No. Costco warehouses in Canada don’t take Visa or American Express credit cards. In the warehouse you can pay with Mastercard, debit, cash, a Costco Shop Card, a personal cheque or Apple Pay. Costco.ca does take Visa, but Costco gas stations take only Mastercard, debit and the physical Shop Card. Amex isn’t accepted anywhere at Costco Canada. Here’s where each card works and which Mastercard earns the most at Costco.
Which cards Costco takes
| Where you pay | Accepted | Not accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Costco warehouses in Canada | Mastercard, debit, cash, Costco Shop Card, personal cheque, Apple Pay | Visa, Amex |
| Costco gas stations in Canada | Mastercard credit and debit, debit cards, physical Costco Shop Card | Visa, Amex, cash, digital Shop Cards |
| Costco.ca | Mastercard, Visa, most PIN-based debit cards, Costco Shop Card | Amex |
| Costco warehouses and gas in the U.S. | Visa, the CIBC Costco Mastercard, debit, Costco Shop Card | Other Canadian Mastercards, Amex |
Costco’s Canadian co-branded card is the CIBC Costco Mastercard, which is only for Costco members. Any Mastercard credit card works in Canadian warehouses, though, not just that one.
For American Express, see which stores accept Amex in Canada.
The best Mastercard for Costco
Many cards don’t treat Costco as a grocery store, so their grocery rate often won’t apply in the warehouse. A flat-rate card that pays the same everywhere tends to win. Here’s what each card earns at Costco:
| Card | In the warehouse | Costco.ca | Costco gas | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIBC Costco Mastercard | 1% | 2% | 3% | $0 |
| Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard | 2% with a Rogers service, 1.5% without | 2% or 1.5% | 2% or 1.5% | $0 |
| Rogers Red Mastercard | 2% with a Rogers service, 1% without | 2% or 1% | 2% or 1% | $0 |
| Brim World Elite Mastercard | 1% | 1% | 1% | $89 |
| PC Mastercard | 1% (10 PC Optimum points per $1) | 1% | 1% | $0 |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | 0.5% (wholesale clubs may not count as Grocery) | Same | Same | $0 |
Rogers Red World Elite. With a Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave service, it earns 2% on everything up to $61,000 a year, then 1.5%. Without one, it earns 1.5%. It has no annual fee but needs $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income. The Rogers Red Mastercard, which lists no income minimum, also earns 2% with a Rogers service, but only on the first $16,000 a year. See our Rogers credit card review, including the changes starting November 18, 2026.
CIBC Costco Mastercard. It earns 3% at restaurants and Costco gas, 2% at other gas stations, EV charging and Costco.ca, and 1% on everything else, including in the warehouse. There’s no annual fee and no cap. The income minimum is $15,000, and you need a Costco membership to apply.
Others. The Brim World Elite and the PC Mastercard pay 1% at Costco, the same as the CIBC card in the warehouse. The Tangerine Money-Back card pays 0.5% unless the purchase falls into one of the 2% categories you pick. Its terms say purchases at wholesale clubs may not count, so expect 0.5% in the Costco warehouse.
Calculator: best card for your Costco spending
Best card for your Costco spendingEnter what you spend at Costco in a month. See what each Mastercard earns you in a year, and whether an Executive Membership pays off.
Your monthly Costco spending
Best single card
Cash back a year
after any annual fee
Executive Membership
Each card on your Costco spending
| Card | Cash back a year | Annual fee | After fee |
|---|
Using two cards at Costco
Because the CIBC card pays 3% at Costco gas but only 1% in the warehouse, some people use two cards. Say you spend $600 a month in the warehouse, $100 on Costco.ca and $150 at Costco gas, and you have a Rogers service:
| Setup | Cash back a year |
|---|---|
| CIBC Costco Mastercard for everything | $150 |
| Rogers Red World Elite for everything | $204 |
| Rogers Red World Elite in the warehouse and online, CIBC at the pump | $222 |
The two-card setup earns about $18 more a year than the Rogers card alone. Whether that’s worth carrying a second card is up to you.
How the Executive Membership 2% Reward works
Costco’s Executive Membership costs $130 a year plus tax, compared with $65 for Gold Star. It pays an annual reward of about 2% of your pre-tax purchases of most items in Canadian and U.S. warehouses, on Costco.ca and through Costco Travel, up to $1,250 a year.
- It stacks with your credit card. The reward comes from Costco, so you still earn your card’s cash back on the same purchases.
