Money
Walmart Rewards World Mastercard vs Costco Mastercard: 3% at Walmart or 3% at Costco gas?
The Walmart Rewards World Mastercard (Fairstone, $0) pays 3% in Walmart Reward Dollars at Walmart stores and Walmart.ca and 1% everywhere else, Costco included. The CIBC Costco Mastercard ties it in the warehouse and wins at Costco gas and restaurants (3%). Each card's rewards only spend at its own store, so if you shop at both, carry both.
By Cost Check Editorial · Last reviewed Oct 4, 2026 · 4 min read
The Walmart Rewards World Mastercard pays 3% at Walmart stores and Walmart.ca and 1% everywhere else, Costco included. The CIBC Costco Mastercard pays the same 1% in the warehouse, 3% at Costco gas and restaurants, and 1% at Walmart. Both are $0, and each card's rewards only spend at its own store. If you split your shopping between Walmart and Costco, carry both. Compare every option on our best cards for Costco page.
Calculator
What the Costco card earns on everything but Walmart
Enter what you spend at Costco, the gas bar and restaurants: the part to keep off the Walmart card.
Estimate your yearly cash back
Sample dataEstimated cash back per year
$378.00
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 Walmart Rewards World and Costco Mastercard compare?
From Fairstone's Walmart Rewards pages and CIBC's documents, checked October 4, 2026:
| CIBC Costco Mastercard | Walmart Rewards World Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Issuer | CIBC | Fairstone Bank of Canada |
| Costco warehouse | 1% | 1% |
| Costco gas | 3% (first $5,000 of gas a year) | 1% |
| Costco.ca | 2% (first $8,000 a year) | 1% |
| Restaurants | 3% | 1% |
| Walmart stores and Walmart.ca | 1% | 3% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1% |
| Rewards | Costco certificate, once a year | Walmart Reward Dollars, redeemed at Walmart in $5 steps |
| Membership perk | Doubles as your Costco membership card | 6 months of Walmart+ a year, as a statement credit |
| Purchase interest | 21.75% | 21.99% |
Fairstone's current welcome offer is $25 in Walmart Reward Dollars after a single Walmart purchase of $75 or more in the first 30 days.
What does the Walmart card earn at Costco?
1% on everything: the warehouse, the gas bar and Costco.ca. That ties the CIBC card in the warehouse and loses at the pump (3% against 1%), on Costco.ca (2% against 1%) and at restaurants. Both are Mastercards, so Canadian Costcos take either; see which cards Costco accepts. And the 1% you earn at Costco on the Walmart card comes back as Walmart Reward Dollars, which only spend at Walmart.
What's the difference between the two Walmart cards?
Fairstone offers a regular Walmart Rewards Mastercard and the World version. Both are $0 and earn the same 3% and 1%, at the same interest rates. The World card adds purchase assurance and an extended warranty, which the regular card doesn't include, and 6 months of Walmart+ a year as a statement credit when you pay for a regular-priced annual membership with the card (the regular card gets 3 months). Fairstone's comparison page doesn't list the World card's income requirement, so check it when you apply.
The CIBC Costco Mastercard includes purchase security, extended warranty and mobile device insurance up to $1,000; see the Costco card's insurance.
How much does each earn if you shop at both stores?
For each dollar at Walmart, the Walmart card earns 2% more than the CIBC card:
| Walmart spending a month | Extra a year over the CIBC card |
|---|---|
| $100 | $24 |
| $200 | $48 |
| $400 | $96 |
| $600 | $144 |
Sample data: our two-card guide's household, buying $200 of its $400 monthly grocery bill at Walmart.
| Setup | Rewards a year |
|---|---|
| CIBC Costco Mastercard only | $378 |
| Walmart Rewards World Mastercard only | $318 |
| CIBC for everything except Walmart, Walmart card at Walmart | $426 |
| CIBC plus Tangerine (groceries and bills) | $462 |
The Walmart card is a good free partner if Walmart is your second store, but a general grocery card such as Tangerine adds more when you also shop at other supermarkets and pay bills by card, and its cash back isn't tied to one store.
Is 3% at Walmart better than Executive at Costco?
They're closer than they look. An Executive member paying with the CIBC Costco Mastercard earns Costco's 2% Executive reward plus the card's 1%: about 3% in the warehouse, matching the Walmart card's 3% at Walmart. The difference is that Executive costs $65 a year more than Gold Star and its 2% stops at $1,250 a year, while the Walmart card is free. Our Executive and Mastercard stacking guide works through the numbers.
Which should you get?
- Costco is your main store: the CIBC Costco Mastercard. The Walmart card never beats it at Costco.
- You shop at both Walmart and Costco every month: both. The Walmart card only at Walmart and Walmart.ca; the Costco card everywhere else.
- Walmart World or the regular card: the World version if you qualify, for the same rewards plus purchase assurance and extended warranty.
- You also shop at other supermarkets: a grocery card is usually the better second card; see the best two-card setups.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I use the Walmart Rewards World Mastercard at Costco?
- Yes. Canadian Costcos take any Mastercard. It earns 1% there, in Walmart Reward Dollars you can only spend at Walmart.
- Is the Walmart Rewards World Mastercard better than the Costco Mastercard?
- At Walmart, yes: 3% against 1%. At Costco, no: it ties in the warehouse and earns 1% against 3% at Costco gas and restaurants.
- Who issues the Walmart Rewards Mastercard?
- Fairstone Bank of Canada issues both the Walmart Rewards Mastercard and the World version. Both have a $0 annual fee.
- What is the difference between the Walmart Rewards Mastercard and the World Mastercard?
- Both earn 3% at Walmart and 1% elsewhere for $0. The World version adds purchase assurance, extended warranty and 6 months of Walmart+ a year instead of 3.
- Can Walmart Reward Dollars be redeemed for cash?
- No. They redeem only at Walmart stores in Canada and Walmart.ca, in $5 increments.
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