The Milesopedia method · Canadian reference

What are your points and miles worth?

Find each program’s reference value, then compare redemption options. The value of a point depends on how you use it.

We set average valuations to express card welcome offers in dollars; these values change regularly as the programs evolve.

The valuations and spending profiles below refer to Canada. Amounts are in Canadian dollars (CAD).

Methodology

Our valuation method

Each points amount is converted using its program’s reference value.

Points × value in cents ÷ 100= value in dollars

First-year calculation
+	Welcome bonusPoints converted to dollars or cash back.
+	Annual rewardsMonthly spending × 12 × reward rate, for each category. Accelerated-rate caps are taken into account.
−	Annual feeFees paid in the first year, after any fee waiver.
=	First-year value

Following yearsAnnual rewards − annual fee

Also compare the card’s benefits: annual credits, lounge access and travel insurance.

Financial institutions

9 programs

American Express – Membership Rewards

1.7 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
fixed award chart	2.0 ¢
Aeroplan transfer	2.0 ¢
British Airways	1.7 ¢
Asia Miles	1.5 ¢
Marriott Bonvoy	1.08 ¢
statement credit	1.0 ¢
gift cards	0.7 ¢
merchandise	0.7 ¢

BMO – BMO Rewards

0.67 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
travel	0.67 ¢
investment products	0.67 ¢
experiences	0.62 ¢
gift cards	0.54 ¢
merchandise	0.50 ¢
statement credit	0.33 ¢

NBC – À la carte Rewards

0.9 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
À la carte plan	1.0 ¢
bookings ≥55K pts	0.91 ¢
bookings	0.83 ¢
investments	0.83 ¢
gift cards	0.78 ¢
merchandise	0.60 ¢
statement credit	0.40 ¢

CIBC – Aventura

1.2 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
fixed award chart	2.3 ¢
bookings	1.0 ¢
donations	1.0 ¢
investments	0.83 ¢
gift cards	0.71 ¢
merchandise	0.71 ¢
statement credit	0.63 ¢

Desjardins – Bonidollars

$1/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
travel $1	—
investments $1	—
donations $1	—
shows $1	—
gift cards $0.96	—
merchandise $0.90	—

MBNA – MBNA Rewards

1 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
travel	1 ¢
gift cards	0.92 ¢
merchandise	0.88 ¢
statement credit	0.83 ¢

RBC – RBC Avion

1.6 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
fixed award chart	2.3 ¢
British Airways	1.7 ¢
Asia Miles	1.5 ¢
American AAdvantage	1.5 ¢
bookings	1.0 ¢
WestJet	1.0 ¢
donations	1.0 ¢
investments	0.8 ¢
merchandise	0.75 ¢
gift cards	0.7 ¢
statement credit(non-transfer cards: 1 ¢/pt)	0.58 ¢

Scotia – Scene+

1 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
bookings	1 ¢
merchandise/Best Buy/Apple	0.9 ¢
gift cards	0.74 ¢
donations	0.74 ¢
statement credit	0.70 ¢
experiences	0.60 ¢

TD – TD Rewards

0.5 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
Expedia For TD	0.5 ¢
bookings	0.4 ¢
education products	0.4 ¢
gift cards	0.25 ¢
statement credit	0.25 ¢
merchandise	0.22 ¢

Airlines

4 programs

Air Canada – Aeroplan

2 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
business/first	>6 ¢
short-haul	4 ¢
medium-haul	3 ¢
long-haul	2 ¢
AC gift cards	1 ¢
car rental	0.9 ¢
vacation packages	0.83 ¢
hotels	0.80 ¢
gift cards	0.7 ¢
merchandise	0.7 ¢

British Airways – Executive Club

1.7 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
business/first	>5 ¢
short-haul	3 ¢
medium-haul	2 ¢
long-haul	1 ¢
car rental	0.8 ¢
hotels	0.7 ¢
gift cards	0.5 ¢

Cathay Pacific – Asia Miles

1.5 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
business/first	>5 ¢
short-haul	2 ¢
medium-haul	1.5 ¢
long-haul	1 ¢
hotels	0.8 ¢
merchandise	0.5 ¢

