costco sells roughly 100-200 million of the combos annually, it reports.

Previously:
• Finally: Hot dog flavored candy canes
• A $3.50 hot dog won a James Beard Award
• Costco's cheap $1.50 hot-dog-and-soda combo now a viral tee shirt design: ''If you raise the f—ing hot dog, I will kill you'