Which card is better for groceries, CIBC Aventura Visa for Students or RBC ION Visa?

The CIBC Aventura Visa for Students earns 1x on groceries, while the RBC ION Visa earns 1.2x. The better choice depends on your grocery spending and the specific merchants you shop at.

CIBC Aventura Visa for Students vs RBC ION Visa — Which Is Better? | Churnr

Header Quick Take Value Earn Rates Merchants Wallet Bonus FX Benefits Eligibility Perks Downgrade Verdict

RBC ION Visa edges ahead by $144/yr

RBC ION Visa earns $56 more on groceries
RBC ION Visa earns $22 more on bills & utilities

Groceries: +$56Bills & Utilities: +$22Shopping: +$19

CIBC Aventura Visa for Students: $30/yr in foreign transaction fees

RBC ION Visa: $30/yr in foreign transaction fees

Showing Year 1 analysis

Dollar Value

$237

/first year

0.6% effective$20/mo

vs 1% no-fee card: −$181

Annual rewards earned+$267

FX costs−$30

Annual fee−$0

Winner

$382

/first year

0.9% effective$32/mo

vs 1% no-fee card: −$37

Annual rewards earned+$412

FX costs−$30

Annual fee−$0

Best for your spendingRBC ION Visa—$382Year 1 value

+$144 more than CIBC Aventura Visa for Students

Scroll down for the full breakdown

Earn Rates by Category

Wallet Optimizer

Neither card currently offers a welcome bonus.

Downgrade

Coming soon

The Bottom Line

RBC ION Visa edges ahead by $144/yr

RBC ION Visa earns $56 more on groceries
RBC ION Visa earns $22 more on bills & utilities

Groceries: +$56Bills & Utilities: +$22Shopping: +$19

Showing Year 1 analysis

RBC ION Visa wins in both Year 1 and Year 2+ — consistent long-term value.

Data Sources

Issuer terms & conditions (verified Feb 2026)

Merchant MCC verification (239 merchants)

Insurance certificates (PDF review)

Reward program documentation

User-reported acceptance data

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