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Is the SBI Card MILES PRIME Worth It?

Enter what you spend where this card pays more, and the benefits you would use. See what it is worth to you in rupees, after its fee.

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SBI Card MILES PRIME
SBI Card MILES PRIMEView card →
  • Travel card
  • ₹3,539 fee a year (with GST)
  • Fee waived from ₹83,333 a month
  • 0.5% base, up to 1% on travel
  • 12 lounge visits a year
  • Pays in air miles
Good for
  • travel: 1% back
  • spending ₹83,333 or more a month: the ₹3,539 fee is waived
  • flyers: 12 airport lounge visits a year
Skip it if
  • you spend less than ₹83,333 a month (₹10,00,000 a year, rent and wallet loads not counted): the ₹3,539 fee is then charged
  • most of your spending is fuel, utility bills, rent or insurance: those earn nothing on this card
  • you pay mostly by UPI: a Visa or Mastercard card cannot pay by UPI
  • you spend a lot on government payments: the card's terms do not state a rate there, so we count nothing
  • you rarely spend on travel: the 1% rate applies only there, everything else earns 0.5%
  • you sometimes pay only the minimum due: interest of 3.75% a month (45% a year) outweighs any reward

Your spend a month, by kind

Terms on the normal rate: 2 Travel Credits per ₹200 on all other spends (~0.50% at our 50-paisa default; ~1% only if you transfer at a good 1:1 ratio). Transfer to airline & hotel partners at up to 1 Travel Credit = ₹1.

Total on the card: ₹0 a month

Abroad and benefits

Every rate on this card, and what your spend earns

Earns nothing onFuelWallet loadsRentEducationUtility billsInsuranceCash withdrawalsEMI

Spend categoryRateMonthly capWhere it appliesYour spend earns
UPI payments (scan and pay)Earns nothing-a Visa or Mastercard card cannot pay by UPI-
Online shopping0.5%No capThe card's normal rate-
Dining and food delivery0.5%No capThe card's normal rate-
Groceries0.5%No capThe card's normal rate-
Travel: flights, hotels, trains1%No capAll merchants in the categoryTerms: 4 Travel Credits per ₹200 on travel spends (~1.0% at our 50-paisa default; ~2% only if you transfer at a good 1:1 ratio). Convert to Air Miles/Hotel Points at up to 1:1, travel bookings at ₹0.50, catalogue at ₹0.25.-
FuelEarns nothing-earns nothing on this card-
Bills and rechargesEarns nothing-earns nothing on this card-
RentEarns nothing-earns nothing on this card-
Insurance premiumsEarns nothing-earns nothing on this card-
School and college feesEarns nothing-earns nothing on this card-
Wallet top-upsEarns nothing-earns nothing on this card-
Taxes and government paymentsNot stated-the card's terms state no rate here; many cards pay nothing on these-
Spend abroad or in a foreign currency0.5%No capThe card's normal rate-
Everything else0.5%No capThe card's normal rate-

Common Questions

When is a credit card worth its annual fee?

When the rewards you actually earn in a year are more than the fee plus 18% GST, or when you spend enough for the bank to waive the fee. This calculator works out both from the card's own published terms.

Why is GST added to the fee?

Card fees carry 18% GST, so a ₹1,000 fee costs ₹1,180. Where the bank already quotes the fee with GST, it is not added twice.

What does 'capped' mean?

Many cards limit the reward you can earn in a month in a category. Spending above the cap earns nothing extra, so the calculator stops counting there.

Is a lifetime free card always better?

Not always. A paid card with higher rewards can leave you with more once you spend enough. The break-even line shows the monthly spend where that starts.

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