Paying rent with a credit card like the American Express Gold Card is possible—but should you? With many landlords charging a 3% convenience fee for card payments, you might wonder if the Membership Rewards (MR) points you earn actually outweigh the cost. For those trying to hit spending thresholds for welcome bonuses or optimize their rewards strategy, using a credit card for rent can be smart—but only in specific cases.
So, is it worth it? Let’s break it down.
Yes, You Can Pay Rent with Amex Gold — But There’s a Catch
The Amex Gold Card does allow rent payments—either directly if your landlord accepts credit cards or through third-party services like Plastiq, RadPad, or Bilt Rewards. But most landlords that accept cards will pass on a 2.5% to 3% processing fee. That means if your rent is $2,300, you’ll pay an extra $69 monthly.
In return, Amex Gold earns 1x MR point per dollar on rent (since rent isn’t in a bonus category like dining or groceries). That’s 2,300 points per month, which many people value at about 1 cent per point (cpp)—translating to roughly $23 in rewards. So you’re spending $69 to earn $23. Not a great deal… unless you’re playing a more advanced rewards game.
Are Amex MR Points Worth the Fee?
Here’s the rough math using standard values:
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Monthly Rent: $2,300
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Fee (3%): $69
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Points Earned: 2,300 MR
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Value at 1cpp: $23
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Net Loss: $46
Unless you value MR points at 3cpp or more, or you’re working toward a sign-up bonus with a required minimum spend, this isn’t a good long-term strategy.
Some Reddit users noted they only pay rent on their Amex Gold or Platinum cards to hit welcome bonuses—which often require $3,000–$6,000 in the first few months. In those cases, the bonus (worth hundreds of dollars) far outweighs the small monthly fee.
Can You Redeem Amex Points at a Better Rate?
Yes—if you’re savvy.
Amex MR points are often more valuable when:
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Transferred to airline partners like ANA, Singapore KrisFlyer, or Air France Flying Blue
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Booked through Amex Travel using a Platinum card (1.5cpp with Business Platinum for flights)
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Redeemed for premium international flights, where you might squeeze out 2–5cpp
So, if you’re planning a trip to Europe or South America (as one Redditor suggested), and you can transfer 85,000 MR points to cover a $1,500 flight, that’s nearly 1.8cpp—suddenly the math starts to make sense.
When Paying Rent with Amex Gold Does Make Sense
✅ You’re working toward a welcome bonus
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Earning 60,000+ points from a new card outweighs the 3% fee short-term
✅ You value MR points at 2–3cpp
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You travel often and know how to transfer and book efficiently
✅ You use rent to meet high-spend offers
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Amex sometimes offers “Spend $4,000, get 20,000 MR” promos
✅ Your landlord doesn’t charge a fee
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Rare, but some Redditors reported getting the Shop Small bonus with no extra charge
Alternatives: Better Cards to Use for Rent?
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Bilt Mastercard: No annual fee, no fee to pay rent, and earns 1x points on rent. Best choice if you regularly pay rent with a card.
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Blue Business Plus (BBP): Earns 2x MR points on all purchases, including rent, up to $50,000 per year. Great value if you don’t mind the 3% fee.
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Discover/Chase Freedom Flex + PayPal (via rent platforms): May offer 5% quarterly cash back if your rent platform qualifies.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Paying Rent with Amex Gold?
In most cases, no. Paying 3% to earn 1x MR points usually results in a loss—unless:
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You’re meeting a bonus spend,
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You’re redeeming MR points at 3cpp+ (like premium flights),
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Or your landlord doesn’t charge fees.
Otherwise, consider alternatives like Bilt Rewards for no-fee rent payments and solid value.
FAQs
Can I pay rent with Amex Gold on Plastiq?
Yes, but Plastiq also charges ~2.85% fee, and Amex Gold still earns 1x MR.
Is rent a bonus category on Amex Gold?
No. Rent is considered a general purchase (1x).
Can I transfer Amex points to airlines for better value?
Yes! Partners like ANA, Virgin Atlantic, and Air France offer high redemption rates.
Final Tip: Be Strategic
If you’re early in your credit journey or trying to reach a sign-up bonus, paying rent with Amex Gold for a few months could be worth it. Otherwise, stick to fee-free methods or use a rewards card like Bilt that’s built for rent.
