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For bargain hunters, Costco has long been a go-to destination. The warehouse giant still sells its hot dog and soda combo for $1.50 — the same price it launched with in the mid-1980s. But not all Costco items have maintained their prices as stubbornly as the hot dog combo.
Concrete example: 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 popular sellers (1).
Fast forward to today, and not much has changed except the price.
In December 2025, the Pamp Suisse bar sold for $4,119.99, an increase of 108% (2).
The price rise is in line with that of the gold market as a whole, which has surged about 65% over the course of 2025. What’s more surprising is the continued demand.
Customers are now limited to “one transaction per subscription, with a maximum of 4 units per 24 hours,” according to the Costco website (3).
Gold has long been seen as a means of preserving purchasing power. Unlike fiat currencies, central banks cannot print them at will.
It is also considered a classic refuge. 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.
This is exactly what seems to be happening now. Markets are being buffeted by tariff uncertainty, rising deficits and global tensions – and gold is emerging as a rare bright spot.
Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, also highlighted the importance of gold as part of a resilient portfolio.
“People generally don’t have a sufficient amount of gold in their portfolio,” he told CNBC. “When tough times come, gold is a very effective diversification tool (4). »
Gold reached a record price of $4,371.78 per ounce in October, and many experts expect it to continue rising as the stock market outlook becomes fragile (5).
Even though Costco has placed purchase limits on its gold bars, many bullion dealers still offer gold coins and bars without such restrictions. Just be sure to check the premium: Dealers (including Costco) typically sell gold at a markup over the spot price.
One method that many people use to invest in gold is a self-directed method. Gold IRA.
A gold IRA allows you to invest in gold and other precious metals in physical form while providing the significant tax benefits of an IRA.
If you don’t know where to start, you can check out some of Moneywise’s tips. Best Picks for Gold IRAs to compare your options for free. Just 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 also rise, reflecting rising costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to increase, providing landlords with an income stream that adjusts for inflation.
Over the past five years, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller NSA U.S. National Housing Price Index has jumped more than 50%, reflecting strong demand and limited supply of housing (6).
Of course, high housing prices can make buying a home more difficult, especially if mortgage rates remain high. And being a landlord isn’t exactly a hands-on job. Tenant management, maintenance, and repairs can quickly eat up your time (and revenue).
The good news? You don’t need to buy property outright – or deal with leaky faucets – to invest in real estate today.
Shared accommodation gives qualified investors access to billions of locked-in equity located in owner-occupied homes.
The result is exposure to a large, under-exploited market in major U.S. cities, without the headaches of homeownership or the risk of being over-leveraged.
HEAs have built-in protection: They typically cover 25-35% of a home’s value in a lien-secured position, helping protect your investment in the event of a market decline. And unlike traditional real estate, HEAs are generally resilient to changes in interest rates, providing attractive, risk-adjusted returns even during times of economic uncertainty.
The process is simple: browse a selection of homes that have been reviewed for appreciation and income potential. Once you’ve found a property you like, select the number of shares you want to purchase, then sit back while you start receiving positive rental income distributions of your investment.
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Business Insider (1); Costco (2); Entrepreneur (3); CNBC (4); GoldPrice.org (5); Global S&P (6)
This article provides information only and should not be considered advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
