Grocery is one of the highest-spend categories for Canadian households — and one of the most competitive for credit card earn rates. Top grocery cards deliver 3–6% back in cash or points value on every grocery dollar.
Best Grocery Credit Cards at a Glance
| Card | Annual Fee | Grocery Earn Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Gold American Express | $120 | 6x Scene+ (Sobeys-banner) | Best points rate at Sobeys/IGA/Farm Boy |
| BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | $120 | 5% cash back (capped monthly) | Best cash back at most grocery chains |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite | $120 | 4% cash back | Broad grocery chain coverage |
| Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite | $120 | 4% cash back | No cap on grocery; recurring bills too |
| PC Financial World Elite Mastercard | $0 | 45 pts/$1 (4.5%) at Loblaws | Best no-fee card for Loblaws shoppers |
| TD Cash Back Visa Infinite | $120 | 3% cash back | Broad eligibility; no cap |
| PC Financial World Mastercard | $0 | 30 pts/$1 (3%) at Loblaws | No-fee; no income requirement |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | $0 | 2% cash back (if grocery chosen) | No-fee; 2% on any 2–3 categories |
Top Grocery Cards Reviewed
1. Scotiabank Gold American Express — Best at Sobeys-Banner Stores ($120/year)
Earns 6x Scene+ on eligible grocery purchases at Scotiabank’s partner grocery network — Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, Farm Boy, Thrifty Foods, and other Sobeys-banner stores. At 1¢ per Scene+ point, that is 6% back in travel and entertainment value.
Also benefits:
- No foreign transaction fee
- 5x Scene+ on eligible dining, entertainment, and streaming
- 3x Scene+ on eligible gas and transit
Best for: Sobeys / IGA / Farm Boy shoppers who want maximum grocery earn. Not ideal for: Loblaws shoppers — the 6x rate may not apply at Loblaws stores.
Annual earn example: $700/month grocery at Sobeys = 8,400 Scene+ points/month = 100,800 pts/year = ~$1,008 in Scene+ travel/entertainment value.
2. BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard — Best Cash Back at Most Chains ($120/year)
Earns 5% cash back on grocery purchases (subject to monthly cap — verify with BMO). Unlike the Scotiabank Gold, the 5% applies broadly at most Canadian grocery chains including Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, and others (depending on merchant coding as grocery).
- 4% on transit and recurring bills
- 3% on gas
- 2% on drugstores
- 1% everywhere else
Annual earn example: $700/month grocery × 5% = $35/month = $420/year cash back from grocery alone. Less $120 annual fee = $300 net grocery cash back (not counting other categories).
3. CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite — 4% at Most Grocery Chains ($120/year)
Earns 4% cash back on grocery and gas — no stated monthly cap on grocery earn (verify with CIBC). Broad grocery chain eligibility, including both Sobeys and Loblaws banners.
Annual earn example: $700/month grocery × 4% = $28/month = $336/year grocery cash back.
4. PC Financial World Elite Mastercard — Best No-Fee Grocery Card (Loblaws Only)
45 PC Optimum points per dollar at Loblaws-banner stores (Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Zehrs, Maxi, Fortinos, Atlantic Superstore, T&T). At 10,000 points = $10, that is a 4.5% effective return — with no annual fee.
Income requirement: $80,000 personal / $150,000 household. Available to Alberta, BC, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada residents (check availability in your province).
Grocery Earn Rate Comparison: $700/Month Grocery Spend
| Card | Annual Fee | Annual Grocery Cash Back | Net Grocery Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Gold Amex (6x Scene+) | $120 | $1,008 Scene+ | $888 net |
| BMO CashBack World Elite (5%) | $120 | $420 cash | $300 net |
| PC World Elite (4.5% Loblaws only) | $0 | $378 PC Optimum | $378 net |
| CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite (4%) | $120 | $336 cash | $216 net |
| Scotiabank Momentum (4%) | $120 | $336 cash | $216 net |
| TD Cash Back Visa Infinite (3%) | $120 | $252 cash | $132 net |
Assumes $700/month grocery spend entirely at the card’s eligible stores. Scotiabank Gold Amex net value assumes grocery at Sobeys-banner stores; Scene+ valued at 1¢/point.
Grocery Strategy: PC Optimum Stacking at Loblaws
At Loblaws-banner stores, you can earn from two sources simultaneously:
- PC Optimum base points — earned by scanning your PC Optimum app at checkout (~10 pts/$1 base)
- PC Financial World Elite credit card — earns the remaining 35 pts/$1 to reach 45 pts/$1 total
If you use a different credit card at Loblaws (e.g., BMO CashBack World Elite at 5% cash back), you still earn the base in-store PC Optimum points (10 pts/$1 = 1%) by scanning your app. Some households maximise total value by:
- Using BMO CashBack World Elite at Loblaws (5% cash back)
- Scanning PC Optimum app simultaneously (additional 1% base in-store points)
- Total: ~6% combined (5% cash + 1% PC Optimum)
Grocery Cards FAQ
Best credit card for grocery in Canada? PC Financial World Elite (4.5% at Loblaws, no fee), Scotiabank Gold Amex (6% at Sobeys in Scene+), or BMO CashBack World Elite (5% cash back at most chains).
Best no-fee grocery card? PC Financial World Elite (4.5% at Loblaws, no fee) or Tangerine Money-Back (2% at any grocery chain, no fee).
Does BMO CashBack earn at Costco? Costco Canada only accepts Mastercard, and Costco may code differently than standard grocery. The BMO CashBack World Elite earns 5% at stores coded as grocery — Costco may code as wholesale club. Verify with BMO.
Does Scotiabank Gold Amex earn 6x at Loblaws? Typically not — the 6x grocery rate applies at Sobeys-banner stores. At Loblaws, the earn is typically 1x Scene+.
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- Best PC Optimum Credit Cards 2026
- Scotiabank Gold American Express Review 2026
- BMO CashBack World Elite Review 2026
Card details current as of June 2026. Earn rates and caps subject to change. Verify with the issuer before applying. See our Advertiser Disclosure.