- Some purchases don’t count, including gas, the food court, pharmacy, tobacco, services, taxes and fees.
- You get a reward coupon to spend on most items in Canadian warehouses. It can’t be redeemed for cash, at gas stations or on Costco.ca.
- It pays for itself once you spend about $3,250 a year on purchases that count, since 2% of $3,250 is the extra $65.
How the CIBC Costco cash back is paid
CIBC pays your CIBC Costco Mastercard cash back once a year, as a gift certificate. It arrives with your January statement and covers the year before. You use it at a Canadian Costco warehouse, and it doesn’t expire. Your account needs to be in good standing on December 31 to get it.
The card also includes 90 days of purchase security, an extended warranty that doubles the manufacturer’s warranty by up to one extra year, and mobile device insurance up to $1,000, all with conditions in the certificate of insurance. That’s handy for electronics and appliances bought at Costco.
Shopping at Costco in the U.S.
Costco’s U.S. warehouses and gas stations take Visa and Costco co-branded cards, including the CIBC Costco Mastercard. They don’t list other Mastercards, so a Rogers or PC Mastercard may not work there. Bring a Visa or the CIBC Costco card, and check the card’s foreign transaction fee before you pay in U.S. dollars.
Frequently asked questions
Does Costco take Visa in Canada?
Not in the warehouse or at the gas station. Costco Canada warehouses take Mastercard, debit, cash, Costco Shop Cards, personal cheques and Apple Pay. Costco.ca does accept Visa.
Does Costco take Amex in Canada?
No. American Express isn’t accepted in Costco Canada warehouses, at Costco gas stations or on Costco.ca.
Does Costco take Visa debit?
Costco Canada warehouses accept debit cards, and Costco.ca accepts most PIN-based debit cards. Costco doesn’t list Visa Debit separately, so check with your warehouse.
Do I need the CIBC Costco Mastercard to shop at Costco?
No. Any Mastercard credit card works in Canadian warehouses. You also need a Costco membership to shop there and to apply for the CIBC card.
What is the best credit card for Costco?
If you have a Rogers, Fido, Shaw or Comwave service, the Rogers Red World Elite earns 2% back at Costco with no annual fee. For Costco gas, the CIBC Costco Mastercard earns 3%.
Does Costco count as a grocery store for credit card rewards?
Often not. Costco is usually classed as a warehouse club, and many cards’ grocery rates don’t include warehouse clubs. A flat-rate card that pays the same everywhere is usually the better choice.
Can I use a Canadian credit card at Costco in the U.S.?
U.S. Costco warehouses accept Visa and Costco co-branded cards, including the CIBC Costco Mastercard. Other Canadian Mastercards aren’t listed.
Is the Costco Executive Membership worth it?
It costs $65 more than Gold Star and pays about 2% back on most warehouse and Costco.ca purchases, up to $1,250 a year. It pays for itself once you spend about $3,250 a year.
Related reading
- Which stores accept Amex in Canada?: grocery stores, Costco, Walmart and more
- Rogers credit card review: Red, World Elite and Legend compared
- Best credit cards for groceries: our shortlist
- Merchant category codes: why Costco often isn’t “grocery”
- Cash back calculator: compare two cards on all your spending
- CIBC Costco Mastercard review: 3% at restaurants and Costco gas, no fee
- Best rewards credit cards: our top picks across every category
- Where can you use your credit card?: stores, bonus rates, bills and travel
How we checked: Where each card is accepted comes from Costco Canada’s customer service pages for warehouses, gas stations, Costco.ca and U.S. warehouses. Membership fees and the Executive 2% Reward rules come from Costco’s Membership Conditions and Regulations. CIBC Costco Mastercard earn rates, income, payout and insurance come from CIBC’s card page, gift certificate page and certificate of insurance. Rogers earn rates, caps and income come from Rogers Bank’s card pages and change notices. Brim, PC Financial and Tangerine rates come from each issuer’s card pages. We couldn’t confirm how every issuer classifies Costco, so check your statement. The calculator counts only Costco spending. This page is general information, not financial advice. Sources: Costco Canada: payment methods; Costco: gas station payments; Costco: Mastercard at warehouses; Costco: U.S. warehouse payments; Costco Membership Conditions and Regulations; CIBC Costco Mastercard; CIBC Costco cash back gift certificate; CIBC Costco certificate of insurance (PDF); Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard; Rogers Red Mastercard; Rogers Red World Elite change notice (PDF); Brim credit cards; PC Financial credit cards; Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card. Last checked October 2026.