The best credit card for groceries in Canada for most households is the Scotiabank Gold American Express. It earns 5x Scene+ points at most grocery stores and 6x at Sobeys, Safeway and FreshCo, worth about $420 a year after its fee on $900 a month of groceries. Loblaw stores and Costco don’t take Amex, so keep a Mastercard too. This shortlist ranks the best grocery credit cards by what they leave you with after fees.
Key takeaways
- Where you shop decides the best card. Amex cards pay the most at supermarkets that take them. Loblaw stores and Costco don’t accept Amex, so most families need a Mastercard or Visa as well.
- Scotiabank Gold Amex is our top pick. At 5x to 6x Scene+ points (100 points = $1 off travel or Cineplex movies), it leaves about $420 a year after its $120 fee on $900 a month of groceries.
- For Loblaws, No Frills and Superstore, look at Mastercard. The MBNA Rewards World Elite suits bigger budgets, and the no-fee PC Financial World Elite earns about 3% in PC Optimum points.
- Grocery bonuses follow the store’s category code, not your cart. Walmart and Costco usually don’t count as grocery stores, so a grocery card often earns only its base rate there.
- Two cards beat one for most families. An Amex for supermarkets plus a Mastercard for Loblaw stores and Costco covers almost every grocery trip at a high rate.
Is a card’s annual fee worth it on your grocery bill?
Try the annual fee calculator →What a grocery credit card actually is (and what it is not)
A grocery credit card pays a higher reward rate, often 3% to 6% in cash or points, on purchases at stores that count as grocery stores. Everything else usually earns a much lower base rate, around 0.5% to 1%.
What counts as a grocery store isn’t decided by what’s in your cart. It’s decided by the store’s merchant category code. The grocery code is MCC 5411, which Visa describes as grocery stores selling a variety of food products and household items (Visa Acceptance). Card issuers build their grocery category on that code. CIBC, for example, counts merchants classified as grocery stores and supermarkets, and Amex limits its grocery bonuses to stand-alone grocery stores in Canada.
A grocery card is not a bonus on all food spending. Amex, for example, excludes superstores, wholesale clubs and general merchandise retailers from its SimplyCash grocery rate, so a 2% or 5% grocery card can earn just its base rate at Walmart or Costco. It’s also not a reason to carry a balance: at around 20% interest, a month of interest wipes out far more than a month of grocery rewards.
How common Canadian stores usually code
| Store type | Examples | Usual grocery treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Stand-alone supermarkets | Sobeys, Safeway, Metro, IGA, FreshCo | Grocery (MCC 5411) |
| Loblaw grocery banners | Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Zehrs | Grocery on Visa and Mastercard; Amex not accepted |
| Walmart Supercentres | Walmart | Usually not grocery; check your statement |
| Wholesale clubs | Costco | Warehouse club, not grocery; Costco Canada accepts Mastercard |
| Pharmacies and convenience stores | Shoppers Drug Mart, Circle K | Drugstore or convenience codes, not grocery on most cards |
Superstore-format stores, which sell groceries and general merchandise, are where coding is least predictable. Check your first statement after shopping somewhere new. For which networks each store takes, see which stores accept Amex in Canada.
How we ranked these grocery credit cards
We ranked each card on the money it leaves you with on grocery spending, using the same method as every guide on this site. Read the full methodology.
- Net grocery value after the annual fee at three budgets: $500, $900 and $1,300 a month. The ranking uses $900.
- Earn rate and cap on grocery purchases, and what happens once you pass the cap.
- Point value at the floor: Scene+ and Amex Membership Rewards at 1¢ each, MBNA points at 120 per $1 as cash (about 0.83¢), PC Optimum at $10 per 10,000 points. Travel upside is noted separately.
- Where it works: whether the card is accepted at Loblaw stores and Costco, and which stores code as grocery.
- Regular annual fee and income requirement: we use the ongoing fee, not first-year waivers.
We left out welcome bonuses because they change often and are paid only once. No issuer paid to be on this list.
