CreditCardCompare.com.au reveal Aussies use their credit cards 23 times per month on average

According to research of RBA data by analysts from the popular Australian credit card comparison website CreditCardCompare.com.au, Australians now swipe their credit cards an average of 23.2 times per month. This frequency has more than doubled in the past decade, signalling a significant shift in credit card habits.

“This surge in credit card usage shows how deeply embedded credit cards have become in our daily lives,” says Gareth Boyd, Head of Growth at CreditCardCompare.com.au. “Australians are increasingly using their credit cards for everyday purchases, not just big-ticket items.”

The data indicates a transition from using credit cards solely for major expenses to incorporating them into daily transactions. While usage frequency has increased, the average transaction value has decreased from $140 in 2013 to about $114 today.

This trend towards more frequent, smaller purchases is largely due to the widespread adoption of contactless payment technology. Despite increased usage, total credit card debt has fallen from $52 billion in 2018 to $40.4 billion in 2024, suggesting a more prudent approach to credit card use.

“Credit card rewards are probably driving this change in spending habits,” Boyd explains. “Points are worth much less if you get charged interest every month because you didn’t pay off the balance.”

The rise of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services like Afterpay also influences credit usage patterns, particularly among younger consumers, although these transactions often don’t appear in traditional credit card statistics.