Miles vs Cashback

Best Credit Cards for Big Spenders

If you put a lot through your card each month, premium miles cards with strong earn rates and travel perks usually return the most — the annual fee is easily justified by the volume.

  1. Why it fits: Built for heavy and overseas spenders, with a strong foreign earn rate and lounge access.

    Annual fee S$261.60 · Min income S$30,000

    Pros

    • +First-year annual fee waived (S$261.60 thereafter)
    • +~2.4 mpd base on foreign spend, good for overseas use
    • +Airport lounge access included
    • +Visa option means wider acceptance than Amex variant

    Cons

    • S$261.60 annual fee from year two onwards
    • Local rate only ~1.4 mpd, weak for SG spend
    • Standard foreign-currency fee still applies on FX spend
  2. Why it fits: Premium KrisFlyer earning and perks that pay off at higher spend.

    Annual fee S$397.85 · Min income S$30,000

    Pros

    • +Earns KrisFlyer miles directly, no transfer step needed
    • +~1.2 mpd base on both local and foreign spend
    • +Bonus miles on SIA, Scoot and Grab spend (capped)
    • +Lounge access plus an annual hotel night included

    Cons

    • S$397.85 annual fee; pays off mainly for SIA flyers
    • Amex less widely accepted than Visa/Mastercard in SG
    • Bonus categories are capped, limiting extra miles
  3. Why it fits: Non-expiring travel miles on general spend, with lounge visits.

    Annual fee S$196.20 · Min income S$30,000

    Pros

    • +Beginner-friendly all-rounder for general spend + travel
    • +Miles never expire, so no rush to redeem
    • +Decent ~2.2 mpd on overseas spend for travel
    • +Airport lounge access included

    Cons

    • S$196.20 annual fee; auto spend-waiver ends Aug 2026
    • Low ~1.3 mpd base rate on local spend
    • Visa-only, no Amex perks for this card

Frequently asked questions

Is a premium credit card worth it for big spenders?
Often yes — at high spend, the extra earn rate and perks comfortably outweigh the annual fee. Run the numbers against your actual monthly spend.
Do high earn rates apply to all spend?
Not always — some cards cap bonus categories or split local and foreign rates. Check where the high rate actually applies.