If you have a Costco membership and you're not carrying the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi, you're leaving money on the table every single time you fill up your tank. This card has quietly become one of the best category rewards cards available — not because it tries to do everything, but because the categories it rewards happen to be things most people spend a lot on every month.
Here's why I think this card deserves a permanent spot in most people's wallets.
5% Back on Costco Gas — Already the Cheapest Around
Let's start with the best feature. You earn 5% cash back on eligible gas purchases at Costco. That's the highest gas reward rate you're going to find on any card without an annual fee, and it's on top of the fact that Costco gas is already among the cheapest you'll find in most markets.
Think about what that combination means in practice. You're already saving money per gallon just by filling up at Costco. Then you're getting 5% back on every dollar you spend there. The savings stack in a way that no other gas station and card pairing can match. If you have a Costco nearby and you're filling up anywhere else without this card, you're genuinely paying more than you need to.
4% Back on All Other Gas and EV Charging
The 5% is Costco-specific, but the card doesn't stop there. Every other gas station and EV charging purchase earns 4% back. That's an exceptional rate for a card with no standalone annual fee, and it means you're covered when you're traveling, when the Costco gas line is too long, or when you drive an electric vehicle and need to charge on the road.
The EV charging inclusion is worth highlighting. As more people make the switch to electric, having a card that rewards charging at the same rate as gas is increasingly valuable. Most cards haven't caught up to this yet.
3% Back on Restaurants
Dining earns 3% back. That's a strong rate for restaurants — competitive with dedicated dining cards — and it stacks well with the rest of the card's benefits. If you're already using this card for gas, adding your restaurant spending on top of it makes the rewards accumulate faster without any extra effort.
2% Back at Costco and Costco.com
Purchases at Costco warehouses and Costco.com earn 2% back. That's straightforward and adds up quickly if you're a regular Costco shopper — which, if you have this card, you almost certainly are.
How This Card Pays for Your Membership
Here's the math that makes this card a genuinely easy decision for most Costco members. A standard Costco Gold Star membership costs $65 per year. The average American household spends somewhere in the range of $150–$200 per month on gas. At 4–5% cash back on that spending alone, you're earning $72–$120 per year just from gas rewards.
In other words, the card pays for your Costco membership from gas purchases alone for most households — before you've spent a dollar at a restaurant or inside the warehouse. Everything else is pure upside.
Stack It With the Executive Membership
If you want to take this further, pair the Costco Visa with a Costco Executive Membership. The Executive membership costs $130 per year — $65 more than the standard membership — and it gives you an additional 2% reward on eligible Costco and Costco.com purchases, capped at $1,250 per year.
That means your Costco and Costco.com purchases are now effectively earning 4% total — the card's 2% plus the Executive's 2% rebate. The Executive membership pays for itself if you spend about $3,250 per year at Costco, which for many households isn't a stretch at all.
Don't Overlook Costco Travel
One angle that doesn't get enough attention is Costco Travel. The card earns 3% back on Costco Travel bookings, and if you have an Executive Membership, that stacks to an effective 5% when you factor in the 2% Executive rebate.
But the rewards are almost secondary here — Costco Travel pricing is genuinely competitive. Their vacation packages, rental car rates, and hotel pricing regularly come in below what you'd find booking directly or through other travel sites. Getting 3–5% back on top of already good prices makes it a strong first place to check when you're planning a trip.
How It Fits Into a Card Stack
I wouldn't recommend using the Costco Visa for everything — it earns 1% on purchases outside its bonus categories, which isn't competitive enough to be your default card. But as part of a broader card stack it slots in perfectly.
Use it for gas (Costco and everywhere else), restaurants, and Costco purchases. Pair it with a flat 2% card like the Fidelity Rewards Visa for everything else. That combination covers most of your everyday spending at well above average reward rates without any real complexity.
The Costco Visa is one of those cards that earns its spot in your wallet quietly and consistently. You're not chasing rotating categories or remembering activation deadlines. You just use it where it makes sense, the rewards pile up, and at the end of the year your Costco membership has essentially paid for itself.
For anyone who shops at Costco regularly, this one is a no-brainer.
Disclosure: This article reflects the personal opinions of the author and is not financial advice. We may receive compensation if you apply for a card through links on our site. Credit card rewards, rates, and terms are subject to change. Always review the full terms and conditions before applying.