The Amex Cobalt’s 5x earn rate on eligible eats and drinks is its defining feature — but “eligible” is the key word. The 5x applies based on how merchants classify themselves in Amex’s merchant category system, not based on what the store sells. A grocery item bought at Walmart earns 1x; the same item bought at Loblaws earns 5x.
Here is a comprehensive breakdown of what earns 5x and what doesn’t.
What Earns 5x on the Amex Cobalt
Restaurants and Dining — Earns 5x ✅
| Merchant Type | Examples | 5x Earn? |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurants | All categories | ✅ Yes |
| Fast food chains | McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Wendy’s | ✅ Yes |
| Coffee shops | Tim Hortons, Starbucks, Second Cup, Coffee Time | ✅ Yes |
| Food courts | Airport food courts, mall food courts | ✅ Yes |
| Bars and pubs | Any licensed establishment | ✅ Yes |
| Cafes and bakeries | Local cafes, Panera-style | ✅ Yes |
Food Delivery Apps — Earns 5x ✅
| App | 5x Earn? |
|---|---|
| Uber Eats | ✅ Yes |
| DoorDash | ✅ Yes |
| SkipTheDishes | ✅ Yes |
These apps code as food service, not transportation, and earn at the 5x dining rate.
Grocery Stores — Earns 5x ✅ (at dedicated grocery chains)
| Store | 5x Earn? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sobeys | ✅ Yes | Codes as grocery |
| Loblaws | ✅ Yes | Codes as grocery |
| Metro | ✅ Yes | Codes as grocery |
| No Frills | ✅ Yes | Codes as grocery |
| Real Canadian Superstore | ✅ Yes | Codes as grocery |
| IGA | ✅ Yes | Codes as grocery |
| FreshCo | ✅ Yes | Codes as grocery |
| Safeway | ✅ Yes | Codes as grocery |
| Thrifty Foods | ✅ Yes | Codes as grocery |
| Food Basics | ✅ Yes | Codes as grocery |
| Farm Boy | ✅ Yes | Codes as grocery |
| Whole Foods Market | ✅ Yes | Codes as grocery |
| Shoppers Drug Mart (grocery items) | ⚠️ Varies | Codes as drug store, not grocery — earns 1x |
What Does NOT Earn 5x on the Amex Cobalt
| Merchant | Why | Earn Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | Codes as general merchandise retailer | 1x |
| Costco Canada | Does not accept Amex | N/A |
| Shoppers Drug Mart | Codes as pharmacy/drug store | 1x |
| Target Canada | Closed; codes as general merchandise if encountered abroad | 1x |
| Amazon Fresh / Amazon grocery | Codes as online retail | 1x |
| PC Express | May code as grocery or online retail — verify | 1x or 5x (check statement) |
| Instacart | Codes as online grocery delivery — varies | Check statement |
2x Categories on the Cobalt
The Cobalt also earns 2x on:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Eligible streaming services | Netflix, Crave, Spotify, Apple TV+, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video |
| Eligible transit | TTC, GO Transit, Presto, bus, subway, light rail |
| Eligible rideshare | Uber (ride-share portion — note: Uber Eats earns 5x) |
| Eligible travel | Hotels, motels, airlines, car rentals |
How to Verify Your Earn Rate
Amex’s merchant categories are assigned by the merchant at the time of transaction. You can verify what category a purchase earned at by:
- Logging into your Amex online account or the Amex app
- Finding the transaction in your statement
- Checking the MR points column — 5x purchases show 5 points per dollar, 2x show 2, etc.
If a grocery store you expected to earn 5x is only showing 1x, it may have changed its merchant category code. This is unusual for major chains but can happen.
Cobalt 5x vs. Other Grocery Cards
| Card | Grocery Earn | Programme | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Cobalt | 5x MR (eligible stores) | Membership Rewards → Aeroplan | $155.88 |
| Scotiabank Gold Amex | 6x Scene+ (Sobeys-banner) | Scene+ | $120 |
| BMO CashBack World Elite | 5% cash back (first $500/mo) | Cash back | $120 |
| Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite | 4% cash back | Cash back | $120 |
| PC Financial World Elite | 45 PC Optimum pts/$1 (Loblaws) | PC Optimum | $0 |
When to choose Cobalt over Scotia Gold Amex:
- You want points that transfer to Aeroplan, Avios, or Flying Blue (MR transfers; Scene+ does not)
- You shop at Metro, Loblaws, No Frills, or other non-Sobeys-banner stores (Gold Amex earns 6x only at Sobeys-owned banners)
- You value Amex’s travel insurance and purchase protections
When to choose Scotia Gold Amex over Cobalt:
- You primarily shop at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, or FreshCo (6x vs. 5x)
- You want Scene+ points for grocery and Cineplex redemptions
- You prefer Visa/Mastercard acceptance at more merchants
Related Articles
- How to Earn Amex Membership Rewards by Category
- What Are Amex MR Points Worth?
- How to Transfer Amex MR to Aeroplan
- Scene+ Grocery Earning Guide: 6x at Sobeys Explained
Merchant category codes and earn rates are subject to change. Verify on your Amex statement after first use. See our Advertiser Disclosure.