Whether you choose to shop at Walmart Canada or Shoppers Drug Mart can come down to a number of factors such as proximity, ease of access or commute, opening hours, loyalty programs and personal preference, but shopping at the latter store could cost you a lot more.
While Walmart Canada is a big-box retailer that promises "everyday low prices," Shoppers Drug Mart offers a more curated experience around pharmacy, health and beauty, meaning some of the higher-end products carried at Shoppers can be pricey.
That being said, there are other items that are exactly the same in terms of brand and size that cost considerably more at Shoppers Drug Mart than at Walmart Canada.
On Reddit, many have noted such discrepancies in prices, with one user claiming that the exact same deodorant costs $11 at Shoppers and $5 at Walmart, while another alleged they found a pimple patch at Walmart for $11 and later found the same item priced at $25 at Shoppers.
Narcity recently took a look at necessary, everyday items sold at both stores around the west end of Toronto that you might have to buy right away rather than taking the time to travel for a better price, and for some items, the difference might be worth the cost of taking the bus — or even a cab — to your nearest Walmart, if that's feasible for you.
"We have diverse stores across the country that cater to unique customer needs," said Loblaw Public Relations, Shoppers Drug Mart's parent company, in an email to Narcity when asked about the difference in prices.
"Each store operates under a different model, offering specific benefits. For instance, discount banners like No Frills prioritize value with lower prices and a limited product selection. We take pride in offering customers choice, quality store brand products, savings through programs like PC Optimum, and regular pricing and promotion events. We are confident that we have something for everyone."
Here are some of the products that'll cost you more at Shoppers Drug Mart than at Walmart Canada.
Reactine Extra Strength 10 mg, 84 count
Reactine allergy medication.
Price at Shoppers Drug Mart: $66.99
Price at Walmart Canada: $49.97
Difference in price: $17.02
Gillette Fusion5 Men's Razor Blade Refills, 12 count
Gillette razor blade refills.
Price at Shoppers Drug Mart: $60.99
Price at Walmart Canada: $43.99
Difference in price: $17.00
Advil Regular Strength Liqui-Gels, 200 mg, 72 count
Advil Liqui-Gels capsules.
Price at Shoppers Drug Mart: $23.99
Price at Walmart Canada: $14.98
Difference in price: $9.01
HydraSense Ultra Eye Drops For Dry Eyes, 2x10 mL
HydraSense eye drops.
Price at Shoppers Drug Mart: $30.99
Price at Walmart Canada: $22.97
Difference in price: $8.02
Nestle Good Start PLUS 2 Baby Formula, 1.02 kg
Nestle Good Start baby formula.
Price at Shoppers Drug Mart: $65.79
Price at Walmart Canada: $54.97
Difference in price: $10.82
Pampers Cruisers 360 Diapers Size 5, 56 count
Pampers Cruisers diapers.
Price at Shoppers Drug Mart: $40.49
Price at Walmart Canada: $31.97
Difference in price: $8.52
LifeStyles Ultra Sensitive Lubricated Latex Condoms, 36 count
LifeStyles latex condoms.
Price at Shoppers Drug Mart: $16.49
Price at Walmart Canada: $10.47
Difference in price: $6.02
Centrum Select Essentials Adults 50+ Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplement Tablets, 60 count
Centrum multivitamins.
Price at Shoppers Drug Mart: $19.49
Price at Walmart Canada: $13.77
Difference in price: $5.72
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream, 47 mL
Neutrogena Hydro Boost moisturizer.
Price at Shoppers Drug Mart: $29.99
Price at Walmart Canada: $22.47
Difference in price: $7.52
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, Fragrance Free, 473 mL
A white container of Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, Fragrance Free, 473 mL.
Price at Shoppers Drug Mart: $22.99
Price at Walmart Canada: $17.97
Difference in price: $5.02
Tylenol Extra Strength Flu Relief Day/Night, EZTabs, 20 count
Tylenol Flu Relief tablets.
Price at Shoppers Drug Mart: $12.49
Price at Walmart Canada: $8.27
Difference in price: $4.22
Band-Aid Flexible Fabric Adhesive Bandages, assorted sizes, 80 count
Band-Aid family pack.
Price at Shoppers Drug Mart: $10.49
Price at Walmart Canada: $6.48
Difference in price: $4.01
The total
If you bought all of those products at each store, here's what your final bills would look like before tax:
- Shoppers Drug Mart: $401.18
- Walmart Canada: $298.28
- Difference in price: $102.90
While some of these products, like moisturizers and razors, are items you might be able to wait for until you can get to Walmart, other products such as medication and baby formula have a level of immediacy to them that might require you to buy them wherever you can get them as quickly and efficiently as possible.
While it was not possible to look through the comprehensive catalogue of products offered at each store, out of the dozens of items researched for this article, none of them were more expensive at Walmart Canada than at Shoppers Drug Mart, but quite a few were more comparable in price than the items showcased above, with some only having a $1.00 difference.
Some argue that the ability to collect and redeem points at Loblaw-owned stores makes it worth shopping at somewhat higher prices, particularly if you utilize coupons and stick to what's on sale.
"The points program works well for us. We load offers, stick to what's on sale, and take advantage of specials, 20x the points offers, special redemption days, etc," explained one Reddit user. "On a recent redemption day, we bought about $325 worth of stuff, and only paid $8. The guy behind us in line was gobsmacked. He said he had no idea the points could be so useful."
That being said, sometimes Shoppers Drug Mart does have the better deal over alternatives. Last year, Narcity compared the prices of certain makeup products available at both Shoppers and Sephora. Of the seven items we looked at, six were cheaper if you were to buy them at the drugstore rather than the specialty beauty retailer.
But if you're shopping at Loblaw-owned grocery stores and looking for the best possible prices, it might be best to stick to No Frills rather than Fortinos, Real Canadian Superstore or Loblaws as the same PC and No Name brands often cost the least at No Frills.
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.