WestJet – WestJet Rewards

1 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
flights	1 ¢
vacation packages	1 ¢

Hotels

3 programs

Best Western Rewards

0.8 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
hotel nights	0.8 ¢
BW gift cards	0.59 ¢
gift cards	0.55 ¢
Aeroplan transfer	0.5 ¢

Hilton Honors

0.6 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
hotel nights	0.6 ¢
Aeroplan transfer	0.25 ¢
car rental	0.2 ¢

Marriott Bonvoy

0.9 ¢/pt

Value by redemption

Redemption option	Value per point
hotel nights	0.9 ¢
airline transfers	0.8 ¢
tickets	0.4 ¢
merchandise	0.35 ¢
gift cards	0.35 ¢
car rental	0.1 ¢

Other programs

2 programs

Canadian Tire – Triangle

$1/pt (rebate)

President's Choice – PC Optimum

0.1 ¢/pt (rebate)

Reference monthly budget · Canadian dollars
Category and included spending	Per month
GroceriesFood from stores (and convenience stores)	$700
Gas & EVGasoline : average monthly spend (volatile prices ± 5%)	$200
TransitPublic transit : fares and passes	$100
RestaurantsRestaurants and food delivery	$300
PharmacyPharmacy : everyday medication and health items	$50
TravelFlights and lodging : lumpy spend, smoothed over the year	$150
Bills & recurring paymentsCard-payable recurring household bills and services	$250
TelecomTelecom : mobile, internet, TV	$150
Entertainment & streamingStreaming subscriptions and everyday leisure	$100
Office suppliesOffice supplies : nil for a consumer profile	$0
OtherClothing, personal & health care, miscellaneous	$500
Monthly total	$2,500

Card-chargeable : we exclude spending that generally can't be put on a credit card (rent and mortgage, vehicle purchase, insurance, taxes), keeping only what actually gets charged to a card.
Indexation 2023 → 2026 : projected with Statistics Canada's CPI: groceries +7.8%, restaurants +8.0%, all-items +5.7%. Gasoline prices are volatile (± 5%).
Adjustable : these amounts are only a starting point: anyone can enter their own spending (and point valuation) in the calculator for a tailored result.

Sources

Average expenditures are from Statistics Canada; their projection to 2026 and card-spend allocation are estimates established by Milesopedia.

Personas

Spending by persona

Starting from Statistics Canada's actual data (Survey of Household Spending 2023, projected to 2026 via CPI), here is the spending realistically charged to a credit card by persona, grouped into the comparator's 7 broad categories. Monthly amounts in Canadian dollars (CAD). We exclude rent and mortgage, vehicle purchase, insurance and taxes (not chargeable to a card).

Monthly spending · CAD
Category	Single / Student / Young pro¹	Under 30²	Couple, no children	Family	Retirees 65+²
Groceries	$414	$515	$740	$1,161	$609
Restaurants	$169	$355	$306	$412	$188
Gas and transit	$220	$329	$371	$577	$254
Travel	≈ $60	≈ $60	≈ $130	≈ $160	≈ $60
Bills and recurring	≈ $380	≈ $540	≈ $570	≈ $810	≈ $455
Leisure	≈ $212	≈ $328	≈ $498	≈ $603	≈ $302
Other	≈ $330	≈ $525	≈ $570	≈ $810	≈ $400
Total card-chargeable	≈ $1,780	≈ $2,650	≈ $3,185	≈ $4,530	≈ $2,270

¹ “Single” = one-person household (table 11-10-0224-01, Statistics Canada actuals). Statistics Canada has no “student” or “young professional” segment: proxy values.
² “Under 30” and “Retirees 65+” = by age of the reference person (table 11-10-0227-01); these brackets cover all household types, not just single people: directional.

Key reading

Our default profile of $2,500/mo matches a typical household, between a single person (~$1,780) and a couple with no children (~$3,185): roughly a young professional or a cautious couple, which fits our points-optimizer audience. In Québec, spending runs about 85% of the national average, but unevenly: housing 72%, groceries 102% (no discount on groceries), restaurants 74%, education 60%.

Sources

Estimates established by Milesopedia, not provided or approved by the issuing institutions.