Is the The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card Worth the $450 Annual Fee?
Likely yes. On a typical budget the The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card earns about $544 a year in rewards, which already clears the $450 fee with $94 to spare, before counting the $400 in credits. Heavier spenders come out further ahead.
Every credit, broken down
The The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card offsets its fee with statement credits and benefits. Here is every one, with the most you can get from each per year. Remember that credits only count if you would have spent that money anyway, and some renew on a monthly or semi-annual schedule you have to use or lose.
| Credit or benefit | Up to |
|---|---|
| $300 annual travel credit | $300 |
| Free Night Award each anniversary (up to 85,000 pts) | varies |
| $100 Ritz-Carlton/St. Regis property credit on 2+ night stays | $100 |
| Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit | varies |
| Total stated value | $400 |
If you use all of it, that is $400 back against a $450 fee, leaving $50 of the fee for your rewards to make up.
What you earn on spending
Credits are only half the story; the card also earns rewards every time you swipe. On $29,160 of annual spending, the The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card earns about $544 a year at a flat 1 cent per point. The figure below is based on a typical household budget. See the full category breakdown in our The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card review, or run your own numbers in the rewards calculator.
The break-even
Add it up. The The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card costs $450 a year. Its credits return up to $400, and everyday rewards add about $544. That is a net of $494 in your favor every year you hold it, before any welcome bonus.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card worth the annual fee?
- Likely yes. On a typical budget the The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card earns about $544 a year in rewards, which already clears the $450 fee with $94 to spare, before counting the $400 in credits. Heavier spenders come out further ahead.
- How do you offset the The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card annual fee?
- Use the statement credits first: the The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card offers up to $400 a year, which knocks the effective cost down to about $50. Everyday rewards add roughly $544 more on a typical budget.
- Is there a no-annual-fee alternative to the The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card?
- Yes. If you cannot clear the $450 fee, a no-fee card keeps every dollar of rewards as profit. See our ranked no-fee picks to compare.
