The Top 3 Credit Cards in My Wallet [While Living in New York City]

It’s almost been 3 years since I made my big move to Manhattan. While that may not grant me official New Yorker status just yet, I’ve come to the point where I consider this buzzing metropolis my home.

That said, I carry nearly a dozen credit cards in my wallet that help maximize my lifestyle, whether I’m traveling somewhere new or dining at one of the many fantastic restaurants in my neighborhood.

But let’s say I wanted to make my life simple with just 3 cards and ditch the others for good. In that case, I’d pick the Bilt Mastercard, the American Express^® Gold Card, and The Platinum Card^® from American Express — here’s why.

My Current Travel and Lifestyle Habits

Before we dive in, I’ll give some context on my current travel and lifestyle habits.

I’ve lived in various apartments in several neighborhoods in Manhattan since I first moved here in 2020, and rent is easily my largest recurring experience. At every single apartment I’ve lived in, I’ve experienced notorious rent increases — most recently by more than 30%!

As a freelance editor and content contributor, I also spend a large chunk of my time traveling. Fortunately, many of the New York City airports have experienced a “glow-up” while I’ve lived here. LaGuardia is now my favorite airport to fly out of — it’s the closest airport by distance and offers a great range of lounge options. But even Newark‘s new Terminal A has become a great place to fly from.

When I’m not traveling, I like going on runs on the West Side Highway or exploring new fitness classes on ClassPass, dining at new restaurants every week, and seeing new Broadway shows or concerts. None of those activities (except running) are free, and I spend the vast majority of my budget on rent, food, and groceries. Based on my current lifestyle habits, these 3 cards help me outsize my rewards potential and fuel my future trips.

Bilt Mastercard

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Bilt Mastercard

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Apply Now(at Bilt's secure site)

Bilt Mastercard

Welcome Offer

No offer available

No offer available

Annual Fee

$0

APR

See Rate & Fees

Why We Like This Card

Never before has there been a credit card built specifically with renters in mind. Enter the Bilt Mastercard, designed specifically to help renters earn rewards on their rent payments with no transaction fees.

Of course, aside from rewards on rent, there are many other solid features that the card offers that add extra value to cardholders. In this guide, we provide a complete breakdown of everything the Bilt Card has to offer to help you decide whether the card makes sense for you.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points per $1 at restaurants
• 2x points per $1 on travel booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies
• 1x point per $1 on rent payments, without a transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year

Cons

• Does not offer a welcome bonus
• Must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• $0 Annual Fee
• Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year
• Earns 3x points on dining
• Earn 2x points on travel
• Earn 1x points on other purchases
• Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points)
• Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
• Earn up to 5x Bilt points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card
• Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent payments, statement credits, toward a down payment on a home, etc.
• Select “Learn More” to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Rate & Fees
• Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

You can’t talk about New York without bringing up everyone’s favorite subject matter: rent.

Unsurprisingly, New York City tops the charts as the most expensive U.S. rental market. In December 2022, the median rent for a 1-bedroom home was $3,738, according to CNBC.

In the name of transparency, I pay around $2,000 per month for rent — and that’s with 1 roommate! Perhaps the only silver lining of paying an exorbitant amount of rent is that I can earn points for my most expensive recurring expense with my Bilt Card.

Issued by Wells Fargo, the Bilt Card is an innovative product that allows you to earn points on rent without transaction fees — and it has a $0 annual fee (rates & fees)! Therefore, as long as you don’t miss a payment on the card — which you should be doing anyway if you have a credit card — you won’t pay fees. Here’s the ongoing rewards rate:

• 3x points on dining, including takeout and delivery
• 2x points on travel, from airfare to hotels to subway fares to bus tickets to taxis — and you can earn 5x total points on Lyft rideshares now!
• 1x points on rent (capped at 100,000 points earned per year) and other eligible purchases

From rent alone, I earn 24,000 points every year. We estimate that Bilt points are worth 1.8 cents apiece, so I’m bringing home a respectable $432 worth of points from rent annually.

Hot Tip: The Bilt Rewards Alliance is made up of more than 2 million participating rental homes where you can seamlessly pay your rent through the Bilt app. Even if your apartment isn’t part of this network (mine isn’t), Bilt generates a checking and savings account number on the app that you can use to pay rent to your landlord, and it’ll charge your card the amount. It’s that easy.

The only “catch” is that you have to use this card 5x per statement period (of any amount) to reap the full points on rent (See Rewards & Benefits). But between my $2.75 subway fare or a $7 latte, hitting this monthly requirement is effortless.

Plus, on the first of every month, I look forward to Bilt Rent Day where cardholders can earn double points on all purchases (except rent). That means 6x points at restaurants, 4x points on travel, and 2x points on non-bonus purchases (See Rewards & Benefits). For me, that’s when I like to strategically line up the monthly payment date for my hefty medical or utility bills to earn double points.

Simply put, it’s easy to amass a pile of Bilt points, which are quickly becoming my favorite loyalty currency. With 12 airline and 2 hotel transfer partners that transfer at a 1:1 ratio, my favorites are American Airlines AAdvantage (no longer available as of June 24, 2024) and World of Hyatt.

Most recently, I transferred my Bilt points to Hyatt to book the stunning Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch for 23,000 points per night. With nightly rates at over $600 per night, I scored an excellent 2.6 per point value with my Bilt points.

