Costco adds water option to its $1.50 hot dog combo

Costco is giving customers a new choice at the food court: water instead of soda with its $1.50 hot dog combo, a rare modification to a menu item whose price has not changed in 40 years, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

The change is notable for what it does not touch: the $1.50 price, held for four decades, remains intact. Customers can now choose between soda or water without paying more.

Costco's food court hot dog combo — a hot dog paired with a drink for $1.50 — has long been a retail landmark, largely because the price has held steady for four decades, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

The company is now making water available as an alternative to the traditional soda option in the combo. The hot dog itself is unchanged, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

The $1.50 price point has survived successive rounds of inflation and rising food costs that have driven prices higher across the fast-food industry.

The addition of a water option addresses growing consumer preference for lower-calorie beverages. Costco made the change to provide a healthier drink choice while preserving the price structure that has defined the combo for 40 years, the outlet reported.

The change affects only the drink option in the combo. The $1.50 price, unchanged for 40 years, remains in place, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.