The best grocery credit cards in Canada for 2026
Here’s the shortlist, ranked by net value on $900 a month of groceries. Amex cards only earn where Amex is accepted, so the best setup for most families pairs one of the top two with a Mastercard from further down the list. Net values assume regular fees and floor point values.
1. Scotiabank Gold American Express, best for Sobeys, Safeway and FreshCo
On $900 a month at 5x, it returns about $540 a year, or about $420 after the fee, and more if you shop at Sobeys-family stores. Scene+ points have a set value when you use them for travel, so there’s little to work out at redemption time. It also has no foreign transaction fee, while most cards charge 2.5%. The catch is the network: it won’t work at Loblaw stores or Costco.
Best suited for: Households who do most of their shopping at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Metro or IGA and want simple points. Pair it with a no-fee Mastercard for Loblaw stores and Costco.
Details: Scotiabank Gold American Express (official page)
2. American Express Cobalt, best for travel points
At the 1¢ floor, $900 a month earns about $540 a year, or $348 after the fee. Its real strength is flexibility: if you transfer points to Aeroplan and book flights at higher values, the return can be much bigger. If you’d only take statement credits, the Scotiabank Gold Amex leaves you with more.
Best suited for: Travellers who will transfer points to airlines and shop mostly at supermarkets that take Amex. Less suited to anyone who just wants cash value.
Details: American Express Cobalt (official page)
3. MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, best for Loblaw stores and bigger budgets
On $900 a month it returns about $450 in cash value, or $330 after the fee. The high cap means it keeps earning 5x on large grocery budgets where capped cards drop to 1%. It’s a Mastercard, so it works at Loblaws, No Frills and Superstore.
Best suited for: Families who shop at Loblaws, No Frills or Superstore and spend $600 or more a month on groceries. It also suits households that want one Mastercard for groceries, dining and bills.
Details: MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard (official page)
4. PC Financial World Elite Mastercard, best for Loblaw stores with no fee
With no fee, $900 a month at Loblaw stores is worth about $324 a year, more than several fee cards. At $500 a month it ties our top pick. The catch: points stay in PC Optimum, and the rate is much lower outside Loblaw stores and Shoppers. See what PC Optimum points are worth.
Best suited for: Shoppers who buy most of their groceries at Loblaw banners and Shoppers Drug Mart and meet the income requirement. Pair it with an Amex for other supermarkets.
Details: PC Financial World Elite Mastercard (official page)
5. CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite, best for groceries and gas on one card
On $900 a month it returns about $432, or $312 after the fee. It’s straight cash back with no points to manage. Heavy spenders on both groceries and gas can hit the shared $20,000 cap.
Best suited for: One-card households who want simple cash back on both groceries and gas. Not a fit if Costco, which takes Mastercard, is your main store.
Details: CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite (official page)
6. Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, best for a no-fee card that works almost everywhere
On $900 a month it returns about $216 a year with no fee. That’s lower than the fee cards above, but the income requirement is low and there’s no fee to earn back.
Best suited for: Anyone who wants a no-fee grocery card that works at any store that codes as grocery. A good backup Mastercard next to an Amex.
Details: Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card (official page)
7. SimplyCash Card from American Express, best for supermarkets with no fee
On $900 a month it returns about $216 a year, and 1.25% on everything else is a solid base rate for a no-fee card. You wait a year for the cash back, though.
Best suited for: No-fee shoppers at Sobeys, Metro or Safeway who want one card for groceries and everyday spending.
Details: SimplyCash Card from American Express (official page)
8. BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard, best for smaller grocery budgets
At $500 a month it earns $300 a year, or $161 after the fee, and the full $300 in year one while the fee is waived. Above $500 a month the extra spending earns only 1%, so at $900 it nets about $209.
Best suited for: Households spending around $500 a month on groceries, especially in the first year. Bigger budgets do better with the MBNA card.
