Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi Review: Generous Cash Back Inside and Outside of Costco

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MoneyGeek’s Take

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi provides consistent cash back to Costco loyalists, but its highest rewards can be found outside of the wholesale club — on gas, travel and dining. It doesn’t charge an annual fee but requires a Costco membership. Also, its reward redemption is less flexible compared to other cards. Nonetheless, if you’re already a Costco member and regularly shop there, this card is an excellent addition to your wallet.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Credit Card logo for Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
MoneyGeek Rating
3.8/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Rewards Summary
Earn 1%–4% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
19.99% - 27.99% variable
Recommended Credit
740-850 (Excellent)

Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi Card Overview

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi caters to Costco members who want to maximize the cash back they get from their everyday purchases. Your Costco and Costco.com purchases earn unlimited 2% cash back, but true to its name, you can use the card anywhere. It offers 4% cash back on gas and EV charging (up to $7,000 annually) and unlimited 3% on travel and dining. All other purchases earn 1%.

This card doesn’t require an annual fee, but you do need a Costco membership — the cheapest is $60 per year. Unlike other cash back cards, the Costco Anywhere lacks a 0% intro APR period and welcome bonus. Its rewards can only be redeemed once a year and require you to go to a Costco store.

If you already pay for a Costco membership and frequently go there, it’s hard to find a card that can match the cash back you get from this card. However, if Costco is not part of your routine, consider other cards to find one that better fits your lifestyle.

>>MORE: MoneyGeek's Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi Card Details
Features
Details

Card Uses

  • Cash Back
  • Travel

Annual Fee

$0, but requires a Costco membership. Costco's Everyday Value membership level costs $60 per year.

Introductory Offer

None

Introductory APRs

None

Rewards

  • 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year, then 1% after that
  • 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
  • 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases

Regular APRs

20.49% variable

Penalty APR

None

Balance Transfer Fees

None

Late Fees

None

Foreign Transaction Fee

None

Other Perks

  • Comes with damage and theft purchase protection
  • Access to Citi Entertainment

Rewards Program Overview

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi caters to Costco members who are looking to maximize their cash back on everyday spending. As its name suggests, you can use this card anywhere, as it rewards your Costco purchases and your regular spending outside of the superstore.

The card rewards users with an impressive 4% cash back on gas and EV charging purchases (up to $7,000 annually). Dining and travel expenses earn unlimited 3% back, while purchases at Costco and Costco.com earn 2%. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

However, redeeming rewards with Costco Anywhere is somewhat restrictive. Cardholders receive their cash back annually as a credit card reward certificate after their February billing statement closes. These certificates can be redeemed for merchandise or cash at any U.S. Costco warehouse, including Puerto Rico, but they must be used in a single transaction by December 31 of the year they are issued.

How Much Cash Back Could I Earn?

Costco Anywhere Cash Back Estimator

Estimate the value of the cash back rewards you could earn with the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi. Enter your estimated spending in each category to see how much cash back you can earn annually.

Important Disclaimers:

  • This calculator is for planning and evaluation purposes and not sponsored or endorsed by Citi.
  • Some of your purchases may not be eligible for earning points.
  • The value of points at redemption will vary.
1

How much do you spend on gas and EV charging per MONTH? (4% cash back up to $7,000 annually)

$
2

How much do you spend on gas and EV charging per MONTH beyond $7,000 annually? (1% cash back)

$
3

How much do you spend on dining per MONTH? (3% cash back)

$
4

How much do you spend on eligible travel expenses per YEAR? (3% cash back)

$
5

How much do you spend at Costco and Costco.com per MONTH? (2% cash back)

$
6

How much do you spend on other purchases per MONTH? (1% cash back)

$
Total Cash Back Earned:$0

Why You Might Want This Card

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi offers high cash back on categories that make up most of your everyday spending. Here's why it might be a smart choice for your wallet:

High Cash Back on Gas: The 4% cash back on gas and EV charging for the first $7,000 a year can lead to substantial savings. If you maximize the spending limit, that could mean $280 cash back per year.

It isn’t easy to find a card that can match this rate, with most gas cards offering 3% cash back. You can find cards that offer 5% cash back on fuel, but they come with quirks and aren’t as simple as what you get with the Costco Anywhere.

Rewards on Travel and Dining: Travel enthusiasts and foodies will appreciate the 3% cash back on travel and dining expenses. This cash back rate equals what you can get from travel cards that charge hundreds of dollars per year.

