Verified 2026 Bank MITC Rules & RBI ExclusionsUpdated: 2026-03-01
IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card vs American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card for ₹150,000 Monthly Spend
Comparing IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card vs American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card at ₹150,000/month. American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card wins, delivering ₹28,320 net annual value (1.57% ROI) vs ₹11,880 for IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card.
Interactive Head-to-Head Simulator
Test Your Monthly Spend & Category Mix
Simulates real-world capping thresholds, 18% GST deductions, and bank waiver rules in real time.
₹1,50,000(₹18,00,000/yr)
₹10,000/mo₹1,00,000/mo₹2,50,000/mo
Winner at ₹1,50,000/mo+ ₹16,440/yr Higher Value
American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card
Delivers ₹28,320 net annual returns (1.57% ROI) vs ₹11,880 on IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card.
Card A
IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card
IDFC FIRST Bank
₹11,880Net Annual Benefit
Gross Rewards:₹11,880/yr
Effective Fee (incl. GST):Waived (₹0)
Net ROI on Spend:0.66%
Card B
American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card
American Express
₹28,320Net Annual Benefit
Gross Rewards:₹28,320/yr
Effective Fee (incl. GST):Waived (₹0)
Net ROI on Spend:1.57%
Fee Waiver Progress (1.5L target):100%
⚠️ Hits monthly cashback caps: -₹20,550/yr lost
2-Card Optimization HackMaximize Trapped / Capped Spend
+₹23,707/year Extra YieldPair American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card + Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card
Pair American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card with Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card to capture up to ₹23,707/yr extra on zero-reward categories.
Routes excluded categories:Amazon, Flipkart & Myntra Shopping (Excess Spends)Scan & Pay Merchant UPISwiggy, Zomato & Dining Out (Excess Spends)Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart & Supermarkets (Excess Spends)Flights, Hotels & IRCTC Trains (Excess Spends)
Detailed 12-Category Rupee Breakdown (@ ₹1,50,000/mo)
| Spend Category | Monthly Spend | IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card | American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon, Flipkart & Myntra Shopping | ₹37,500/mo | ₹375 (1%) | ₹909 (Capped) |
| Scan & Pay Merchant UPI | ₹22,500/mo | ₹113 (0.5%) | 0% Excluded |
| Electricity, Water, Gas & Broadband Bills | ₹18,000/mo | ₹90 (0.5%) | ₹360 (2%) |
| Swiggy, Zomato & Dining Out | ₹18,000/mo | ₹180 (1%) | ₹436 (Capped) |
| Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart & Supermarkets | ₹15,000/mo | ₹75 (0.5%) | ₹364 (Capped) |
| Petrol & Diesel at Fuel Stations1% fuel surcharge waiver up to ₹300/month on transactions between ₹200 and ₹5,000 | ₹12,000/mo | 0% Excluded | 0% Excluded |
| Flights, Hotels & IRCTC Trains | ₹12,000/mo | ₹120 (1%) | ₹291 (Capped) |
| LIC, Health & Term Insurance Premiums | ₹7,500/mo | ₹38 (0.5%) | 0% Excluded |
| House Rent & School/College Fees1% fee + 18% GST applies to rent payments; zero reward points earned | ₹7,500/mo | 0% Excluded | 0% Excluded |
| International Travel & Forex Spends | ₹0/mo | ₹0 (1%) | ₹0 (2%) |
| Gold, Silver & Jewelry Purchases | ₹0/mo | ₹0 (0%) | ₹0 (0%) |
| Income Tax, GST & Challan Payments | ₹0/mo | ₹0 (0%) | ₹0 (0%) |
| Net Annual Benefit | ₹18,00,000/yr | +₹11,880 | +₹28,320 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card is better between IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card and American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card for ₹150,000/month?▼
At ₹150,000/month (₹1,800,000/year), American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card mathematically outperforms IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card by ₹16,440/year. American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card delivers ₹28,320 net annual benefit (1.57% effective yield), while IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card returns ₹11,880 (0.66% effective yield).
Will the annual fee be waived at ₹150,000 monthly spend?▼
On an annual spend of ₹1,800,000: IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card annual fee is waived (₹0). American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card annual fee is waived (₹0).
How do reward caps impact the earnings on both cards?▼
At this spend tier, IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card loses ₹0/year to monthly cashback caps, while American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card loses ₹20,550/year. IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card remains uncapped at this spend. Capped categories on American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card: Amazon, Flipkart & Myntra Shopping, Swiggy, Zomato & Dining Out, Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart & Supermarkets, Flights, Hotels & IRCTC Trains.
What is the breakeven monthly spend between IDFC FIRST Select Credit Card and American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card?▼
The calculated crossover breakeven spend is ₹13,000/month, where higher-fee benefits overtake the lower-fee option.