Details: BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard (official page)
Side-by-side comparison
Our eight picks plus the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite, compared on the criteria we ranked them by: grocery earn rate, cap, network, regular fee and net value on $900 a month of groceries.
| Card | Grocery earn | Network | Annual fee | Grocery cap | Net at $900/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Gold Amex | 5x Scene+ (6x at Sobeys-family stores) | Amex | $120 | $50,000/yr across bonus categories | $420 |
| Amex Cobalt | 5x Membership Rewards | Amex | $191.88 | $2,500/month, shared with dining | $348 |
| MBNA Rewards World Elite | 5x MBNA points (about 4.2%) | Mastercard | $120 | $50,000/yr per category | $330 |
| PC Financial World Elite | 30 PC Optimum/$ at Loblaw (3%) | Mastercard | $0 | None listed | $324 (Loblaw stores) |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite | 4% cash back | Visa | $120 | $20,000/yr across bonus categories | $312 |
| Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite | 4% cash back | Visa | $120 | $25,000/yr, shared with bills | $312 |
| Tangerine Money-Back | 2% with Grocery chosen | Mastercard | $0 | None listed | $216 |
| SimplyCash from Amex | 2% at stand-alone grocers | Amex | $0 | $15,000/yr, then 1.25% | $216 |
| BMO CashBack World Elite | 5% cash back | Mastercard | $139 | $500 per statement, then 1% | $209 |
The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite matches the CIBC card on groceries and adds 4% on recurring bills. See our best cards for recurring bills.
Which grocery card fits how you shop
Match your main store to a primary card, and keep a backup that works where the primary doesn’t.
| Where you shop most | Best pick | Backup card | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo | Scotiabank Gold Amex (6x) | Tangerine or MBNA (Mastercard) | Top rate at Sobeys-family stores |
| Metro, IGA | Scotiabank Gold Amex or Amex Cobalt (5x) | MBNA Rewards World Elite | Both Amex cards earn 5x |
| Loblaws, No Frills, Superstore | MBNA (bigger budgets) or PC Financial (no fee) | BMO CashBack World Elite | Amex not accepted |
| Costco | CIBC Costco Mastercard | Any Mastercard | Costco takes Mastercard and isn’t coded as grocery |
| Walmart | Walmart Rewards Mastercard (3%) | A flat-rate card | Rarely coded as grocery |
| Want no annual fee | PC Financial (Loblaw) or SimplyCash (Amex stores) | Tangerine Money-Back | Best no-fee returns |
| Collect travel points | Amex Cobalt | MBNA Rewards World Elite | Airline transfers and higher upside |
Shopping at Walmart or Costco
At Walmart and Costco, grocery bonuses mostly don’t apply. Amex excludes general merchandise retailers and wholesale clubs from its grocery rates. The Walmart Rewards Mastercard pays 3% in Walmart Reward Dollars at Walmart, in store and online, and 1% elsewhere, with no annual fee.
Costco Canada’s help centre says its warehouses accept Mastercard. The CIBC Costco Mastercard earns 1% in the warehouse, 2% on costco.ca and 3% on Costco gas and restaurants, with no fee beyond your Costco membership. If you’re an Executive member, Costco’s own reward of about 2% on most merchandise applies separately, up to $1,250 a year, but not on gas.
What results look like: three households
Here’s what each card leaves you with each year on grocery spending alone, after its regular annual fee, at our three budgets. Amex cards assume you shop where Amex is accepted.
| Card | $500 a month | $900 a month | $1,300 a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Gold Amex | $180 | $420 | $660 |
| Amex Cobalt | $108 | $348 | $588 |
| MBNA Rewards World Elite | $130 | $330 | $530 |
| PC Financial World Elite (Loblaw stores) | $180 | $324 | $468 |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite | $120 | $312 | $504 |
| Tangerine Money-Back | $120 | $216 | $312 |
| SimplyCash from Amex | $120 | $216 | $308 |
| BMO CashBack World Elite | $161 | $209 | $257 |
Two things stand out. At smaller budgets, a no-fee card like the PC Financial World Elite matches or beats the fee cards. And capped cards like the BMO CashBack World Elite fall behind as spending grows, while high-cap cards keep earning their full rate. Try your own numbers in our cash back calculator.
Ways to earn more on groceries
- Use two cards by store. An Amex for supermarkets that take it, and a Mastercard for Loblaw stores and Costco.
- Watch your caps. Cobalt’s $2,500 a month covers groceries, dining and delivery together, and BMO’s 5% stops at $500 per statement. Move spending past a cap to your second card.
