Canadians think these are the cheapest grocery stores — We checked prices to find out
Here's which stores get you the most bang for your buck on 15 grocery items!
Products in an aisle at No Frills. Right: Nescafe instant coffee at Costco.
Canadians have revealed the grocery stores in Canada that they think are the cheapest.
So, we compared prices to find out where you can get the most bang for your buck!
Narcity recently posted on Facebook and asked people to share what Canada's cheapest grocery stores are.
With more than 300 comments, Canadians ranked these as the cheapest grocery stores in this country:
- No Frills
- Food Basics
- Giant Tiger
- Walmart
- Costco
- FreshCo
- Real Canadian Superstore
Then, Narcity decided to check flyers from those stores and compare the prices of products.
Since not every store always has the same products or brands, we chose similar items when the same ones weren't available.
We also used regular prices for the product comparisons, not sale prices.
So, here's how prices for 15 products compare at Canada's cheapest grocery stores.
That includes a breakdown of the cost for how much of the product you get.
Bread
No Frills: $3.29 for a 675-gram loaf of Wonder sliced bread — $0.48 per 100 grams
Food Basics: $3.79 for a 675-gram loaf of Dempster's sliced bread — $0.56 per 100 grams
Giant Tiger: $2.50 for a 675-gram loaf of Wonder sliced bread — $0.37 per 100 grams
Walmart: $5 for two 675-gram loaves of Dempster's sliced bread — $0.37 per 100 grams
Costco: $6.99 for three 675-gram loaves of Dempster's sliced bread — $0.34 per 100 grams
FreshCo: $4.49 for a 600-gram loaf of Dempster's sliced bread — $0.74 per 100 grams
Superstore: $2.99 for a 675-gram loaf of Wonder sliced bread — $0.44 per 100 grams
Berries
No Frills: $3.99 for a 340-gram pack of blueberries or a 170-gram pack of raspberries — $1.17 or $2.34 per 100 grams
Food Basics: $5.98 for a 340-gram pack of blueberries — $1.75 per 100 grams
Giant Tiger: $3.97 for a 170-gram pack of blueberries — $2.33 per 100 grams
Walmart: $2.44 for a 340-gram pack of blueberries or a 170-gram pack of raspberries — $0.71 or $1.43 per 100 grams
Costco: $8.99 for a 340-gram pack of raspberries — $2.64 per 100 grams
FreshCo: $2 for a 170-gram pack of blueberries — $1.17 per 100 grams
Superstore: $5 for a 170-gram pack of raspberries — $2.94 per 100 grams
Potatoes
No Frills: $2.99 for a 10-pound bag of russet potatoes — $0.29 per pound
Food Basics: $4.98 for a five-pound bag of russet potatoes — $0.99 per pound
Giant Tiger: $3.97 for a five-pound bag of russet potatoes — $0.79 per pound
Walmart: $3.97 for a five-pound bag of yellow or russet potatoes — $0.79 per pound
Costco: $10.99 for a 15-pound bag of russet potatoes — $0.73 per pound
FreshCo: No comparable product available at the moment
Superstore: $5 for a 10-pound bag of russet potatoes — $0.50 per pound
Bell peppers
No Frills: $7 for a 1.11-kilogram bag of No Name bell peppers — $0.63 per 100 grams
Food Basics: $8.77 for one kilogram of bell peppers — $0.87 per 100 grams
Giant Tiger: $4.97 for a pack of three peppers — $1.65 per each
Walmart: $8.75 for a kilogram of bell peppers — $0.87 per 100 grams
Costco: $10.99 for a pack of four bell peppers — $2.74 per each
FreshCo: $6.59 for a kilogram of bell peppers — $0.65 per 100 grams
Superstore: $8 for a 1.11-kilogram bag of No Name bell peppers — $0.72 per 100 grams
Oven-roasted chicken
No Frills: $14.49 for a 375-gram pack of Maple Leaf sliced oven-roasted chicken breast — $3.86 per 100 grams
Food Basics: $13.99 for a 375-gram pack of Maple Leaf sliced oven-roasted chicken breast — $3.73 per 100 grams
Giant Tiger: $3.47 for a 150-gram pack of Giant Value sliced chicken breast — $2.31 per 100 grams
