The Cheapest Grocery Store in Canada, Ranked
Grocery prices have climbed for four straight years, and the gap between the cheapest and most expensive chains now runs about 20% on the same basket of staples. We priced that basket across the major discount banners to settle which one costs the least.
Which grocery store is cheapest in Canada?
12 staples, regular shelf prices, 2026. National discount banners versus the average of full-service chains (Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys). No sale prices included.
| Item | No Frills | FreshCo | Walmart | Superstore | Full-price avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef 1kg | $8.88 ✓ | $9.47 | $9.97 | $9.27 | $11.99 |
| Chicken thighs 1kg | $6.77 ✓ | $7.27 | $7.47 | $6.97 | $10.49 |
| Large eggs 12pk | $3.87 ✓ | $3.97 | $4.27 | $3.97 | $4.49 |
| Whole milk 4L | $6.97 ✓ | $6.97 ✓ | $6.97 ✓ | $6.97 ✓ | $6.99 |
| Butter 454g | $5.77 | $5.87 | $5.47 ✓ | $5.97 | $6.99 |
| Cheddar 400g | $5.77 ✓ | $5.97 | $5.97 | $5.97 | $7.49 |
| White bread 675g | $2.97 ✓ | $2.97 ✓ | $2.97 ✓ | $2.97 ✓ | $3.69 |
| Bananas 1kg | $1.47 ✓ | $1.49 | $1.47 ✓ | $1.49 | $1.79 |
| Russet potatoes 10lb | $5.77 ✓ | $5.97 | $5.97 | $5.97 | $7.49 |
| Pasta 900g | $2.47 ✓ | $2.47 ✓ | $2.47 ✓ | $2.47 ✓ | $3.29 |
| Canned tomatoes 796ml | $1.47 | $1.57 | $1.27 ✓ | $1.47 | $1.99 |
| Coffee 925g | $11.97 | $11.97 | $10.97 ✓ | $11.97 | $13.99 |
| Total basket | $64.15 🏆 | $65.96 | $65.24 | $65.46 | $80.68 |
No Frills takes the lowest total, but the per-item view is more useful: it wins fresh meat and produce, while Walmart wins the pantry shelf (butter, canned tomatoes, coffee). The full-price column never wins a single line, and lands about 20% higher overall.
Every major discount grocery chain in Canada, ranked
1. No Frills
Cheapest nationallyNational (Loblaw) · everywhere except Quebec
No Frills is the cheapest national grocery chain in Canada, and it isn't close. A Loblaw discount banner, it shares flyer deals with Real Canadian Superstore and Zehrs and runs the hardest loss leaders in the country: chicken thighs at $3.88/kg, ground beef at $5.49/kg, 10-for-$10 pantry weeks. Regular shelf prices are competitive but not always the absolute lowest. The flyer is where it wins.
Check the flyer every Thursday. Build your week around whatever meat and produce is on sale, and you'll beat every other chain in the country.
2. Maxi
Cheapest in QuebecQuebec only (Loblaw)
Maxi is Quebec's No Frills. Same Loblaw discount playbook, same flyer-driven pricing, and it is the cheapest grocery store in the province on basket studies. Super C (Metro's Quebec discount banner) is the usual runner-up. If you're in Quebec, Maxi and Super C are your two cheapest options before you even look at Walmart.
Pair Maxi's flyer with PC Optimum points. In Quebec the Maxi-vs-Super C decision usually comes down to whichever flyer is stronger that week.
3. Food Basics
Cheapest everyday price in OntarioOntario only (Metro)
Food Basics has the cheapest everyday shelf prices in Ontario, narrowly undercutting No Frills on meat, dairy, and produce without requiring a loyalty card. A Metro banner, it's stripped down by design. The flyer deals aren't as dramatic as No Frills, so if you don't track flyers, Food Basics is the cheapest default option in Ontario.
If there's one near you in Ontario, make it your weekly default and use No Frills only when its flyer beats Food Basics' regular price.
4. FreshCo
Best produce among discountersON, BC, AB, MB, SK (Sobeys)
FreshCo is the discount chain that doesn't feel like one. A Sobeys banner, it prices between No Frills and the full-service stores with noticeably more consistent produce. It isn't in every province, and it rarely posts the lowest basket total, but for produce-heavy shops where you don't want to gamble on quality, it's the discount pick. Chalo FreshCo locations add strong pricing on South Asian staples.
Use FreshCo for produce and check its flyer for the occasional strong meat deal. It's a Scene+ store, so stack points where you can.
5. Walmart Supercentre
Cheapest for pantry and bulkNational
Walmart doesn't win the fresh-food basket, but it consistently beats every grocery chain on shelf-stable goods. Great Value private label undercuts No Name and other discount brands on canned tomatoes, oil, coffee, pasta, frozen vegetables, and household items. Fresh produce and meat are mid-tier. The play is a monthly Walmart pantry run alongside weekly fresh shops at a discount grocer.
Restock pantry and frozen at Walmart once a month. Don't rely on it for fresh meat or produce.
6. Real Canadian Superstore
Best for bulk plus PC OptimumNational (Loblaw) · strongest in the West
Superstore is Loblaw's big-box discount format and shares No Frills flyer pricing while adding bulk sizes and the full PC Optimum program. Strategic points loading claws back 3 to 5 percent on every shop. It's strongest in Western Canada, where it often replaces No Frills as the default discount destination. Worth it if you have the space to buy bigger and the discipline to work the points.
