Both the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi and the Sam's Club Mastercard are warehouse club co-branded cards with no annual credit card fee, requiring only the respective club memberships. Both target high-spending households that shop in bulk and want to maximize cash back on gas and everyday purchases. But they earn quite differently, and the choice between them is largely determined by which club you shop at and how you fill your gas tank.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi | Sam's Club Mastercard |
|---|
| Credit Card Annual Fee | $0 (membership req.) | $0 (membership req.) |
| Membership Cost | Gold Star: $65/yr · Executive: $130/yr | Club: $50/yr · Plus: $110/yr ✓ |
| Gas Rate — Club Stations | 5% at Costco gas ✓ | 1% at Sam's Club gas (Club) / 5% (Plus members) |
| Gas Rate — Other Stations | 4% (up to $7,000/yr then 1%) | 5% anywhere Mastercard accepted (up to $6,000/yr) ✓ |
| Restaurants + Dining | 3% | 3% |
| Travel Purchases | 3% (airlines, hotels, cruises, car rentals, travel agencies) ✓ | 1% (no travel category) |
| Sam's Club / Costco In-Store Rate | 2% Costco + Costco.com | 1% Club / 3% (+ 2% Plus membership = 5% Plus) |
| Everything Else | 1% | 1% |
| Annual Rewards Cap | None (gas capped at $7K) ✓ | $5,000 total rewards per calendar year |
| Rewards Redemption | Annual certificate (February) · cash $300+ by direct deposit | Monthly — automatically loaded to card ✓ |
| Welcome Bonus | None typically | $30 statement credit on $30 Sam's spend in first 30 days |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None | None |
| Issuer | Citi | Synchrony Bank |
The Gas Comparison: Costco vs. Anywhere
Both cards offer strong gas rewards, but they work differently. The Sam's Club card earns 5% on gas purchases anywhere Mastercard is accepted — Shell, BP, Chevron, your local independent station, anywhere. The Costco card earns 5% only at Costco gas stations, then drops to 4% at other eligible gas stations and EV chargers.
For most drivers, the difference is: Sam's Club wins if you don't always fill up at the warehouse club gas station. Costco wins if you do. At 5% on the first $6,000 in annual gas spending, the Sam's card earns $300/year from gas alone — assuming you hit the cap. The Costco card earns $350 at 5% from Costco gas (assuming average $7,000/year at Costco) but less at 4% for other stations.
Sam's Club Gas 5% Requires a Plus Membership
The Sam's Club card's gas reward is 5% regardless of membership tier. But the in-store Sam's Club purchases only earn 5% for Plus members ($110/yr membership). Basic Club members ($50/yr) earn just 1% on in-store Sam's purchases. If you're considering the Sam's Club card primarily for in-store cash back, upgrade to Plus first — the $60 extra fee pays for itself with the 3% bonus on in-store spending.
Costco's Unique Advantage: Travel Rewards
The Costco Anywhere Visa earns 3% on eligible travel purchases — airlines, hotels, car rentals, cruise lines, and travel agencies. The Sam's Club Mastercard eliminated its travel category in 2021 and now earns just 1% on all travel purchases. For any household that books even 1–2 trips per year, the Costco card generates meaningful travel cash back that the Sam's card simply doesn't provide.
Costco Rewards Only Come Once a Year
The Costco Anywhere Visa issues all earned rewards as a single annual certificate each February, redeemable only at Costco warehouses (or for cash if you have $300+ balance). If you want your cash back when you earn it — monthly — the Sam's Club card loads rewards to your account automatically each month and lets you spend them immediately or cash out in-store. For households who need regular access to their rewards, Sam's Club wins on redemption timing.
Our Verdict
Choose Costco Anywhere Visa if you...
- Fill up at Costco gas (5%) more often than other stations
- Travel regularly — the 3% on travel puts real money back that Sam's Club can't match
- Have no problem waiting until February for your annual rewards certificate
- Spend heavily on dining and want 3% at restaurants
- Want unlimited earning with no annual cap on most categories
Choose Sam's Club Mastercard if you...
- Fill up at non-club gas stations frequently and want 5% on gas everywhere
- Are a Sam's Plus member who shops in-store regularly (5% total with card + membership)
- Want monthly cash back access — rewards load automatically each month
- Have a lower Costco membership cost preference ($50 Club vs. $65 Gold Star)
- Don't travel much and don't need travel category rewards
