Cards for a big purchase · ranked on a $5,000 bill

Best credit card for moving costs

Movers, truck rental, new furniture and the first month's bills land within a few weeks, which is exactly the shape of a welcome bonus requirement.

On a $5,000 bill, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card comes out ahead at about $1,025 in the first year.

Updated 2026-09-16. Personal cards only.

#CardWelcome bonusThe bill earnsAnnual feeFirst yearWorth it until a card fee of
1 Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Chase after $3,000 in 3 months
$1,050 $70 $95 $1,025 20.5%
2 Capital One Venture Rewards
Capital One after $4,000 in 3 months
$975 $130 $95 $1,010 20.2%
3 Aeroplan Card
Chase after $4,000 in 3 months
$1,013 $68 $95 $985 19.7%
4 Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card
Chase after $5,000 in 3 months
$975 $65 $95 $945 18.9%
5 British Airways Visa Signature Card
Chase after $5,000 in 3 months
$975 $65 $95 $945 18.9%
6 Iberia Visa Signature Card
Chase after $5,000 in 3 months
$975 $65 $95 $945 18.9%
7 Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase after $5,000 in 3 months
$938 $63 $95 $905 18.1%
8 Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
American Express after $3,000 in 6 months
$920 $58 $150 $828 16.6%
9 Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
American Express after $4,000 in 6 months
$1,035 $58 $350 $743 14.8%
10 Capital One Venture X
Capital One after $4,000 in 3 months
$975 $130 $395 $710 14.2%

Bonuses are valued with our conservative point values; "the bill earns" uses each card's base rate, since a venue or school rarely counts as a bonus category. Offers change often and some are targeted, so check the bank's page before you apply.

Before you pay

  • Rent and security deposits often can't go on a card, or cost a fee when they can. Count only what really goes on the card.
  • A move is also when people miss a payment. Set up autopay for at least the statement balance before the bills start.

Common questions

Which card is best for a move?

On a $5,000 bill, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card comes out ahead at about $1,025 in the first year: its welcome bonus, plus what the bill earns at its base rate, minus the annual fee. That assumes you can open it before paying and pay the balance in full.

Does a card fee change the answer?

Yes. Each row shows the fee at which that card stops being worth using. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card stays ahead of paying another way until the fee reaches about 20.5% of the bill.

Why aren't bigger bonuses listed?

Only cards whose spend requirement a $5,000 bill clears on its own are ranked. A card with a larger bonus and a larger requirement can still be worth it if the rest of your spending makes up the difference.

Which card should this spending actually be on? The demo re-scores a year of realistic spending against every card in a wallet — free, no signup. See it on sample data →

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