Canada’s best credit cards for grocery purchases 2023

Everybody needs to put food on the table, so you might as well earn rewards while doing so. And considering that in 2022 the price of food in Canada rose at the fastest pace in decades, there’s no better time to earn useful rewards and cash back on this essential household expense.

Whether you’re looking for cash back, to rack up points or simply to find the best grocery credit card in Canada, we’ve gathered the information you need to maximize your spending. Take stock of your shopping habits, and get ready to cash in on the rewards.

Best cash back card for groceries

Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite*

Everybody likes flexible rewards, and cash is the most flexible around. This card offers 4% cash back on groceries and is part of the Visa Infinite family, which means cardholders receive perks including concierge service, and wine and dining experiences. You’ll earn a healthy 4% on groceries, as well as subscription services like Netflix and recurring bill payments, while transportation costs (including Uber) and gas earn at 2% (up to an annual total spend of $25,000; after that the earn rate drops to 1%). All other purchases earn at 1%, so if you’re carrying this card you’ve got a lot of cash back to earn in a broad group of spending categories.

• Annual fee: $120
• Interest rate: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• Welcome bonus: Earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months (up to $2,000 in total purchases).
• Earn rate on groceries: 4% cash back
• Rewards on other purchases: 4% cash back on recurring bill payments, 2% on gas, public transit, taxis and rideshares, and 1% on everything else
• Additional perks: Travel emergency medical coverage, travel accident, trip cancellation, trip interruption, and flight delay insurance, and delayed or lost baggage protection; car rental loss or damage insurance; mobile device insurance
• Annual income requirement: Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000

Best no-fee cash back credit card for groceries

BMO CashBack Mastercard*

If you’re looking for the best no-fee cash back grocery credit card, look no further. The 3% cash back on grocery purchases, no annual fee, and solid earn rates in other categories have made this card is a standout in the category. Keep in mind, though, that earnings are capped at $500 spent per statement period, so if you spend more than $500 per month on groceries, you’ll want to consider another card in order to reap the full benefits.

In addition to earning cash back on groceries, this card earns you 1% on recurring bill payments and an unlimited 0.5% on other spending. You can choose when to redeem cash back, in increments as little as $1; you can also set up automatic recurring redemptions of $25 or more.

• Annual fee: $0
• Interest rate: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, (21.99% for residents of Quebec), 22.99% on balance transfers
• Earn rate on groceries: 3% cash back on groceries, up to $500 per month
• Rewards on other purchases: 1% on recurring bills; 0.5% on everything else
• Welcome bonus: Earn up to 5% cash back in your first 3 months and a $50 cash back bonus. Plus, get a 0.99% interest rate on balance transfers for your first 9 months (with a 2% transfer fee).
• Additional perks: Purchase protection and extended warranty; discounts at Avis and National Car Rentals; discount Cirque du Soleil performances; add authorized cardholders at no charge
• Annual income requirement: None

Honourable mention: Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card*

Every cardholder is given a 2% return on spending in two categories of their choice, of which groceries is one. (There are 10 categories in total, including drug store, gas, hotel and motel accommodations, restaurants, furniture, recurring bill payments, home improvement, entertainment, and public transportation and parking.) Plus, you can earn 2% on a third category of your choice just by having your rewards deposited into your Tangerine Savings Account.

In addition to being a no-fee card, this is a stand-out because your cash-back earnings are unlimited, meaning that your regular 2% earnings don’t have a cap. While this card doesn’t offer too much in the way of perks, like the card above, it currently has an attractive welcome offer.

• Annual fee: $0
• Interest rate: 19.95% on purchases, 19.95% on cash advances, 19.95% on balance transfers
• Earn rate on groceries: 2% cash back
• Rewards on other purchases: 2% in up to two other spending categories of your choice and 0.5% cash back on everything else
• Welcome bonus: earn an extra 10% back on up to $1,000 in everyday purchases within the first 2 months. Must apply by May 2, 2023.
• Additional perks: Purchase protection and extended warranty
• Annual income requirement: Personal or household income of $12,000

Best credit card for groceries and gas (tie)

When it comes to can’t-avoid-it expenses, gas and groceries top the list. Our pick for the best gas and grocery credit card in Canada was a draw, with each card boasting 4% cash back on both filling your tank and your fridge, as well as some pretty decent earn rates in other categories and perks. Which card you choose will really depend on where you tend to spend more, and what perks are most useful to you.

CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite

This credit card offers compelling earn rates on all types of food purchases—with 4% cash back on groceries and 2% on dining (including take out and food deliveries). And you will earn 4% on gas as well helping you earn at the pump while on your way to earn at the grocery store. Plus, save up to $0.10 per litre at participating Chevron, Ultramar and Pioneer gas stations when you link your card with Journie Rewards.

• Annual fee: $120
• Interest rate: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances (21.99% for Quebec residents), 22.99% on balance transfers
• Earn rate on groceries: 4% cash back
• Rewards on other purchases: 4% cash back on gas; 2% on dining, daily transit and recurring bills; 1% on everything else
• Welcome bonus: Get a first-year annual-fee rebate for you and up to three authorized users, and 10% cash back for the first four statements on net purchases of up to $2,500.
• Additional perks: Emergency medical travel insurance, mobile device insurance, car rental loss and collision coverage
• Annual income requirement: Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000

Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card

Aside from 4% cash back on groceries and gas—two very popular spending categories—the Meridian remains strong by offering 2% back on drug store purchases and recurring bills. The 1% regular rate on everything else is pretty standard but the annual fee of $99 is fairly accessible (and it’s waived for the first year). The Meridian has some good included insurance and carries the increasingly popular mobile device coverage. 

