HDFC Regalia vs Regalia Gold: Which Premium Card Should You Get?

Both HDFC Regalia and Regalia Gold are excellent mid-tier premium cards. But the ₹2,500 fee difference matters. Here's exactly how they compare and which one you should get.

Quick Answer: Regalia Gold is worth it only if you spend ₹8L+/year. Below that, stick with regular Regalia and save ₹2,500.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	HDFC Regalia	HDFC Regalia Gold
Annual Fee	₹2,500 + GST	₹5,000 + GST
Fee Waiver	₹3L annual spend	₹5L annual spend
Base Earn Rate	4 RP per ₹150	4 RP per ₹150
SmartBuy	5X	10X
Lounge Visits	8/quarter (domestic + international)	12/year Priority Pass
Milestone Bonus	None	Yes (significant)
Forex Markup	3.5% + GST	2% + GST
Golf	2 games/quarter	4 games/quarter
Insurance	₹50L travel	₹1Cr travel

Reward Points Comparison

Base Earning (Per ₹1L Spend)

Spend Type	Regalia	Regalia Gold
Regular spend	2,666 RP	2,666 RP
SmartBuy	13,333 RP (5X)	26,666 RP (10X)

Key Difference: SmartBuy multiplier doubles on Regalia Gold. This is the biggest differentiator.

SmartBuy ROI Example

Annual SmartBuy Spend	Regalia (5X)	Regalia Gold (10X)	Difference
₹2 Lakh	13,333 RP (₹6,666)	26,666 RP (₹13,333)	+₹6,667
₹4 Lakh	26,666 RP (₹13,333)	53,333 RP (₹26,666)	+₹13,333
₹6 Lakh	40,000 RP (₹20,000)	80,000 RP (₹40,000)	+₹20,000

**At 1 RP = ₹0.50 value

Milestone Benefits (Regalia Gold Only)

Annual Spend	Milestone Reward
₹5 Lakh	10,000 bonus RP
₹8 Lakh	15,000 bonus RP
₹12 Lakh	20,000 bonus RP

Regalia has no milestone benefits.

Lounge Access

HDFC Regalia

• 8 visits per quarter (32/year)
• Shared between domestic and international
• Via Priority Pass
• Guest access at ₹1,500

HDFC Regalia Gold

• 12 visits per year via Priority Pass
• More flexible unlimited domestic via DreamFolks
• Better coverage overall
• Guest access at ₹2,000

Verdict: If you fly frequently (12+ times/year), Regalia Gold's coverage is better.

Forex Markup

Card	Forex Markup
Regalia	3.5% + GST (~4.1% total)
Regalia Gold	2% + GST (~2.36% total)

On ₹5 Lakh International Spend

Card	Forex Cost
Regalia	₹20,500
Regalia Gold	₹11,800
Savings	₹8,700

If you travel internationally and spend abroad, Regalia Gold's lower forex alone can justify the higher fee.

Who Should Get Regalia?

✅ Get Regalia If:

• Annual spend is ₹3-6 Lakh
• Mostly domestic travel (1-6 trips/year)
• Don't spend heavily on SmartBuy
• Want to save on annual fee
• Building toward HDFC upgrade ladder

Your Ideal Profile:

• Income: ₹12-18 Lakh
• Monthly spend: ₹25,000-50,000
• Travel: Domestic primarily
• Shopping: Mix of online/offline

Who Should Get Regalia Gold?

✅ Get Regalia Gold If:

• Annual spend is ₹8 Lakh+
• Significant SmartBuy usage (₹3L+/year)
• International travel 2+ times/year
• Want lower forex markup
• Aiming for Infinia upgrade

Your Ideal Profile:

• Income: ₹18-30 Lakh
• Monthly spend: ₹50,000-1,00,000
• Travel: Domestic + 2-4 international trips
• Shopping: Heavy SmartBuy user

Break-Even Analysis

When does Regalia Gold pay for itself vs Regalia?

Extra fee: ₹2,500/year

To recover via SmartBuy (extra 5X):

• Need ₹2 Lakh SmartBuy spend to earn extra ₹2,500 in points

To recover via forex (1.5% savings):

• Need ₹1.67 Lakh international spend to save ₹2,500

Combined: If you spend ₹2L on SmartBuy OR ₹1.7L internationally, Regalia Gold breaks even.

Upgrade Path Consideration

Both cards are stepping stones to HDFC Infinia:

Regalia → Regalia Gold → Infinia

From Regalia to Regalia Gold

• Typically offered after 12-18 months
• Need ₹8L+ annual spend on Regalia
• Can request via customer care

From Regalia Gold to Infinia

• Usually requires ₹30L+ ITR
• Or very high spend on Regalia Gold (₹15L+/year)
• Often by invitation

Strategy: If you're targeting Infinia eventually, Regalia Gold shows HDFC you're serious.

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: IT Professional (₹15L CTC)

• Monthly spend: ₹40,000
• Domestic travel: 4 times/year
• International: None
• SmartBuy: ₹50,000/year

Recommendation: Regalia. Low SmartBuy usage doesn't justify Gold.

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Scenario 2: Senior Manager (₹24L CTC)

• Monthly spend: ₹80,000
• Domestic travel: 8 times/year
• International: 2 trips/year (₹3L spend)
• SmartBuy: ₹3L/year

Recommendation: Regalia Gold. International spend savings + SmartBuy bonus = ₹6,000+ extra value.

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Scenario 3: Consultant (₹35L income)

• Monthly spend: ₹1.5L
• Travel: Heavy domestic + international
• SmartBuy: ₹5L/year
• Goal: Get Infinia

Recommendation: Regalia Gold, actively working toward Infinia upgrade.

Quick Decision Matrix

Your Situation	Get
Spend under ₹6L/year	Regalia
No international travel	Regalia
SmartBuy spend under ₹2L/year	Regalia
Spend ₹8L+/year	Regalia Gold
International travel 2+/year	Regalia Gold
SmartBuy spend ₹3L+/year	Regalia Gold
Actively pursuing Infinia	Regalia Gold

Common Questions

Can I get Regalia Gold directly?

Yes, with ₹18L+ income. But the upgrade path from Regalia is often easier.

Should I upgrade mid-year?

If you're hitting spend thresholds, yes. The benefits scale with spend.

Can I downgrade from Gold to Regalia?

Yes, call customer care. Useful if your spend decreases.

Does Regalia Gold help get Infinia faster?

Somewhat. HDFC sees you as a more serious customer, but income (ITR) matters most.

Next Steps

If Choosing Regalia:

1. Apply with ₹12L+ income proof
2. Use SmartBuy for all flights/hotels
3. Hit ₹3L spend for fee waiver
4. Request Gold upgrade after 12 months if spend increases

If Choosing Regalia Gold:

1. Apply with ₹18L+ income proof
2. Maximize SmartBuy (10X is powerful)
3. Use for all international spend (2% forex)
4. Hit milestones quarterly
5. Build case for Infinia after 12-18 months

Both are excellent cards. The right choice depends entirely on your spending pattern. When in doubt, start with Regalia—you can always upgrade later.