Cash Back on Costco Purchases: You earn 2% cash back on all purchases from Costco and Costco.com. Although you can find cards offering higher than 2% cash back on supermarket purchases, most exclude big-box stores like Costco. The unlimited 2% you get on Costco and Costco.com purchases exceeds the usual 1.5% cash back from flat-rate cards.

Why You Might Want a Different Card

While the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi has its perks, a few considerations might lead you to look elsewhere.

Costco Membership Required: Although Costco Anywhere has no annual fee, an active Costco membership is required. The cheapest is $60 per year. This requirement could be a deal-breaker for those who don’t want to pay a fee for their card. If you’re looking for cash back on groceries and want a no-annual-fee card (see Rates and Fees) the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express may be an alternative.

Limited Reward Redemption: Rewards can only be redeemed once a year and require you to get it physically at a Costco store. Most cash back cards allow you to redeem as a statement credit or cash anytime and online. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers high cash back on grocery stores and dining while having user-friendly redemption options.

How the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi Compares

We compare the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi with similar cash back cards to help you determine whether it is the best card for your needs.

Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi vs. Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express

Blue Cash Everyday® is a no-annual-fee card that lets you earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail and U.S. gas stations. However, there’s a $6,000 per year spending limit for each category, then 1% and Costco is excluded from the card’s 3% rate. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Nonetheless, if you’re not a Costco member and want high rewards on groceries and fuel, the Blue Cash Everyday is a strong alternative.

Credit Card logo for Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
Rates & Fees

Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi vs. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards

With the Savor Cash Rewards, you earn unlimited at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services. Costco isn’t considered a “grocery store” for this card, and it doesn’t provide high cash back rates on gas. Still, if you spend heavily on food and entertainment and want a no-annual-fee card to earn rewards, consider the Savor.

Credit Card logo for Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ of 5
On Issuer's Site

Cards to Pair With the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi

You can maximize your rewards by finding a complementary card to pair with the cash back offered by the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, tailoring another card to the categories you spend the most in.

Citi Custom Cash®

Pairing the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi with a bonus cash back card like the Citi Custom Cash® Card can be a strategic move. The Citi Custom Cash® lets you earn 5% cash back on your top spending category each billing cycle (up to $500). With this, you can use the Costco Anywhere for your gas, travel, dining and Costco purchases, and the Citi Custom Cash® for categories that make up a big chunk of your budget, like home improvement, drugstores, streaming and more. Doing this ensures you get the best possible cash back on all purchases.

Credit Card logo for Citi Custom Cash® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
Rates & Fees

Is the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi Right for You?

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi is a prime pick for Costco members who often fuel up, dine out or travel out of town. If you're already paying for a Costco membership and your spending aligns with the card's higher cash back categories, this card can offer substantial savings without you feeling its drawbacks.

Most cash back cards exclude superstores in their grocery categories, so the card’s 2% cash back on Costco is already competitive. Moreover, its 4% cash back on gas (up to $7,000 per year) and unlimited 3% on dining and travel are hard to beat.

However, if you’re not yet a Costco member and want a more conventional cash back card, consider looking at other cards.

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If the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi does not fit the bill, visit our list of the best cash back credit cards to help you find a card that better fits your needs and lifestyle.

How We Evaluated the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi Card

Our evaluation of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi involved a comparative analysis of 60 credit cards. We focused on key features that align with consumer spending habits and cardholder satisfaction, applying the following weights to determine the card's overall score:

  • Effective Reward Rate: 50% (evaluated based on the effectiveness of the cash back rate)
  • Offer ROI: 10% (assessed by the return on investment from introductory offers)
  • Annual Fee: 10% (measured by the presence or absence of an annual fee)
  • Issuer Satisfaction: 5% (determined by customer satisfaction with the issuer)
  • Penalties: 5% (evaluated based on the cost of late payments and other penalties)
  • Intro Purchase APR: 5% (assessed by the benefits of the introductory purchase APR)
  • Recommended Credit: 5% (based on the credit score requirements for approval)
  • Regular APR: 5% (measured by the cost of carrying a balance)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 5% (evaluated based on charges for transactions made abroad)

We carefully considered these factors to ensure the card's features align with the needs of consumers seeking high rewards on dining, entertainment and groceries.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express, please click here.

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


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