Load PC Optimum offers before every trip. In the West, Superstore plus No Frills covers almost all your discount options.
7. Giant Tiger
Cheap on staples, limited selectionNational · strong in small towns
Giant Tiger ranks high in shopper polls on price, and on the staples it carries (eggs, milk, bread, canned goods, frozen) it's genuinely cheap. The catch is assortment: most stores carry a limited grocery range alongside clothing and household goods, so it rarely handles a full weekly shop. In small towns without a No Frills, it's often the cheapest option available.
Use Giant Tiger for a top-up of cheap staples, not a full grocery run. Best value where the bigger discount banners don't reach.
8. Costco
Cheapest per unit, if you buy bigNational · membership required
Costco beats No Frills on per-unit price for about half of common staples, but the $65 annual Gold Star fee and bulk sizes only pay off for larger households with storage. For singles and couples, the membership plus spoilage usually erases the savings. Great for households of three or more that can use the volume before it goes bad.
Run the math on the items you actually buy in bulk. If you're a household of one or two, No Frills almost always beats Costco on total cost.
What is the cheapest grocery store in each province?
The cheapest banner depends on which chains operate in your province. Here's the lowest-price option in each.
| Province | Cheapest | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | No Frills | Real Canadian Superstore |
| Alberta | No Frills | Real Canadian Superstore |
| Saskatchewan | No Frills | Walmart |
| Manitoba | No Frills | Giant Tiger |
| Ontario | Food Basics | No Frills |
| Quebec | Maxi | Super C |
| New Brunswick | No Frills | Walmart |
| Nova Scotia | No Frills | Walmart |
| Prince Edward Island | Walmart | No Frills |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | No Frills | Walmart |
No Frills is the cheapest in most of the country. The two big exceptions are Quebec, where Maxi rules, and Ontario, where Food Basics edges No Frills on everyday shelf prices.
Cheapest grocery store in your city
National rankings only get you so far. The cheapest store on your block depends on which banners are nearby and what their flyers are running this week. We've broken down the discount options city by city:
What's the cheapest way to actually shop?
Picking one store isn't the answer. The biggest savings come from knowing which chain is running a deal on the things you actually buy. Ground beef at Food Basics' regular price ($8.77/kg) is already cheap. No Frills at $5.49/kg on a flyer week is 37% off and worth the trip. A monthly Walmart run covers the pantry. That mix beats loyalty to any single banner.
The hard part is that flyer deals rotate every week, and what's cheapest at No Frills today might lose to FreshCo next week. CartIQ pulls live flyer prices from No Frills, Walmart, FreshCo, Superstore, Food Basics, Maxi and 20+ other chains. Enter your postal code and see who's actually cheapest on your list right now, not based on last month's averages.
See who's cheapest near you this week
Live flyer prices from No Frills, Walmart, FreshCo, Superstore, Food Basics, Maxi and more. Enter your postal code.
Check deals near me →Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest grocery store in Canada?
No Frills has the lowest prices of any national grocery chain in Canada, especially on flyer weeks. Two regional banners beat it in their home markets: Maxi is cheapest in Quebec, and Food Basics has the cheapest everyday shelf prices in Ontario. Walmart wins on shelf-stable pantry items everywhere it operates.
Is No Frills really the cheapest grocery store in Canada?
Nationally, yes. On a basket of staples No Frills consistently posts the lowest discount-chain total, and its weekly flyer runs the most aggressive loss leaders in the country. The exceptions are regional: Maxi undercuts it in Quebec, Food Basics edges it on everyday shelf prices in Ontario, and Walmart beats it on canned goods, oil, coffee, and frozen food.
Is Walmart cheaper than No Frills for groceries?
It depends on the category. Walmart's Great Value private label undercuts No Frills on shelf-stable pantry items: canned tomatoes, oil, coffee, pasta, and frozen food. No Frills wins on fresh meat and produce, and its flyer deals beat Walmart on those items most weeks. The cheapest approach uses both.
What is the cheapest grocery store in Quebec?
Maxi is the cheapest grocery store in Quebec. It is Loblaw's Quebec discount banner, the provincial equivalent of No Frills. Super C, owned by Metro, is the usual runner-up, with Walmart close behind. Full-service banners like IGA and Metro run noticeably higher.
How much can you save shopping at discount grocery stores in Canada?
About 20 to 26 percent on a basket of staples versus full-service chains like Loblaws, Metro, and Sobeys. For a typical household that works out to roughly $1,500 to $2,000 a year. The gap widens if you also buy the weekly flyer loss leaders instead of paying regular shelf price.
Is Costco cheaper than No Frills?
Per unit, Costco beats No Frills on roughly half of common staples, but the $65 annual membership and bulk sizes only pay off for households of three or more with freezer and pantry space. For singles, couples, and apartment dwellers, No Frills usually wins on total cost and flexibility.
Are discount grocery stores lower quality than full-service stores?
No. Discount banners are usually owned by the same parent companies as the full-service chains (No Frills is Loblaw, FreshCo is Sobeys, Food Basics and Super C are Metro) and stock much of the same product. You give up store ambience, in-store services, and selection breadth, not food quality or safety.
Related
Prices are regular shelf prices observed at Canadian locations in 2026 and shown for comparison. Prices vary by province, location, and week, and change frequently. Always verify in-store. CartIQ is not affiliated with any grocery chain mentioned.