American Express^® Gold Card

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

If it’s not rent, it’s everything related to food that puts a dent in my spending. In fact, I use my Amex Gold card exclusively for dining and groceries, as it earns:

• 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to the first $25,000 spent per year; then 1x points)
• 3x points for flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com
• 1x points on all other eligible purchases

The 4x point multiplier is incredibly powerful and arguably one of the best earning rates for both dining and groceries. I do enjoy cooking at home most days, but I equally like exploring new restaurants and allocate a significant portion of my budget for dining.

While this number fluctuates per month (depending if I’m in New York or traveling), let’s say that I spend around $1,000 per month on these 2 bonus categories. That’s 48,000 Membership Rewards points that I’m taking home every year, worth $1,056 according to our valuations.

These rewards earned cover the $325 annual fee (rates & fees) for me. Other ways I maximize this card is by taking advantage of annual statement credits that you can enroll for on your Amex account:

• Up to $120 in Uber Cash, which is good for rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. (up to $10 per month) if you add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account, but any Amex card can be used for payment
• Up to $120 dining credit, which is good at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys (up to $10 per month)

The first credit is incredibly easy to use, and I look forward to my Uber Cash getting loaded every month. Inevitably, I’ll take an Uber ride (or multiple) throughout the month, so the $10 discount adds up to $120 in automatic savings every year.

Admittedly, the second credit is harder to use and may not be as intuitive — it’s almost like it was built for New Yorkers to use. However, I’ll use Grubhub pickup to grab lunch and avoid unnecessary delivery fees.

The Amex Membership Rewards program boasts 20 airline and hotel transfer partners, including Delta Air Lines, my preferred domestic carrier. However, the international programs are where you’ll find incredible value for your points — I just booked an Iberia business class flight for 50,000 points between Madrid (MAD) and New York (JFK) this summer by transferring points to Iberia Plus.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel^® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel^®.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• With American Express Global Lounge Collection^® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion^® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club^® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express^® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
• A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID – this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card^®.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
• $695 annual fee.¤
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The final card I’d pick is a bit of a luxury.

At the start of 2023, I finally bit the bullet and opened the Amex Platinum card. I had avoided opening one for so long, as the $695 annual fee (rates & fees) is daunting.

However, the Amex Platinum card comes with an extensive number of statement credits that the issuer claims to amount to more than $1,400 yearly. While that’s true, there are many credits I wouldn’t necessarily use at all if I didn’t hold the card.

With that said, here are the statement credits that I know I would already use personally that help me justify the $695 annual fee:

• Up to $200 annual hotel credit on select prepaid hotel bookings through AmexTravel.com
• Up to $240 annual digital entertainment credit: Up to $20 in monthly statement credits for select digital entertainment partners — I already subscribed to The New York Times ($5/month)
• Up to $200 annual Uber Cash: Up to $15 monthly (plus a bonus of $20 in December) for Uber Eats or rides in the U.S.
• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit for incidentals on 1 qualifying airline

Those 4 statement credits amount to $840 per year, and that’s before I consider the other statement credits that are merely nice-to-haves at this point:

• Up to $199 annual CLEAR Plus membership credit
• Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit: Up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually
• Up to $155 annual Walmart+ credit for fast, free delivery and gas discounts

Some of the credits I’ve mentioned require enrollment, and, of course, I don’t maximize every single credit. For instance, I don’t go to Equinox gyms, although there are plenty of locations in New York. If you are a member, you’ll get up to $300 in Equinox credit toward your gym membership every year.

There’s also a useful credit of up to $120 for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck application fees. I already have Global Entry, but you can use this credit to pay for a family member or friend’s application — trust me, they’ll thank you later!

Hot Tip: All Amex cards get access to incredible Amex Offers, which display 100 great discounts at a time for dining, entertainment, and more. Some of these offers can be quite lucrative, like a $150 statement credit when you spend $600 more on Delta Air Lines.

But we haven’t even discussed my 2 favorite benefits on the Amex Platinum yet: access to the Global Lounge Collection and the terrific earning rate on flights and hotels.

I am constantly traveling, primarily as I can easily access 3 major airports at any point. At New York’s LaGuardia (LGA) and John F. Kennedy (JFK), I can visit the Amex Centurion Lounge to grab a bite (and avoid overpaying for a lousy airport meal), charge up my devices, and even take a shower before my flight. Even better, the Newark (EWR) Centurion Lounge is slated to open sometime this year.

When flying domestically, I mostly fly with Delta, so the ability to access Delta Sky Clubs (10 visits a year) on a same-day ticket is helpful, too. That said, I much prefer the gorgeous new Sky Club in LaGuardia’s Terminal C nowadays. You can also enroll in a Priority Pass membership, which grants you access to 1,400 partner lounges worldwide.

The last point I’ll make is the fantastic earning rate on the card. You can earn 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com (up to the first $500,000 spent per calendar year; then 1x points) and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com, as well as 1x points on all other purchases. That 5x multiplier is industry-leading when it comes to earning points on flights and hotels. Combined with the points I earn from my Amex Gold card, I earn a giant balance of Membership Rewards points every year.

While I’m still working to achieve the spending minimum for the 150,000-point welcome offer, there’s a world of possibilities when those points arrive in my Membership Rewards balance. Right now, I’m eyeing another business class flight on Singapore Airlines to Southeast Asia.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to my favorite rewards cards, it boils down to 2 factors: How can I maximize my everyday spending, and how can I elevate my travel experience? Surely, if I lived in another part of the country (or the world), I may have a different approach, but these 3 cards have been valuable additions to my lifestyle in New York City.