Walmart: $7.48 for a 175-gram pack of Maple Leaf sliced meat — $4.27 per 100 grams
Costco: $18.99 for a 900-gram pack of Maple Leaf sliced oven-roasted chicken breast — $2.11 per 100 grams
FreshCo: $7.99 for a 175-gram pack of Maple Leaf sliced meat — $4.56 per 100 grams
Superstore: $14.49 for a 375-gram pack of Maple Leaf sliced oven-roasted chicken breast — $3.86 per 100 grams
Cheese
No Frills: $5.50 for a 400-gram block of Armstrong marble cheese — $1.37 per 100 grams
Food Basics: $7.99 for a 400-gram block of Black Diamond marble cheese — $1.99 per 100 grams
Giant Tiger: $7.47 for a 400-gram block of Black Diamond cheddar cheese — $1.86 per 100 grams
Walmart: $6.64 for a 400-gram block of Cracker Barrel cheese — $1.66 per 100 grams
Costco: $20.99 for a one-kilogram block of Balderson cheddar cheese — $2.09 per 100 grams
FreshCo: No comparable product available at the moment
Superstore: $5.99 for a 400-gram block of Black Diamond marble cheese — $1.49 per 100 grams
Instant coffee
No Frills: $8.49 for a 100-gram jar of Nescafe Taster's Choice instant coffee — $8.49 per 100 grams
Food Basics: $8.49 for a 100-gram jar of Nescafe Taster's Choice instant coffee — $8.49 per 100 grams
Giant Tiger: $7.47 for a 175-gram jar of Nescafe Rich instant coffee — $4.26 per 100 grams
Walmart: $5.97 for a 100-gram jar of Nescafe Taster's Choice instant coffee — $5.97 per 100 grams
Costco: $14.99 for a 315-gram canister of Nescafe Taster's Choice instant coffee — $4.75 per 100 grams
FreshCo: $8.99 for a 100-gram jar of Nescafe Gold instant coffee — $8.99 per 100 grams
Superstore: $7.49 for a 100-gram jar of Nescafe Taster's Choice instant coffee — $7.49 per 100 grams
Cereal
No Frills: $10 for a 950-gram box of Frosted Flakes cereal — $1.05 per 100 grams
Food Basics: $6.99 for 480-gram to 600-gram boxes of Frosted Flakes, Corn Pops and other Kellogg's cereals — $1.45 to $1.16 per 100 grams
Giant Tiger: $4.97 for a 355-gram box of Frosted Flakes or Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal — $1.40 per 100 grams
Walmart: $9.47 for 825-gram boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms and other General Mills cereals — $1.14 per 100 grams
Costco: $9.79 for a 1.41-kilogram box of Frosted Flakes cereal — $0.69 per 100 grams
FreshCo: $5.49 for 430-gram boxes of Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and other General Mills cereals — $1.27 per 100 grams
Superstore: $9.50 for a 1.01-kilogram box of Raisin Bran and other Kellogg's cereals — $0.94 per 100 grams
Oatmeal
No Frills: $3.79 for a 344-gram box of Quaker instant oatmeal — $1.10 per 100 grams
Food Basics: $6.49 for a 774-gram box of Quaker instant oatmeal — $0.83 per 100 grams
Giant Tiger: $2.97 for a 314-gram box of Quaker instant oatmeal — $0.94 per 100 grams
Walmart: $5.97 for a 674-gram box of Quaker instant oatmeal — $0.88 per 100 grams
Costco: $17.99 for a 2.45-kilogram box of Quaker instant oatmeal — $0.73 per 100 grams
FreshCo: $4.49 for a 344-gram box of Quaker instant oatmeal — $1.30 per 100 grams
Superstore: $14.49 for a 1.54-kilogram box of Quaker instant oatmeal — $0.94 per 100 grams
Dried pasta
No Frills: $2.41 to $2.50 for a 410-gram box of Barilla pasta — $0.58 to $0.60 per 100 grams
Food Basics: $2.79 for a 410-gram box of Barilla pasta — $0.68 per 100 grams
Giant Tiger: $2.67 for a 410-gram box of Barilla pasta — $0.65 per 100 grams
Walmart: $1.97 for a 410-gram box of Barilla pasta — $0.48 per 100 grams
Costco: $11.99 for nine 500-gram boxes of Antonio Amato pasta — $0.26 per 100 grams
FreshCo: $2.79 for a 410-gram box of Barilla pasta — $0.68 per 100 grams
Superstore: $2.49 to $3.01 for a 410-gram box of Barilla pasta — $0.60 to $0.73 per 100 grams
Chocolate-dipped granola bars
No Frills: $2.79 for a 156-gram box of Quaker Dipps granola bars — $1.78 per 100 grams