- Be careful with gift cards. Some issuers exclude gift card purchases from bonus rates, so check your card’s terms, and only buy what you’ll spend.
- Collect store points too. Scan PC Optimum at Loblaw stores and Shoppers, or Scene+ at Sobeys-family stores, on top of your credit card rewards. See our rewards programs guide.
- Check your first statement at a new store to confirm it earned the grocery rate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best credit card for groceries in Canada?
For most households, the Scotiabank Gold American Express: 5x to 6x Scene+ points, worth about $420 a year after its fee on $900 a month. Because Loblaw stores and Costco don’t take Amex, pair it with a Mastercard.
What is the best credit card for Loblaws and No Frills?
Loblaw stores don’t accept Amex. The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard (5x, up to $50,000 a year) suits bigger budgets, and the no-fee PC Financial World Elite earns about 3% in PC Optimum points.
What is the best no-fee credit card for groceries?
The PC Financial World Elite if you shop at Loblaw stores, the SimplyCash Card from Amex at supermarkets that take Amex, and the Tangerine Money-Back card if you want a no-fee Mastercard that works almost everywhere.
How do I know if a store counts as a grocery store for my card?
It depends on the store’s merchant category code, not what you buy. The easiest check is your statement or card app after your first purchase there.
Does Walmart count as a grocery store for credit cards?
Usually not. Amex excludes general merchandise retailers from its grocery rates. The Walmart Rewards Mastercard pays 3% at Walmart no matter how the purchase is coded.
What credit cards does Costco accept?
Costco Canada says its warehouses accept Mastercard. Costco codes as a warehouse club, so most grocery bonuses don’t apply there.
Is cash back or travel points better for groceries?
If you won’t book travel with points, cash back or fixed-value points like Scene+ give a predictable 4% to 6%. Amex Membership Rewards can be worth more if you transfer them to airlines.
See what a grocery card is worth for you
Our rankings use example budgets, but your own grocery bill decides the best card. Start with how much you really spend each month and where you shop. Then check whether a card’s annual fee pays off at that spending. If you’re weighing a points card, work out what its points are worth on a redemption you’d actually make. And before you shop with a new Amex, make sure your stores take it. Run your numbers in our annual fee calculator, check point values with the cents per point calculator, and see which stores accept Amex.
Does the annual fee pay off on your grocery bill?
Run your numbers →Related reading
- All credit card reviews: reviews and best-card shortlists
- Simplii credit card review: no-fee cash back
- Best no-fee credit cards: the shortlist
- Best cards for gas and EV charging
- Cash back vs. travel points: which type fits you
- PC Optimum points value: calculator by store and card
- How to redeem PC Optimum points: get the most from your points
- Best credit cards for dining: restaurants and food delivery
- Blue Rewards (formerly Air Miles): what your points are worth, with a calculator
- Scene+ points value: what your points are worth, with a calculator
- CIBC Costco Mastercard review: 3% at restaurants and Costco gas, no fee
- Best rewards credit cards: all-round picks beyond groceries
- Scotia Momentum rent and tax change: rent and tax now earn 1%
- Does Costco take Visa or Amex?: and the best card for Costco
How we checked: Every earn rate, cap, fee and income requirement comes from the issuer’s own card page or benefits terms, checked in October 2026. Net values are our own math using the floor point values in our method. Store acceptance comes from our store-by-store Amex check and Costco’s help centre. Where we couldn’t confirm something on an official site, we left it out. Rates change, so check the issuer’s page before you apply. This list is general information, not financial advice. Sources: Scotiabank Gold Amex; Scene+ redemption; Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite; Amex Cobalt benefits; Amex SimplyCash benefits; MBNA Rewards World Elite; PC Financial World Elite; CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite; Tangerine Money-Back; BMO CashBack World Elite; CIBC Costco Mastercard; Walmart Rewards Mastercard; Costco membership terms; Visa Acceptance: MCC 5411. Last checked October 2026.
7 thoughts on “Best Credit Cards for Groceries in Canada (2026): The Shortlist”
Comments are closed.