Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi: Rewards, Fees, APR Review

If you already shop at Costco, the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi can quietly become one of the better cash back cards in your wallet. It pays well on gas, dining, and travel, charges no annual fee on the card itself, and skips foreign transaction fees. The catch is that you need a paid Costco membership to get it, and your cash back arrives once a year instead of every month. For a deeper walkthrough of the card's terms, see our full Costco Anywhere Visa card by Citi guide.

Here is exactly how the rewards, fees, and APR work as of June 2026, plus who this card fits and who should look elsewhere.

Key facts at a glance

Figures are current as of June 2026. Terms and conditions apply, and APRs vary by creditworthiness.

How the rewards work

The headline rate is 4% cash back on eligible gas and electric vehicle charging, including gas bought at Costco. That 4% applies to the first $7,000 you spend on gas each year. After you cross that cap, the rate drops to 1% for the rest of the year, then resets.

The rest of the structure is simple. You earn 3% on restaurants and eligible travel, which is a strong rate for a no-annual-fee card. You earn 2% on purchases at Costco and Costco.com, and 1% on everything else. For a household that fills up often and eats out, the gas and dining rates can add up quickly. If you also hold a premium travel card, our Costco Citi card vs Chase Sapphire comparison shows where each one wins.

The membership requirement

This is the part people miss. The card has no annual fee, but you cannot get or keep it without an active Costco membership. A standard Gold Star membership starts at $65 per year, and the Executive tier runs higher but adds an annual 2% reward on Costco purchases.

So while the card is technically free, your real cost of entry is the membership. If you already pay for Costco, that cost is already covered. If you do not shop there, the math rarely works.

How you actually get paid

Cash back on this card does not hit your statement each month. Instead, Citi tallies your rewards over the year and sends a single reward certificate after your February statement closes. You then redeem that certificate for cash or merchandise at a U.S. Costco warehouse.

That once-a-year payout is the biggest drawback for some people. If you want flexible monthly cash back you can use anywhere, a flat-rate card may suit you better. If you visit Costco regularly anyway, redeeming the certificate is easy.

Who this card fits

This card fits people who already hold a Costco membership and spend meaningfully on gas, dining, and travel. The 4% gas rate and 3% dining rate are competitive, and skipping foreign transaction fees is a nice bonus for travelers. Because interest can erase those rewards, it helps to understand how APR works before you carry any balance.

It is a weaker pick if you do not shop at Costco, want monthly rewards, or are still building credit. Approval generally favors applicants with good to excellent credit, so this is not a starter card. If you are still rebuilding, a secured credit card is usually a better first step.

If you want premium-card rewards without a warehouse membership or an Amex-sized annual fee, the Robinhood Gold Card earns 3% unlimited cash back on every purchase with no foreign transaction fees. That flat 3% beats this card's 1% base rate everywhere outside its bonus categories, and the cash back is yours monthly rather than once a year. It is available to Robinhood Gold members, so you open it through your Robinhood brokerage account. Terms and conditions apply, and APRs vary by creditworthiness.

Honest alternatives

For flexible cash back without a warehouse membership, a flat-rate 1.5% or 2% card may give you simpler monthly rewards you can spend anywhere. Compare a few before deciding.

Don't yet have the credit for a card like this? The Aspire Mastercard has higher approval odds, no security deposit, and reports to all three bureaus, so you build the 12-month history these cards want. Terms and conditions apply, and APRs vary by creditworthiness.

Want to keep your score in approval range for cards like this? Creditship is a free credit monitor that tracks all three bureaus and gives concrete steps to lift your score. Once your credit is strong, a rewards card like this one becomes a realistic next step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Costco membership to get the Costco Anywhere Visa?

Yes. An active Costco membership is required to apply for and keep the card. If your membership lapses, you may lose access to the card, so the membership cost is effectively part of owning it.

When do I get my cash back?

Cash back is issued once a year as a reward certificate after your February statement closes. You redeem it for cash or merchandise at a U.S. Costco warehouse, not as a monthly statement credit.

Is there a foreign transaction fee?

No. The Costco Anywhere Visa charges no foreign transaction fee, which can make it useful for travel abroad. You typically still want to pay the balance in full to avoid interest.

What credit score do I need to qualify?

Approval generally favors applicants with good to excellent credit. Citi reports to the major bureaus, and exact requirements are not published, so applicants with limited or rebuilding credit may want to start elsewhere first. Terms and conditions apply, and APRs vary by creditworthiness.