Money
Triangle Mastercard vs Costco Mastercard: Canadian Tire's card leaves Costco out of groceries
The Triangle Mastercard from Canadian Tire Bank pays 4% in CT Money at Canadian Tire stores, and the World Elite version 3% at grocery stores, but its grocery rate explicitly excludes Costco. At Costco it earns 1% (World Elite) or 0.5% (regular card); the CIBC Costco Mastercard pays 1% in the warehouse and 3% at Costco gas. Both are $0.
By Cost Check Editorial · Last reviewed Oct 4, 2026 · 4 min read
The Triangle Mastercard pays 4% in CT Money at Canadian Tire (often searched as Canadian Tyre) and its sister stores, and the World Elite version pays 3% at grocery stores, but Canadian Tire Bank's fine print says the grocery rate excludes Costco. At Costco, Triangle World Elite earns 1% and the regular Triangle card 0.5%, against 1% in the warehouse and 3% at Costco gas on the CIBC Costco Mastercard. All three cards are $0. If you shop at both chains, carry the Costco card for Costco and Triangle for Canadian Tire and the supermarket. Compare every option on our best cards for Costco page.
Calculator
What the Costco card earns on your Costco trips
Enter what you spend at Costco, the gas bar and restaurants: the part Triangle pays only its base rate on.
Estimate your yearly cash back
Sample dataEstimated cash back per year
$342.00
Rates are CIBC’s published rates and are editable, as is the spending. Includes CIBC’s yearly category caps (spending above a cap earns 1%); there’s no limit on total cash back. Check current terms before you apply.
How do the Triangle and Costco Mastercard compare?
From Canadian Tire Bank's Triangle card pages and CIBC's documents, checked October 4, 2026:
| CIBC Costco Mastercard | Triangle World Elite Mastercard | Triangle Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Minimum income | $15,000 household | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household | None listed |
| Costco warehouse | 1% | 1% | 0.5% |
| Costco gas | 3% (first $5,000 of gas a year) | 1% | 0.5% |
| Canadian Tire family stores | 1% | 4% | 4% |
| Grocery stores (code 5411, not Costco or Walmart) | 1% | 3% (first $12,000 a year) | 1.5% (first $12,000 a year) |
| Canadian Tire gas stations | 2% | 7 cents a litre on premium, 5 cents on other fuel | 5 cents a litre |
| Restaurants | 3% | 1% | 0.5% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1% | 0.5% |
| Rewards | Costco certificate, once a year | CT Money | CT Money |
| Purchase interest | 21.75% | 21.99% | 21.99% |
Does the Triangle Mastercard earn grocery rewards at Costco?
No. Canadian Tire Bank says its 1.5% and 3% grocery rates apply to the first $12,000 a year "at grocery stores with Mastercard merchant code 5411" and exclude "purchases at Walmart, Walmart Superstore and Costco." So a Costco grocery run earns Triangle's base rate: 1% on World Elite, 0.5% on the regular card. That's an explicit exclusion on top of the coding issue every grocery card has with Costco; see which grocery cards pay their bonus at Costco.
Costco gas doesn't help either: Triangle's per-litre rewards are for Canadian Tire's own gas stations. Both Triangle cards are Mastercards, so Costco accepts them, but the CIBC card earns at least as much on every Costco purchase and three times as much at the pump.
What's the difference between Triangle and Triangle World Elite?
Both are $0 and pay 4% at Canadian Tire family stores. The World Elite doubles the grocery rate (3% against 1.5%) and the everyday rate (1% against 0.5%), adds premium-fuel rewards, and includes purchase security, extended warranty, car rental collision and loss damage coverage, a Roadside Assistance Gold plan (towing up to 250 km a call) and a concierge. It needs $80,000 of personal income or $150,000 for the household. If you qualify, there's no reason to take the regular card.
How much does each earn for a household that shops at both?
Sample data: our two-card guide's household, with $100 of its monthly "everything else" spent at Canadian Tire family stores and its $400 of supermarket groceries at a 5411 grocery store.
| Setup | Rewards a year |
|---|---|
| CIBC Costco Mastercard only | $378 |
| Triangle World Elite only | $402 |
| CIBC for Costco, gas, restaurants and everything else; Triangle World Elite for groceries and Canadian Tire | $510 |
| Same split with the regular Triangle card | $438 |
| CIBC plus BMO CashBack (no fee) | $474 |
Triangle World Elite is one of the best free partners for the Costco card: 3% on supermarket groceries plus 4% at Canadian Tire. The regular Triangle card is weaker; its 0.5% base rate means it should only ever be used at Canadian Tire stores and the supermarket. Compare with the other two-card setups.
Which has better insurance and perks?
Triangle World Elite. Canadian Tire Bank lists purchase security, extended warranty, car rental collision and loss damage insurance, the Roadside Assistance Gold plan and a concierge. The CIBC Costco Mastercard has purchase security, extended warranty and mobile device insurance up to $1,000, but no rental car coverage; see which card to pay for a rental with. The regular Triangle card's page lists financing options rather than insurance.
Shopping for tires? The card matters less than the quote: Costco includes installation and lifetime rotations, Canadian Tire charges for them. See Costco tires vs Canadian Tire.
Which should you get?
- Costco is your main store: the CIBC Costco Mastercard. Triangle never earns more on a Costco purchase.
- You shop at Costco, a supermarket and Canadian Tire, and qualify for World Elite: both. Triangle World Elite for groceries and Canadian Tire; the Costco card for Costco, Costco gas, restaurants and everything else.
- Regular Triangle card only: use it only at Canadian Tire stores; a grocery card such as Tangerine is the better second card for groceries.
- You drive a lot: Triangle's roadside plan is worth having; buy gas at Costco with the Costco card.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Triangle Mastercard count Costco as groceries?
- No. Canadian Tire Bank's grocery rate applies to merchant code 5411 and excludes Walmart, Walmart Superstore and Costco, so Costco earns 1% on World Elite or 0.5% on the regular card.
- Can I use the Triangle Mastercard at Costco?
- Yes. Canadian Costcos accept any Mastercard, but Triangle earns its base rate there, less than the CIBC Costco Mastercard's 1% to 3%.
- Is the Triangle World Elite better than the Costco Mastercard?
- At grocery stores (3%) and Canadian Tire stores (4%), yes. At Costco, no: it ties at 1% in the warehouse and earns 1% against 3% at Costco gas.
- What income do you need for the Triangle World Elite Mastercard?
- $80,000 personal or $150,000 household income, per Canadian Tire Bank. The regular Triangle Mastercard lists no income requirement.
- Is there a cap on Triangle's grocery rewards?
- Yes. The 3% (World Elite) and 1.5% (regular) grocery rates apply to the first $12,000 a year, then 1%.
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