Bilt Palladium vs Citi Strata Elite℠
Side-by-side comparison
| Bilt Palladium | Citi Strata Elite℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $495 | $595 |
| Welcome offer | 50,000 points + Gold Status + $300 Bilt Cash after $4,000 in 90 days | 100,000 ThankYou® Points |
| Dining | 2x | 3x |
| Groceries | 2x | 1x |
| Gas | 2x | 1x |
| Travel | 2x | 12x |
| Streaming | 2x | 1x |
| Everything else | 2x | 1.5x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $583 | $628 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Bilt Palladium earns about $583 a year in rewards and the Citi Strata Elite℠ about $628, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Bilt Palladium charges $495, but carries about $600 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Citi Strata Elite℠ charges $595, but carries about $735 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The two are close on value, but the Citi Strata Elite℠ edges ahead by about $12 a year, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on travel and dining. Both earn transferable points rather than flat cash, so the deciding factor is whose transfer partners reach the airlines and hotels you would actually book. On the sign-up bonus, the Citi Strata Elite℠ currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Bilt Palladium if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, streaming. Pick the Citi Strata Elite℠ if your spending leans toward dining, travel.