Costco Anywhere Visa Payoff Calculator, 2026 APR

Card data, May 13, 2026

• Issuer: Citi (Visa network)
• Membership requirement: active Costco membership (Gold Star $65/year or Executive $130/year as of 2026)
• Purchase APR: 20.49% to 28.49% variable
• Annual fee: $0 with active Costco membership
• Rewards: 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging (up to $7,000 per year, then 1%), 3% on restaurants and eligible travel, 2% at Costco and Costco.com, 1% on everything else
• Redemption format: annual reward certificate mailed each February, redeemable for cash or merchandise only at US Costco warehouses
• Penalty APR: up to 29.99% variable
• Late fee: up to $41 per occurrence
• Foreign transaction fee: none
• Minimum payment formula: 1% of new balance plus billed interest and fees, with a $30 floor
• Typical FICO requirement: 720+ (one of the higher minimums in the Citi lineup)

Source: Costco Anywhere Visa terms, verified 2026-05-13.

TL;DR

The Costco Anywhere Visa is designed for paid-in-full Costco members with significant gas, dining, or travel spending. The 4% gas rate (up to $7,000 per year) is one of the higher gas rewards available on a no-direct-annual-fee Visa. For revolvers, the annual reward certificate structure does not help: interest on a carried balance posts monthly while rewards realize once per year.

Math worked example: $5,000 balance scenario

$5,000 balance at 24.49% APR, $200 per month payment:

• 32 months to payoff
• $1,820 total interest
• Total cost: $6,820

If you simultaneously spend $400 per month on gas (4%), $300 on dining (3%), and $500 at Costco (2%):

• Monthly rewards earned: $16 gas, $9 dining, $10 Costco, total $35
• 32-month total: $1,120 in reward certificate value (paid out across 3 annual certificates)
• New-purchase interest under the lost grace period rule: roughly $260 across 32 months
• Net rewards benefit: $860

The 4% gas rate is genuinely strong, but the annual February-only payout means you cannot redeploy rewards as cash flow during payoff.

Run your specific Costco Anywhere Visa numbers

The pillar tool accepts the Costco Anywhere Visa APR. Enter your specific rate from your statement. There is no card annual fee to add (Costco membership cost is paid separately).

The annual reward certificate caveat

Costco mails the reward certificate the February following the close of your annual rewards cycle, which ends in January each year. The certificate is valid for redemption only at a US Costco warehouse, expires at year-end, and is not transferable. If you cancel your Costco membership, you forfeit any unredeemed certificate. This makes the rewards strictly tied to continued membership, unlike points or cash-back cards where rewards are spendable across vendors.

Why the 4% gas rate is the standout

At 4% on $7,000 per year of gas spending ($583 per month), the maximum gas rewards reach $280 per year. Few cards beat that rate without a category cap or rotating activation. For a household with two vehicles spending $400 to $500 per month on fuel, the gas rewards alone can offset most of an Executive Costco membership ($130 per year).

Avalanche priority

The Costco Anywhere Visa APR (20.49% to 28.49%) sits in the typical Citi range. If your specific APR is above 24%, this card is likely your avalanche priority versus other Citi cards (Custom Cash starts at 18.24%, Double Cash at 19.24%).

Balance transfer alternatives

The Costco Anywhere Visa does not offer a promotional 0% APR balance transfer. Transferring an existing Costco Visa balance to a different issuer’s 0% card is usually the right move on balances above $2,000. On a $5,000 balance at 24.49%:

• Status quo: $1,820 interest, 32 months
• Transfer to a 21-month 0% APR card with 3% fee ($150 fee): $5,150 total, paid off in 21 months at $245 per month
• Savings: roughly $1,670 if you complete payoff inside the intro window

See Balance transfer calculator for precise math.

Membership tier interaction

Executive Costco members ($130 per year) get an additional 2% Executive Reward on most Costco purchases, capped at $1,250 per year. Combined with the Costco Anywhere Visa’s 2% at Costco, the effective Costco rewards rate reaches 4% (plus the 2% on the card). If you spend over $3,250 per year at Costco, Executive membership pays for itself versus Gold Star.

Closing the card on membership cancellation

If you cancel Costco membership, Citi closes the Costco Anywhere Visa automatically. This affects credit utilization and account age. If you are paying off a balance, consider keeping Costco membership active through the payoff timeline; switching to Gold Star at $65 per year preserves the card without the Executive fee.

Sibling Citi cards

• Citi Double Cash payoff calculator
• Citi Custom Cash payoff calculator
• Citi Premier payoff calculator

Related

• Credit card payoff calculator (home), pillar tool
• Credit card payoff by card type, full hub
• Balance transfer calculator

Primary sources

• CFPB credit card agreement database
• Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit release

Frequently asked questions

What is the APR on the Costco Anywhere Visa?

The purchase APR is 20.49% to 28.49% variable as of May 13, 2026, per the Costco Anywhere Visa Schumer box. Your specific APR was set at application based on your credit profile and adjusts with the Prime Rate. The penalty APR can reach 29.99% variable after a 60-day delinquency.

Do I need a Costco membership for the Costco Anywhere Visa?

Yes. The card is only available to active Costco members. Gold Star membership is $65 per year and Executive is $130 per year as of 2026. If you cancel your Costco membership, Citi closes the card automatically. Some Anywhere Visa benefits (the 4% gas, 3% restaurants, 2% Costco rate) require an active membership in good standing.

When do I get my Costco Anywhere Visa rewards?

Costco issues a single annual reward certificate each February covering the prior January-through-December rewards cycle. The certificate is redeemable only at US Costco warehouses for cash back or merchandise. It is not transferable, expires at year-end, and is forfeited if you cancel Costco membership before redemption.

Does the Costco Anywhere Visa have foreign transaction fees?

No. The card waives foreign transaction fees, which makes it a useful travel card abroad in addition to its 3% rewards rate on eligible travel purchases. The combination saves roughly 3% on every overseas transaction versus cards that charge the fee.

What credit score do I need for the Costco Anywhere Visa?

Typical approvals start at a FICO score of 720, which is higher than most Citi cash-back cards. Citi also evaluates income, debt-to-income, and existing Citi relationships. Lower scores are routinely declined even with active Costco membership, since the card is targeted at the upper prime tier.