The Chase Freedom Flex is the best card for City Market — it earns 5x and 5x on Grocery Stores (Q4 2026) - Eligible grocery-store purchases earn 5x during Q4 2026 after activation..
Updated May 2026
Best Credit Card for City Market Grocery Purchases
Compare the top grocery rewards cards to maximize points and cash back every time you shop at City Market.
Grocery stores are one of the highest-value bonus categories in rewards cards — top picks earn 4–6x points or up to 6% cash back. Spending $500/month at City Market with the right card can generate meaningful annual rewards compared to a flat 1x card. Cards like the Amex Gold (4x at U.S. supermarkets) and Blue Cash Preferred (6% cash back) are designed for this category.
How CardCurator ranks this merchant
These rankings use current earn rates, annual fee drag, reward value, and merchant-category fit. They are based on live card data, not a fixed sponsored list.
Top Pick
Chase Freedom Flex
5x on Grocery Stores (Q4 2026) - Eligible grocery-store purchases earn 5x during Q4 2026 after activation.
Note: This card has a combined $1,500 spending cap across ALL rotating categories this period. Earnings above this amount will be at the base rate. Remember to activate this quarter.
More Good Options
American Express Membership RewardsAmerican Express Gold Card4xpts/dollar8.0%return4x on U.S. Supermarkets
More Info →
American Express Cash BackBlue Cash Preferred Card from American Express6%pts/dollar6.0%return6x on U.S. Supermarkets
More Info →
Kroger RewardsKroger Rewards World Elite Mastercard5%pts/dollar5.0%return5x on Kroger Delivery & Pickup
More Info →
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Quick summary
A short version of the recommendation with the main numbers and tradeoffs.
At City Market, Chase Freedom Flex is currently our top overall pick at 5x, which works out to about 10.0% back based on CardCurator's current point valuations. 5x on Grocery Stores (Q4 2026) - Eligible grocery-store purchases earn 5x during Q4 2026 after activation. On $500/month of spend, the top card is worth about $600/year before signup bonuses or statement credits. Summary generated May 1, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/merchant/city-market
- Chase Freedom Flex: 5x and 10.0% effective return.
- At $500/month, that's about $600/year in rewards value before bonuses.
- Chase Freedom Flex is also the best no-annual-fee option.
- Methodology uses live earn rates, annual fees, and current point valuations.
Common Questions
What is the best credit card to use at City Market?
The Chase Freedom Flex is currently the top pick at City Market, earning 5x points per dollar — an effective 10.0% return. 5x on Grocery Stores (Q4 2026) - Eligible grocery-store purchases earn 5x during Q4 2026 after activation.
How many points do I earn at City Market per dollar spent?
Top cards earn between 3x and 6x at City Market. Leading options include: Chase Freedom Flex (5x), American Express Gold Card (4x), Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express (6x).
Does City Market count as grocery stores for credit card rewards?
City Market typically falls under the Grocery Stores category for credit card reward purposes. Cards with a grocery stores spending bonus will earn an elevated rate here. Grocery stores are one of the highest-value bonus categories in rewards cards — top picks earn 4–6x points or up to 6% cash back. Spending $500/month at City Market with the right card can generate meaningful annual rewards compared to a flat 1x card. Cards like the Amex Gold (4x at U.S. supermarkets) and Blue Cash Preferred (6% cash back) are designed for this category.
Is there a no-annual-fee card that earns well at City Market?
Yes — the Chase Freedom Flex has no annual fee and earns 5x at City Market (10.0% effective return). 5x on Grocery Stores (Q4 2026) - Eligible grocery-store purchases earn 5x during Q4 2026 after activation.
Is a premium card worth the annual fee for City Market spending?
The American Express Gold Card ($325/yr) earns 4x at City Market. If you spend $339/month or more there, the category rewards alone offset the annual fee — before counting travel credits and other perks that often exceed $500 in value on premium cards.
Which card earns the most if I spend $500 per month at City Market?
Chase Freedom Flex: $600/yr, American Express Gold Card: $480/yr, Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express: $360/yr. The Chase Freedom Flex earns the most at $500/month.
Also earning in Grocery Stores
Need a situation-specific recommendation?
Merchant rankings are a good starting point, but the best card can change if you care more about international use, business spending, or lower-friction approval.