The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi earns 4% back on gas, 3% on dining and travel, 2% at Costco, and 1% everywhere else — with no annual card fee beyond your Costco membership. It is one of the best gas rewards cards available in 2026 and a strong everyday card for Costco regulars. The main catch: rewards are paid once per year and can only be redeemed at Costco warehouses.
For a broader comparison, see Best Cash Back Credit Cards.
Costco Citi Card Earning Rates (2026)
| Spending Category | Cash Back Rate | Annual Cap | Max Annual Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas and EV charging | 4% | $7,000 in gas spend | $280 |
| Restaurants | 3% | None | Unlimited |
| Eligible travel | 3% | None | Unlimited |
| Costco and Costco.com | 2% | None | Unlimited |
| Everything else | 1% | None | Unlimited |
The 4% gas rate is limited to $7,000 in annual gas spending (~$135/week). Above that, the rate drops to 1%. Most households stay well within this cap.
Annual Earnings Estimate: A Typical Household
| Category | Annual Spend | Rate | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | $3,600 ($300/mo) | 4% | $144 |
| Dining | $4,800 ($400/mo) | 3% | $144 |
| Travel | $2,400 ($200/mo) | 3% | $72 |
| Costco purchases | $4,000 | 2% | $80 |
| Other | $6,000 | 1% | $60 |
| Total | $20,800 | — | $500 |
At $500 in annual rewards against a $65 Gold Star membership, this household earns back 7.7× the membership cost from card rewards alone. Even after the membership fee, net rewards are $435/year.
How Costco Citi Card Rewards Are Paid
This is the card’s most distinctive (and polarizing) feature:
- Accumulated all year: Rewards accumulate in your account throughout the year, but you cannot redeem them on demand
- Annual certificate in February: Your entire year’s earnings appear as a single reward certificate on your February statement
- In-warehouse redemption only: The certificate is redeemable for cash or merchandise at any US Costco warehouse — not online, not via statement credit
- Expires end of year: The certificate is valid through December 31 of the issuance year
Practical implication: If you need your cash back immediately, this card is not ideal. The once-per-year payout means your money is locked up with Costco until February.
Comparing the Costco Citi Card to Competitors
| Card | Gas Rate | Dining Rate | Grocery Rate | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costco Citi | 4% (cap $7K) | 3% | 2% (Costco only) | $0 ($65 membership) |
| Citi Custom Cash | 5% (cap $500/mo) | 1% | 1% | $0 |
| Blue Cash Preferred (Amex) | 3% | 0% | 6% (US supermarkets, $6K cap) | $95 |
| Capital One Savor | 3% | 4% | 3% | $95 |
| Discover it Chrome | 2% (cap $1K/qtr) | 2% (cap $1K/qtr) | 1% | $0 |
The 4% gas rate without a fee is the Costco card’s competitive advantage — no other no-fee card consistently beats it for gas rewards at this spending level.
Who Should Get the Costco Citi Card?
It’s a Strong Fit If:
- You are already a Costco member (membership is the only cost)
- You spend $200+/month on gas — the 4% rate is a top-tier gas reward
- You dine out regularly — 3% on restaurants is competitive with premium cards
- You are comfortable with annual reward certificate redemption and plan purchases at Costco anyway
Consider Alternatives If:
- You want cash back immediately or as a statement credit
- You shop primarily at traditional grocery stores (the 2% applies only at Costco)
- You want a sign-up bonus (this card has none)
- You are not a Costco member and do not intend to become one
Maximizing the Costco Citi Card
Pair With a No-Fee Grocery Card
Since the Costco card earns only 2% at Costco and 1% at traditional supermarkets, pair it with a card that earns 3–6% at regular grocery stores for non-Costco grocery shopping.
Use It for All Gas and EV Charging
The 4% rate applies at any gas station and EV charging network — not just Costco gas. Consolidate all gas purchases on this card to maximize the rate before hitting the $7,000 cap.
Plan Your February Redemption
Your annual certificate arrives in February — a strategic time to stock up on big-ticket items like appliances, tires, or travel. Treat the certificate as a budgeting tool and plan a major Costco purchase around it.
Executive Members: Stack the 2% + 2%
If you have an Executive membership ($130/year), Costco itself pays you 2% on Costco purchases annually. The Citi card adds another 2% on top. Combined: effective 4% back on Costco purchases — competitive with any dedicated Costco rewards program.
For more on Costco membership math, see Costco Membership Cost: Is It Worth It?.
Key Takeaways
- The Costco Citi card earns 4% on gas (cap $7,000/year), 3% on dining and travel, 2% at Costco, 1% elsewhere — no annual card fee beyond Costco membership
- Cash back is paid as a single annual certificate in February, redeemable only in-warehouse — the biggest practical downside
- A typical $20,000-spending household earns $400–$500/year, making it one of the strongest no-fee everyday cards for Costco members
- Executive members effectively earn 4% total on Costco purchases by stacking the membership reward and card reward
- For comparison to other top cards, see Best Credit Cards 2026
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