Amex Gold vs. Citi Premier: Which Card is Better for a $700/Month Dining Spender?

Which card wins for $700 monthly dining?

For a consumer spending $700 per month on dining, the Amex Gold Card typically offers a higher net return in points value, assuming they fully utilize its monthly dining and Uber credits. The Citi Premier Card, however, provides a more accessible entry point with a lower annual fee and broader 3X earning categories that extend beyond food.

Comparing Amex Gold and Citi Premier benefits

What Amex Gold and Citi Premier offer for dining

American Express Gold Card

The Amex Gold Card positions itself as a powerhouse for food-related spending. It earns 4 Membership Rewards (MR) points per dollar on purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. It also offers 4X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1X). For a spender putting $700 on dining each month, that’s $8,400 annually, translating to 33,600 MR points from dining alone.

Beyond points, the card carries a $250 annual fee, but it comes with up to $120 in dining credits ($10 per month) at select partners like Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and Shake Shack. Additionally, cardholders receive up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10 per month) for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides. If you consistently use both sets of credits, you effectively reduce the annual fee by $240, bringing the net cost down to just $10 per year. We’d estimate Membership Rewards points are generally worth around 1.5 to 2 cents per point when transferred to airline or hotel partners like Delta SkyMiles or Hilton Honors, making those 33,600 points potentially worth $504 to $672.
Watch-out: The monthly nature of the credits means you forfeit any unused portion, so you need to be disciplined about using them every month to maximize value.

Citi Premier Card

The Citi Premier Card offers a broader set of bonus categories, making it a strong contender for those whose spending isn’t exclusively food-focused. It earns 3 ThankYou Points (TYP) per dollar on purchases at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels. For our $700/month dining spender, this means $8,400 annually, yielding 25,200 TYP. While this is fewer points than the Amex Gold for dining specifically, the 3X rate on gas, air travel, and hotels adds significant value for other common expenses.

The card has a much lower annual fee of $95. It also provides an annual hotel savings benefit of $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more, booked through thankyou.com. If you can use this credit each year, it effectively negates the annual fee and even provides a small surplus. ThankYou Points typically hold a value of about 1.5 to 1.8 cents per point when transferred to airline partners such as Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, putting the 25,200 points from dining at an estimated value of $378 to $453.
Watch-out: The $100 hotel credit is less flexible than Amex’s monthly credits, requiring a specific type of booking through Citi’s portal. If you don’t use the credit, the full $95 annual fee applies, significantly reducing the card’s net value.

When to choose Amex Gold or Citi Premier

If your primary goal is maximizing rewards on dining and U.S. supermarket purchases, and you are confident you can consistently use the Amex Gold Card’s monthly dining and Uber credits, the Amex Gold Card is likely the better choice. Its 4X earning rate on dining for a $700/month spender generates 33,600 Membership Rewards points annually. With the $240 in credits, the net annual fee is just $10. This makes it a very efficient card for food-centric spending, especially if you regularly use services like Grubhub or Uber Eats.

However, if you prefer a lower annual fee and a more diversified rewards structure that covers a wider range of everyday spending categories, the Citi Premier Card might be a stronger fit. Its $95 annual fee is substantially lower, and the 3X earning rate on dining, supermarkets, gas, air travel, and hotels offers excellent value across multiple fronts. While it yields fewer points specifically from dining (25,200 ThankYou Points annually for a $700/month spender), the broader categories can make up for it if your spending is more varied. For instance, if you also spend $300/month on gas and $200/month on general travel, the Citi Premier’s 3X in those areas would quickly add up.

Consider your travel habits as well. If you regularly book hotel stays of $500 or more through Citi’s portal, the Premier’s $100 hotel credit effectively makes the card free or even profitable. But if you rarely hit that threshold or prefer booking directly with hotel chains, that credit’s value diminishes. On the other hand, the Amex Gold’s dining and Uber credits are easier to integrate into daily life for many, even if they’re restricted to specific vendors.

Ultimately, the Amex Gold offers higher rewards for focused food spending with a higher effective net cost if credits are maximized. The Citi Premier provides broader category coverage and a lower barrier to entry, making it a solid choice for general travel rewards.

FAQ

Q: What is the typical value of Membership Rewards points compared to ThankYou Points?

While point valuations can vary based on redemption strategy, Membership Rewards points from American Express are often considered slightly more valuable on average, particularly for transfers to premium airline partners. Many experts value MR points at 1.5 to 2 cents per point (cpp), while ThankYou Points typically range from 1.5 to 1.8 cpp, especially when transferred to airline partners. For cash back, both typically offer a lower value, often 0.5 to 0.6 cpp.

Q: Can I get cash back with these cards?

Both cards primarily offer points that are best redeemed for travel or transfers to loyalty partners. While you can typically redeem points for cash back or statement credits, the value per point is significantly lower than for travel redemptions. For example, Amex MR points might yield 0.6 cents per point for cash back, and Citi ThankYou Points might offer 0.5 cents per point. If cash back is your priority, other cards might offer higher returns.

Q: Do either of these cards have foreign transaction fees?

Neither the American Express Gold Card nor the Citi Premier Card charges foreign transaction fees. This makes both cards suitable for international travel or purchases made with foreign merchants.

Q: How do the annual fees compare after accounting for credits?

The Amex Gold Card has a $250 annual fee, which can be reduced to a net $10 by fully utilizing its $120 dining credit and $120 Uber Cash annually. The Citi Premier Card has a $95 annual fee, which can be effectively offset by its $100 annual hotel savings benefit, potentially making its net cost -$5 (a small gain) if the credit is used on a qualifying $500+ hotel booking.

Q: What other categories do these cards earn bonus points in?

The Amex Gold Card earns 4X points on U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1X) and 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. The Citi Premier Card earns 3X points on supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels, in addition to dining.

Q: Are the bonus categories for Amex Gold limited to U.S. spending?

The 4X points on dining applies worldwide. However, the 4X points on supermarkets is limited to U.S. supermarkets, and the Uber Cash and dining credits are generally restricted to U.S. merchants or services available in the U.S.

Q: What if my dining spending is less than $700 per month?

If your dining spending is significantly lower, the Amex Gold’s high annual fee and specific credit structure might make it less valuable. For example, if you spend only $300/month on dining, the 4X points would yield 14,400 MR points annually. After the $240 in credits, the net cost is still $10, but the overall point earnings are lower. In such cases, the Citi Premier’s lower annual fee and broader 3X categories might offer better overall value for your spending habits.