Citi Strata Premier℠ vs Costco Anywhere Visa®
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi Strata Premier℠ | Costco Anywhere Visa® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $65 |
| Welcome offer | 60,000 ThankYou® Points | No current offer |
| Dining | 3x | 3x |
| Groceries | 3x | 1x |
| Gas | 3x | 4x |
| Travel | 3x | 3x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $551 | $452 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Cash back only |
| Network | Mastercard | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Citi Strata Premier℠ | Costco Anywhere Visa® |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 60,000 ThankYou® Points | None |
| To earn it | $4,000 in 3 months | No minimum spend |
| Est. first-year value* | $1,056 | $387 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $456 | $387 |
The Citi Strata Premier℠ wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Citi Strata Premier℠ | Costco Anywhere Visa® |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | None | None |
| Points & redemptions | Transferable to airline & hotel partners | Cash back only |
On perks and redemptions, the Citi Strata Premier℠ earns transferable points with a higher redemption ceiling, while the other is capped nearer a flat cent. Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Only the Citi Strata Premier℠ earns transferable points. Its Citi ThankYou move to American Airlines, Turkish, Avianca, and Air France-KLM, where a point can be worth several cents on a premium-cabin redemption, far above its cash value. The Costco Anywhere Visa® pays flat cash back, worth about a cent, so its ceiling is nearer a penny per point no matter how you redeem.
Both have strong gas and dining earning, but one pays transferable travel points and the other pays cash to Costco members.
The Strata Premier’s 3x spans six everyday and travel categories and its ThankYou points can beat cash through airline transfers. The Costco card’s 4% gas is elite and it doubles as your membership card, but rewards come as an annual Costco certificate. Points-for-travel vs cash-at-Costco.
Pros and cons
- 3x on air, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas, and EV charging
- Transferable ThankYou points to airlines
- No membership required, works everywhere
- A strong welcome bonus
- $95 fee vs the Costco card’s $65
- 3x gas trails the Costco card’s 4%
- Points need transfers for top value
- 4% cash on gas (up to $7,000/yr), best in class
- 3% dining and travel, 2% at Costco
- Doubles as your membership card
- Simple cash back
- Requires a Costco membership
- Annual certificate payout
- 1% on groceries and general spend
- No transfer/travel upside
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | Costco | 4% cash vs the Premier’s 3x. |
| Supermarkets | Strata Premier | 3x vs the Costco card’s 1%. |
| Travel value | Strata Premier | Transferable points can beat cash. |
| Annual fee | Costco | $65 vs $95. |
| Membership | Strata Premier | None required; Costco needs one. |
The verdict
If you want travel value or don’t shop at Costco, the Strata Premier is the better card, its 3x covers supermarkets, dining, gas, and travel, and its points transfer for more than a cent each, no membership required. For a traveler, it delivers more usable value.
If you’re a Costco member who wants cash, the Costco card’s elite 4% gas and membership-card convenience are hard to beat at $65, just accept the annual certificate. Many Costco members hold both: the Costco card for gas and warehouse trips, the Strata Premier for supermarkets, dining, and travel points.