The Cheapest Grocery Stores in Toronto
Toronto has become one of the most expensive cities to live in globally. While rent is the largest culprit, grocery prices have skyrocketed over the last 4 years. In an effort to save money, we’re on the hunt to find the cheapest grocery stores in Toronto.
I created a list of 26 grocery items and compared their prices across 4 different grocery stores. The stores we used in this comparison were: Food Basics, No Frills, Walmart, and Superstore. I excluded stores like Sobeys, Metro, and Loblaws as their prices are very high.
We looked for the cheapest price for each item, which was generally the private label brand for each store. Food Basics has Selection and Irresistibles. Walmart has Great Value. NoFrills and Superstore have No Name and President’s Choice.
The prices were for the flyer week of January 11, 2024.
After I finished and compared the totals for each store, I was genuinely surprised by the result. It made me think of the days when I was studying Economics and the prof was talking about different market structures. If my memory serves right, what you’re about to see below is a perfect example of an Oligopoly.
cheapest grocery stores in Toronto
Grains & Bread
Pasta (900g)
Food Basics: $1.99
No Frills: $2.29
Walmart: $2.13 (adjusted). Original is $0.97 for 410g.
Superstore: $2.29. On sale for $1.99.
Corn Flakes (680g)
Food Basics: $4.44
No Frills: $5.74 (adjusted). Original is $5.49 for 650g.
Walmart: $4.97
Superstore: $5.22 (adjusted). Original is $5.49 for 650g.
All Purpose Flour (10kg)
Food Basics: $11.99
No Frills: $11.99
Walmart: $11.77
Superstore: $11.49
White Bread (675g)
Food Basics: $1.99
No Frills: $1.99
Walmart: $1.97
Superstore: $1.99
Produce
Bananas (price per pound)
Food Basics: $0.59
No Frills: $0.59
Walmart: $0.59
Superstore: $0.59
Cluster/On the Vine Tomatoes (price per pound)
Food Basics: $2.98
No Frills: $3.49
Walmart: $3.47
Superstore: $3.49
Yellow Potatoes (10lb)
Food Basics: $6.98
No Frills: $6.99. On sale for $4.77.
Walmart: $6.97
Superstore: $6.99
Gala Apples (price per pound)
Food Basics: $2.48
No Frills: $2.49
Walmart: $1.97
Superstore: $2.49
Carrots (3lb)
Food Basics: $4.47 (adjusted). Original is 2.98 for 2lb bag. It was on sale for $1.25, so $1.88 adjusted to 3lb.
No Frills: $2.99
Walmart: $2.97
Superstore: $2.99
If you like this type of post, check out the cheapest coffee in Canada!
Dairy & Protein
Cheese (400g)
Food Basics: $5.99. On sale for $4.44.
No Frills: $5.99. On sale for $4.99.
Walmart: $5.98
Superstore: $4.99
Butter (454g)
Food Basics: $6.49
No Frills: $6.49
Walmart: $6.48
Superstore: $6.49. On sale for $6.
Milk, 2% (4L)
Food Basics: $5.89
No Frills: $5.89
Walmart: $5.89
Superstore: $5.89
Large White Eggs (dozen)
Food Basics: $3.79
No Frills: $3.79
Walmart: $3.78
Superstore: $3.79
Astro Yogurt, Plain (750g)
Food Basics: $3.49
No Frills: $3.29
Walmart: $3.47
Superstore: $3.29
Note: some stores give cheaper pricing when you buy two or three.
Vanilla Ice Cream (1.5L)
Food Basics: $4.44
No Frills: $5.49 (only the PC brand was available, not No Name which is usually cheaper).
Walmart: $4.38
Superstore: $4.5
Condiments & Snacks
Table Salt (1kg)
Food Basics: $1.67
No Frills: $1.49
Walmart: $0.97
Superstore: $1.49
Ground Black Pepper (adjusted for 100g)
Food Basics: $2.85. Original is $2.99 for 105g.
No Frills: $2.53. Original is $3.79 for 150g.
Walmart: $2.67. Original is $2.2.7 for 85g.
Superstore: $2.66. Original is $3.99 for 150g.
Sugar (2kg)
Food Basics: $3.29
No Frills: $2.99
Walmart: $3.27
Superstore: $2.99
Vinegar (4L)
Food Basics: $2.27
No Frills: $2.29
Walmart: $2.27
Superstore: $2.29
Ketchup (1L)
Food Basics: $3.29
No Frills: $3.29
Walmart: $3.27
Superstore: $3.49. On sale for $3.
Mayonnaise (890mL)
Food Basics: $4.44
No Frills: $4.79. On sale for $4.49.
Walmart: $4.77
Superstore: $5.29
Smooth Peanut Butter (1kg)
Food Basics: $4.44
No Frills: $4.44. On sale for $3.99.
Walmart: $4.27
Superstore: $4.29
Regular Chips (200g)
Food Basics: $1.49
No Frills: $1.49. On sale for $1.22.
Walmart: $1.47
Superstore: $1.49
Canned
Light Tuna (170g)
Food Basics: $1.49
No Frills: $1.19
Walmart: $1.49
Superstore: $1.29
Chickpeas (540mL)
Food Basics: $1.59
No Frills: $1.69
Walmart: $1.47
Superstore: $1.69
Peach Slices (796mL)
Food Basics: $2.99
No Frills: $3.49
Walmart: $3.47
Superstore: $3.19
Totals
Total without sales
Food Basics: $97.81
No Frills: $99.18
Walmart: $96.18
Superstore: $96.65
Total with sales
Food Basics: $93.66
No Frills: $94.83
Walmart: $96.18
Superstore: $95.14
What’s the cheapest grocery store in Toronto?
The one closest to your house. The difference between these stores is so insignificant that any gains made by going to one will be overshadowed by driving for a longer distance. You can definitely save a little bit more if you buy larger quantities, but at that point, it is probably worth going to Costco.
The only exception to this rule is when there’s a great sale at one of these stores and you go there to stock up.
This was a very eye opening exercise for me because I realized that “the cheapest grocery stores in Toronto” title doesn’t mean much when they are all pretty much the same price.
