Top 5 Cashback Cards for Groceries and Gas – Tangerine, Scotia, BMO
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Groceries and gas are the two largest recurring expenses for most Canadian households. The average family spends ,200/month on groceries and 50/month on gas. At those numbers, the difference between a 1% card and a 4% card is 50/year in cashback you are leaving on the table. These five cards deliver the highest return on the spending you cannot avoid.
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Top 5 Cashback Cards for Groceries and Gas
| # | Card | Groceries | Gas | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite | 4% | 2% | 20 |
| 2 | BMO CashBack Mastercard | 3% | 0.5% | /usr/bin/bash |
| 3 | Tangerine Money-Back | 2% | 2% | /usr/bin/bash |
| 4 | CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite | 4% | 4% | 20 |
| 5 | Canadian Tire Triangle | 3% CT | 2% gas | /usr/bin/bash |
💡 Cashback percentages look small but compound fast. 4% on $800/month groceries = $384/year. That is real money back in your pocket, not points you might never redeem.
1. Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite
4% cashback on groceries and recurring bills, 2% on gas and daily transit, 1% on everything else. The grocery category includes all major chains: Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, No Frills, FreshCo, Walmart Supercentre (when coded as grocery). Recurring bills include utilities, streaming, insurance, and phone plans.
Annual earning potential: At ,000/month groceries + 00/month gas + 00/month recurring bills: (,000 x 4%) + (00 x 2%) + (00 x 4%) + (,300 x 1%) = 0 + + 0 + 3 = 7/month = 24/year minus 20 fee = 04 net.
Welcome bonus: Up to 40,000 Scene+ points (00 value) when you spend ,500 in 90 days.
Who should get it: Families spending 00+/month on groceries who also have significant recurring bills. The combined 4% on both categories makes this the highest-earning card for household expenses.
2. BMO CashBack Mastercard
3% on groceries (capped at 00/month grocery spend), 1% on recurring bills, 0.5% on everything else. No annual fee. The grocery cap means you earn the full 3% on up to 00 in grocery purchases per month (5/month max grocery cashback). After the cap, grocery purchases drop to 0.5%.
Annual earning potential: At 00/month groceries (at cap) + 00/month gas: (00 x 3%) + (00 x 0.5%) + (,300 x 0.5%) = 5 + + .50 = 2.50/month = 70/year with zero fee.
Who should get it: Individuals or small households spending under 00/month on groceries who want a free card. The 3% rate matches premium cards in that category, and you pay nothing for it.
Limitation: The 00/month cap hurts larger families. Gas earns only 0.5%, so pair this with a Tangerine card set to gas for 2%.
3. Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
2% in 2-3 categories of your choice (select groceries + gas for this purpose), 0.5% on everything else. No annual fee. No cap on category spending. If you have a Tangerine savings account, you get a third 2% category.
Annual earning potential: At ,000/month groceries + 50/month gas (both at 2%): (,000 x 2%) + (50 x 2%) + (50 x 0.5%) = 0 + + .75 = 8.75/month = 45/year with zero fee.
Who should get it: Anyone who wants solid returns on both groceries AND gas from a single free card. No cap means high spenders benefit proportionally. The flexibility to change categories quarterly is a bonus.
Limitation: 2% is good but not best-in-class for groceries alone. Scotia Momentum at 4% earns more on groceries if that is your dominant expense.
4. CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite
4% on groceries, 4% on gas, 2% on dining and recurring bills, 1% on everything else. Annual fee: 20. This is the only card in Canada that offers 4% on BOTH groceries and gas simultaneously.
Annual earning potential: At ,000/month groceries + 50/month gas + 00/month dining: (,000 x 4%) + (50 x 4%) + (00 x 2%) + (50 x 1%) = 0 + 0 + + .50 = 0.50/month = 26/year minus 20 fee = 06 net.
Who should get it: Families who spend heavily on both groceries and gas. If your combined grocery + gas spend exceeds ,000/month, this card outearns every free alternative even after the fee.
Limitation: 20 annual fee. Requires household income of 0,000+ or personal income of 0,000+. Not accessible to everyone.
5. Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard
4% in Canadian Tire Triangle rewards at CT stores, 2% at gas stations (any brand), 2% at grocery stores, and base earn at other retailers. No annual fee. Rewards are in Canadian Tire money, redeemable at CT, Sport Chek, Atmosphere, and Mark.
Annual earning potential: At 00/month CT + 50/month gas + 00/month groceries: (00 x 4%) + (50 x 2%) + (00 x 2%) = + + 6 = 9/month = 48/year with zero fee.
Who should get it: People who already shop at Canadian Tire regularly and want to earn on gas and groceries too. The 2% gas rate from a free card is competitive.
Limitation: Rewards are CT money, not cash. If you do not shop at CT/Sport Chek, the rewards have limited value.
Which Card Wins? It Depends on Your Spending
Groceries over 00/month + gas over 00/month: CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite (4%/4%) wins despite the fee.
Groceries under 00/month: BMO CashBack (3% free) is the best value since you stay under the cap.
Want both groceries and gas covered with no fee: Tangerine (2%/2%) with those categories selected.
Heavy CT shopper + driver: Triangle Mastercard for the combined CT + gas + grocery earn.
Maximum groceries + recurring bills: Scotia Momentum (4%/4%) if you have significant recurring expenses too.
Ready to decide? Compare them all:
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Costco count as groceries for cashback?
It depends on the card. Most Visa and Mastercard issuers code Costco as a warehouse club, not a grocery store. Scotia Momentum and CIBC Dividend do NOT give grocery rates at Costco. BMO CashBack does not either. For Costco specifically, the CIBC Costco Mastercard (2% on Costco purchases) is the best option.
Do gas station convenience store purchases count as gas?
Only purchases at the pump coded as fuel qualify for gas cashback rates. If you go inside and buy snacks or pay for a car wash, those transactions are typically coded as convenience store or retail, not gas.
Can I combine two cashback cards for different categories?
Yes. Many Canadians use BMO CashBack for groceries (3%) and Tangerine set to gas + restaurants (2% each). Since both are free, there is no cost to holding both. Use each card where it earns the most.
Is 2% cashback on groceries worth it or should I pay for 4%?
At 00/month groceries: 2% = 92/year (free). 4% = 84/year minus 20 fee = 64 net. The fee card wins by 2/year. At 00/month: 2% = 20 vs 4% = 40 – 20 = 20. Break even. Below 00/month, the free card wins.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cashback rates and terms may change. Always verify current offers on the issuer website before applying.
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