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

The CIBC Aventura Visa 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 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 wins by $224/yr — strongest in groceries

RBC ION Visa earns $124 more on groceries
RBC ION Visa earns $22 more on bills & utilities

Groceries: +$124Bills & Utilities: +$22Shopping: +$19

CIBC Aventura Visa: Groceries cap limits earning — losing ~$68/yr above cap

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

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

Showing Year 1 analysis

Dollar Value

$158

/first year

0.4% effective$13/mo

vs 1% no-fee card: −$261

Annual rewards earned+$188

FX costs−$30

Annual fee−$0

Grocery cap reached at $6,000 — remaining $6,780 earns at base rate (losing ~$68 vs uncapped)

Total lost to caps: $68/yr across 1 category

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

+$224 more than CIBC Aventura Visa

Scroll down for the full breakdown

Earn Rates by Category

Wallet Optimizer

Neither card currently offers a welcome bonus.

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The Bottom Line

RBC ION Visa wins by $224/yr — strongest in groceries

RBC ION Visa earns $124 more on groceries
RBC ION Visa earns $22 more on bills & utilities

Groceries: +$124Bills & Utilities: +$22Shopping: +$19

Showing Year 1 analysis

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

Things to Consider

CIBC Aventura Visa: Groceries cap limits earning — losing ~$68/yr above cap

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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