Citi Strata Elite Card
A Citi Mastercard card with a $595 annual fee. Here's what it pays back after that fee for three spending profiles, simulated month by month. Terms verified Oct 5, 2026.
What it's worth
5 years, the welcome offer counted when the profile's own spending reaches it, points valued for travel. Merchant credits like Uber or DoorDash aren't counted for typed profiles.
| Profile | Year 1 | Then yearly | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday spender About $2,000 a month, mostly groceries and errands, one trip a year. | $1,022 | −$28 | $910 |
| Balanced About $3,500 a month with a few trips a year and regular dining out. | $1,476 | $426 | $3,178 |
| Frequent traveler About $5,000 a month, heavy on flights, hotels and restaurants, some trips abroad. | $1,954 | $904 | $5,572 |
Your spending isn't one of our profiles. Drop in a year of statements and see where the Citi Strata Elite ranks against every card we track. They're read on this device and never uploaded.
Terms
| Term | Citi Strata Elite |
|---|---|
| Issuer and network | Citi, Mastercard |
| Annual fee | $595 |
| Requires | Nothing extra |
| Welcome offer | 75,000 points after $6,000 in 3 months |
| Earning | 12x on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through Citi Travel · 6x on air travel booked through Citi Travel · 3x at restaurants, including restaurant delivery (6x on Citi Nights: Fri & Sat 6 PM-6 AM ET) · 1.5x on everything else |
| Rewards currency | Citi ThankYou points |
| Statement credits | Up to $300 annual hotel benefit (Citi Travel, 2+ nights) · Up to $200 Splurge Credit (choose up to 2 brands) · Up to $200 Blacklane chauffeur credit ($100 Jan-Jun + $100 Jul-Dec) |
| Lounges | Priority Pass member lounge (lounges only; restaurants, spas, sleep pods, gaming excluded), American Airlines Admirals Club |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Authorized users | $75 each |
| Availability | Open to new applicants |
| Verified | Oct 5, 2026 |
Checked against the issuer's page. Dates and sources for each part.
Fine print
- Citi Nights: restaurant purchases (including restaurant delivery services) authorized Friday 6 PM-Saturday 6 AM ET and Saturday 6 PM-Sunday 6 AM ET earn 6x instead of 3x. Eligibility is based on authorization time, not posting time.
- Base rate is 1.5x on everything else, including travel booked outside Citi Travel.
- Unlocks Citi's full transfer roster at full ratios, including American Airlines AAdvantage 1:1.
- Authorized users cost $75 each per year and get their own Priority Pass Select membership.
- Citigold clients get a $145 annual banking relationship credit. Citigold Private Clients get $595 in the first year and $145 after.
- Cash-out: about 0.75 cent per point when this is your only ThankYou card, and 1 cent if a Double Cash or Custom Cash shares the ThankYou account.
Already have it? Is the Citi Strata Elite still worth $595 a year?