Costco Anywhere Visa Review: Gas, Travel, and Costco Cash Back Explained

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is designed for Costco members who want to earn cash back not only at Costco, but also on gas, restaurants, travel, and everyday purchases.

The card has no annual fee with a paid Costco membership, although an active Costco membership is required to apply.

Its strongest rewards are geared toward drivers and Costco shoppers, including up to 5% cash back on eligible gas purchases.

Quick Overview

The Costco Anywhere Visa currently earns:

• 5% cash back on gas at Costco
• 4% cash back on other eligible gas and EV charging
• 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel, including Costco Travel
• 2% cash back on other purchases at Costco and Costco.com
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

The 5% and 4% gas rewards apply to the first $7,000 in combined eligible gas and EV charging purchases each year. After reaching that limit, those purchases earn 1%.

The card also has no foreign transaction fees.

Strong Rewards for Gas Purchases

Gas is one of the biggest reasons to consider the Costco Anywhere Visa.

Cardholders earn 5% cash back on gas purchased at Costco warehouse locations worldwide.

Other eligible gas station purchases and EV charging earn 4% cash back.

The two categories share a combined annual spending limit of $7,000. Once that threshold is reached, additional eligible gas and EV charging purchases generally earn 1% for the remainder of the year.

For someone who drives frequently and already buys fuel at Costco, this can be one of the card’s most valuable features.

Certain gas purchases do not qualify for the higher rate, including fuel purchased at some superstores, supermarkets, and warehouse clubs other than Costco.

3% Back on Restaurants and Travel

The Costco Anywhere Visa is not limited to warehouse spending.

Cardholders also earn 3% cash back on eligible restaurant purchases worldwide, including many restaurants, cafes, bars, lounges, and fast-food locations.

Eligible travel purchases also earn 3%.

This can include airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruise lines, travel agencies, and purchases through Costco Travel.

There are some exclusions, so certain merchants may only earn the standard 1% rate depending on how the purchase is categorized.

2% Back at Costco

Most other purchases made at Costco and Costco.com earn 2% cash back.

That can be useful for members who regularly use Costco for groceries, electronics, household products, appliances, and other purchases.

However, it is worth noting that 2% is not necessarily the card’s strongest earning category.

The biggest rewards come from Costco gas, eligible fuel purchases, restaurants, and travel.

How Costco Cash Back Is Redeemed

One important difference between this card and many traditional cash-back cards is how rewards are distributed.

Rather than allowing cardholders to redeem cash back whenever they want, Citi generally provides Costco rewards through an annual credit card reward certificate.

The certificate is issued with the February billing statement for eligible cardholders who maintain an active account and Costco membership.

It can then be redeemed for cash or merchandise at eligible U.S. Costco warehouse locations.

For people who prefer instant or monthly reward redemptions, this annual system may feel less flexible than other cash-back cards.

No Annual Fee, but Costco Membership Is Required

The Costco Anywhere Visa has no separate annual credit card fee with a paid Costco membership.

However, an active Costco membership is required to apply for and maintain the card.

That distinction matters.

Someone who already shops at Costco may not view the membership as an additional card-related expense. But someone considering joining Costco solely to obtain the credit card should factor the cost of membership into the overall value.

Who Is the Costco Anywhere Visa Best For?

The Costco Anywhere Visa may be a strong option for existing Costco members who spend heavily on gas, restaurants, travel, and Costco purchases.

Drivers can benefit especially from the 5% Costco gas rate and 4% rate on other eligible gas and EV charging.

It may be less appealing to people who rarely shop at Costco or who prefer a simple flat-rate cash-back card with more flexible reward redemptions.

Final Thoughts

The Costco Anywhere Visa offers a strong rewards structure for the right type of consumer.

Its combination of 5% on Costco gas, 4% on other eligible gas and EV charging, 3% on restaurants and travel, and 2% at Costco can make it particularly useful for loyal Costco members.

The main limitations are the Costco membership requirement and the annual reward certificate redemption system.

If you are considering the Costco Anywhere Visa, review the latest rewards, rates, eligibility requirements, and terms directly on Citi’s official website before applying.

Credit card rewards, fees, eligibility requirements, and terms may change. An active Costco membership is required. Always review the latest information provided by Citi before applying.