Best Credit Cards for Rent Payments in India (FY 2026-27) — After RBI’s 2024 Surcharge Rules
Last verified May 2026. Best credit cards for paying rent in India 2026 after the RBI 2024 rent-surcharge crackdown. Compare RedGirraffe, NoBroker, CRED fees against card-side cashback math.
The 5 best credit cards for rent payments in 2026
1 MMT Black ICICI MyWallet
Only card where rent-to-MMT-voucher conversion still works after the 2024 rules. Voucher must be used on MMT bookings — useful for frequent travelers. Full review: MMT Black ICICI MyWallet review.
2 Axis Bank ACE
Rent earns NO cashback any more — but ACE is included here only as a warning. Skip if rent is your primary spend driver. Full review: Axis Bank ACE review.
3 HDFC Regalia Gold
One of the few premium cards still earning RPs on rent via NoBroker/RedGirraffe. Worth it only if you also use the Marriott/Tata Neu redemption ladders. Full review: HDFC Regalia Gold review.
4 IDFC FIRST Select
No rent rewards but offers free rent-to-EMI conversion at 0% interest for 3 months. Better than NoBroker convenience fees. Full review: IDFC FIRST Select review.
5 SBI Elite
Maintains rent rewards for elite-tier customers via SBI rent.in. RP redeem at 0.25/₹ — modest 0.5% effective. Full review: SBI Elite review.
Head-to-head comparison
| Card | Fee | Headline Rate |
|---|---|---|
| MMT Black ICICI MyWallet | ₹3,500 | MMT vouchers on rent (1% effective post fees) |
| Axis Bank ACE | ₹499 (waived ₹2L) | 0% on rent (excluded post-2024) |
| HDFC Regalia Gold | ₹2,500 (waived ₹4L) | 1 RP per ₹150 on rent (capped 1K/cycle) |
| IDFC FIRST Select | ₹0 (lifetime free) | 0% on rent but free rent-payment via FIRST EMI |
| SBI Elite | ₹4,999 (waived ₹10L) | 2 RP per ₹100 on rent (capped 2K) |
Sources & references
All fees and reward rates verified against issuer official T&C pages as of May 2026. Reward programmes change frequently — confirm with the issuer before applying.