• Annual fee: $99
• Interest rate: 19.5% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances, 19.5% on balance transfers
• Earn rate on groceries: 4% cash back
• Rewards on other purchases: 4% cash back on gas; 2% on drug stores and recurring bills; 1% on everything else
• Welcome bonus: None
• Additional perks: Emergency health care, trip cancellation or interruption, and baggage insurance; car rental loss or collision coverage; mobile device insurance
• Annual income requirement: Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000

Best credit card for Loblaw banner grocery stores

PC Financial World Elite Mastercard*

With about 2,500 stores operating under the Loblaw company banner, including the economy brand No-Frills, the big-box Real Canadian Superstore and the market-style Fortinos, it’s safe to say this is a useful card for many Canadians. The PC Financial World Elite Mastercard is the country’s first no-fee elite-level card. Shoppers who pay with this card will earn a whopping 30 PC Optimum points per $1 on grocery purchases (equivalent to 3.0%) at any Loblaw banner store and at PC Travel; 45 points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart; and 10 points per $1 everywhere else. Gas purchases at Esso and Mobil earn at least 30 points per litre, making this an all-around valuable card for everyday living expenses. PC Optimum points are easily redeemed at the checkout counter starting at 10,000 points (which is equal to $10) and can be used on any products in participating stores. 

A drawback to this card is the $80,000 minimum annual income requirement (or $150,000 for the household), which will put it out of reach for some. However, there are related PC Financial credit cards with slightly lower earn rates for those who can’t meet the threshold. 

• Annual fee: $0
• Interest rate: 20.97% on purchases, 22.97% on cash advances (21.97% for residents of Quebec), 22.97% on balance transfers
• Earn rate on groceries: 30 PC points per $1 at Loblaw banner grocery stores (including No Frills, Fortinos, and The Independent Grocer)
• Rewards on other purchases: 45 points per $1 at Shoppers Drug Mart, 30 points per litre at Esso/Mobil; 30 points per $1 at PC Travel; and 10 points per $1 on everything else
• Welcome bonus: Get 20,000 PC Optimum points (a $20 value).
• Additional perks: Travel emergency medical insurance; car rental loss or damage coverage; concierge service; identity theft assistance service
• Annual income requirement: Personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000

Best points cards for groceries

American Express Cobalt*

For those who want to turn their grocery purchases into world travel, the American Express Cobalt is here to help. There are a few standout elements of this card, starting with the unique payment structure that bills the annual fee in monthly installments of $12.99. Next is the welcome bonus, encouraging new cardholders to spend by rewarding 2,500 points when you make $500 in purchases each month for the first year. If you hit that target every month, you’ll have a cool 30,000 points accumulated by the end of the year. The earn rate on groceries as well as dining out and food delivery services is a very competitive 5 points per $1 (to a maximum spend of $30,000; thereafter, the earn is 1 point per $1); plus you get 2 points per $1 on transportation. Everything else earns at a rate of 1 point per $1. 

Because this is a travel-based card, it should come as no surprise that there are some sweet perks geared toward frequent flyers and drivers, like emergency medical coverage and car rental theft and damage coverage. Cardholders are also eligible for a credit on amenities at participating hotels. 

It does bear mentioning that because this is an American Express card, it is not accepted at every store—but if you’re a shopper at Food Basics, Longo’s, McEwan, Metro, Pusateri’s, Rabba, Safeway, Sobeys or Whole Foods, you’re golden. Loblaw banner stores, including No-Frills, do not accept Amex.

• Annual fee: $156
• Interest rate: 20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances
• Earn rate on groceries: 5 points per $1
• Rewards on other purchases: 5 points per $1 on dining, food delivery and bars; 2 points per $1 on transportation including taxis, public transit and rideshares; and 1 point per $1 on everything else
• Welcome bonus: earn 2,500 points for each month you spend $500, up to a maximum of 30,000 points—that’s $300 towards a weekend getaway or concert tickets.
• Additional perks: Emergency travel medical coverage, travel accident, flight and baggage delay, hotel or motel burglary and lost or stolen baggage insurance; car rental theft and damage protection; hotel credit up to $100 USD on amenities like spa or dining at participating hotels; Amex Invites and Front-of-the-Line Access
• Annual income requirement: None

Honourable mention: Scotiabank Gold American Express*

Want to earn points toward next year’s vacation while you cover this week’s grocery haul? Here’s how it works: For every point you earn, you get $0.01 redeemable toward travel, which is easy to figure out and calculate. Just think of it like a cash-back credit card with 1% earn rate toward travel savings. Plus, the welcome offer is pretty sweet. Earn up to 45,000 bonus Scotia Rewards points your first year, too—that’s about $450 towards your next trip. 

While we’re comparing the two, it’s worth noting that the American Express Cobalt has an edge on the Scotiabank Gold American Express card since the former lets you get 15% to 75% more value out of your points through Amex’s fixed points travel chart or by transferring points to hotel loyalty programs. Neither are available with the Scotiabank Gold. That said, the Scotiabank Gold American Express is still a great card. Plus, the Scotiabank Gold American Express has some great perks that the Cobalt doesn’t, like no foreign transaction fees and additional points on entertainment and streaming services.  

• Annual fee: $120
• Interest rate: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers
• Earn rate on groceries: 5 points per $1 on groceries
• Rewards on other purchases: 5 points per $1 on dining and entertainment purchases; 3 points per $1 on gas, transit and rideshare charges, as well as streaming services; 1 point per $1 on everything else
• Welcome bonus: earn up to $850 in value in the first 12 months, including up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points. Must apply by April 30, 2023.
• Additional perks: As an Amex cardholder, you get access to its Front of the Line Presale & Reserved program, including invites for entertainment ticket pre-sales and advanced movie screenings and more.
• Annual income requirement: Personal or household income of $12,000

Frequently asked questions