Some things in life are simply better in pairs—like a good book with a rainy afternoon or coffee with a quiet morning. The same applies to credit cards. When paired wisely, two cards can complement each other’s strengths, covering blind spots and turning your everyday spending into bigger rewards.
Whether you’re after cashback, travel miles, or general rewards points, combining the right credit cards can help you earn more efficiently. With Singapore’s high credit card usage—around 80% penetration according to Singapore Business Review—optimising your cards has become increasingly important. From 2013 to 2023, credit card transactions grew significantly, reflecting a strong preference for cashless payments and rewards-based spending.
Why bother pairing cards? Paying with credit cards instead of cash lets you earn rebates or rewards on purchases you would make anyway. Pairing cards strategically ensures you maximise your benefits while maintaining convenience and efficiency. After reviewing dozens of options, here are the top credit card pairings in Singapore for cashback, miles, and rewards.
1. Best Cashback Card Pairing: UOB EVOL Credit Card + Citi Cash Back+ or OCBC INFINITY Cashback Card
UOB EVOL Credit Card
Bonus: 10% cashback on online, mobile contactless, selected gym, telco, and streaming spend
Minimum spend: S$800/month
Monthly cap: S$80 (though you don’t need to max this out to benefit)
Citi Cash Back+ Card / OCBC INFINITY Cashback Card
Bonus: 1.6% unlimited cashback on all other spend
The UOB EVOL Credit Card is ideal for high-rebate categories like streaming, gyms, and telcos, offering capped 10% cashback. Once you reach the cap, pair it with a fuss-free unlimited cashback card like Citi Cash Back+ or OCBC INFINITY to earn 1.6% on all other spending. This combination ensures no category goes unrewarded.
2. Best Miles Card Pairing: UOB PRVI Miles + Citi PremierMiles Card
UOB PRVI Miles Card
8 miles per S$1 spent on major airlines and hotels booked via Expedia or Agoda
2.4 miles per S$1 on overseas spend, including online purchases
1.4 miles per S$1 on local spend
Citi PremierMiles Card
10 Citi Miles per S$1 on Kaligo bookings
7.2 Citi Miles per S$1 on Agoda bookings
2.2 Citi Miles per S$1 on foreign currency spend
1.2 Citi Miles per S$1 local spend
Citi Miles never expire
Use the UOB PRVI Miles Card for flights booked on Expedia or Agoda to maximise airline miles. Complement it with Citi PremierMiles for hotel bookings or foreign currency transactions to cover other travel spend categories. Together, these cards optimise miles accrual across trips.
3. Best Rewards Points Pairing: UOB Lady’s Card + Citi Rewards Card
UOB Lady’s Card
Up to 25X UNI$ per S$5 spent in your preferred quarterly category
10X UNI$ per S$5 on general spending
Additional 15X UNI$ when linked to a UOB Savings Account
Citi Rewards Card
10X points on online purchases (groceries, food delivery, ride-hailing)
10X points on shopping categories (department stores, clothing)
1X points on all other purchases
This pairing allows you to earn bonus points on up to S$2,000 monthly spend. The Citi Rewards Card covers broad bonus categories, while the UOB Lady’s Card gives flexibility to pick preferred categories each quarter. Both cards earn 4 miles per S$1 on bonus categories, maximising overall rewards.
Key Assumptions for These Pairings
You’re using only two cards per rebate category.
Cashback, miles, or rewards are prioritised over other card benefits such as travel insurance or lifestyle perks.
You meet eligibility for entry-level cards (annual income of S$30,000 for Singaporeans or S$40–45,000 for non-Singaporeans).
These pairings focus on general spend categories rather than niche categories like ride-hailing or Grab.
By combining the right credit cards, you can turn everyday spending into significant rewards, whether it’s cashback, miles, or points. Careful planning ensures every dollar spent contributes to maximising benefits, helping you make the most of your wallet in Singapore’s rewards-driven market.