Food Basics: $13.99 for a 935-gram box of Quaker Dipps granola bars — $1.49 per 100 grams
Giant Tiger: $12.97 for a 935-gram box of Quaker Dipps granola bars — $1.38 per 100 grams
Walmart: $11.97 for a 935-gram box of Quaker Dipps granola bars — $1.28 per 100 grams
Costco: $16.99 for a 1.49-kilogram box of Kirkland Signature Dipped & Chewy granola bars — $1.14 per 100 grams
FreshCo: $2.99 for a 156-gram box of Quaker Dipps granola bars — $1.91 per 100 grams
Superstore: $3.49 for a 156-gram box of Quaker Dipps granola bars — $2.23 per 100 grams
Coca-Cola
No Frills: $7.99 for a 12-pack of Coca-Cola cans that are 355 millilitres each — $0.18 per 100 millilitres
Food Basics: $8.49 for a 12-pack of Coca-Cola cans that are 355 millilitres each — $0.19 per 100 millilitres
Giant Tiger: $7.98 for a 12-pack of Coca-Cola cans that are 355 millilitres each — $0.18 per 100 millilitres
Walmart: $14 for two 12-packs of Coca-Cola cans that are 355 millilitres each — $0.16 per 100 millilitres
Costco: $15.89 for a 32-pack of Coca-Cola cans that are 355 millilitres each — $0.13 per 100 millilitres
FreshCo: $2.99 for a two-litre bottle of Coca-Cola — $0.14 per 100 millilitres
Superstore: $7.49 for a 12-pack of Coca-Cola cans that are 355 millilitres each — $0.17 per 100 millilitres
Paper towels
No Frills: $18.99 for a six-pack of Bounty paper towels — $3.16 per roll
Food Basics: $18.99 for a six-pack of Sponge Towels — $3.16 per roll
Giant Tiger: $10.99 for a six-pack of Sponge Towels — $1.83 per roll
Walmart: $7.47 for a six-pack of Sponge Towels — $1.24 per roll
Costco: $32.49 for a 12-pack of Bounty paper towels — $2.70 per roll
FreshCo: $8.49 for a three-pack of Sponge Towels — $2.83 per roll
Superstore: $23.99 for a six-pack of Sponge Towels — $3.99 per roll
Toilet paper
No Frills: $10.99 for a 12-pack of Royale toilet paper — $0.91 per roll
Food Basics: $10.99 for a 12-pack of Cashemere toilet paper — $0.91 per roll
Giant Tiger: $10.99 for a 12-pack of Cashemere toilet paper — $0.91 per roll
Walmart: $12.97 for a 12-pack of Cashmere toilet paper — $1.08 per roll
Costco: $26.99 for a 40-pack of Cashmere toilet paper — $0.67 per roll
FreshCo: $8.49 for a 12-pack of Cashmere toilet paper — $0.70 per roll
Superstore: $21.99 for a 24-pack of Cashmere toilet paper — $0.91 per roll
Laundry detergent
No Frills: $8.99 for a 2.03-litre bottle of Purex laundry detergent — $0.44 per 100 millilitres
Food Basics: $19.99 for a 2.48-litre bottle of Tide laundry detergent — $0.80 per 100 millilitres
Giant Tiger: $15.97 for a 4.43-litre bottle of Purex laundry detergent — $0.36 per 100 millilitres
Walmart: $27.97 for a 3.9-litre bottle of Tide laundry detergent — $0.71 per 100 millilitres
Costco: $29.99 for a 4.82-litre bottle of Tide laundry detergent — $0.62 per 100 millilitres
FreshCo: $8.99 for a 2.03-litre bottle of Purex laundry detergent — $0.44 per 100 millilitres
Superstore: $13.99 for a 4.43-litre bottle of Purex laundry detergent — $0.31 per 100 millilitres
WHERE ARE PRICES CHEAPER?
Each store will have a different total because product sizes are different.
So, let's break down costs based on how much of an item you get rather than the total price tag to see which store gets you the most bang for your buck with each of these products.
Of the 15 products we compared, eight are cheaper at Costco. But you have to pay a yearly membership fee ($65 or $130) to shop at Costco.
Three products are cheaper at No Frills, two are cheaper at Walmart, one is cheaper at Giant Tiger, and one is cheaper at Superstore.
It seems that when it comes to cheap grocery stores in Canada, there are quite a few places you can shop to get lower prices!
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.