Here’s how Canadians are saving money on grocery bills

As inflation tightens budgets, a new report examines how Canadians are coping with rising grocery bills.

The new State of the Cart grocery spending survey from Interac Corp looked at who is feeling the most pressure from rising costs, and what people are doing to deal with high prices.

“With our State of the Cart survey, we wanted to better understand the domestic dynamics behind grocery transaction moments,” said Chris Lee, head of payments at Interac. “While all Canadians face the common challenge of rising grocery prices, the pressure differs greatly according to whether you live alone or with a partner, your age and stage of life, and even the province you call home.”

Nearly eight in 10 (77 per cent) Canadians who live solo say their grocery bill keeps climbing no matter what they do, and almost six in 10 (59 per cent) say they face disproportionately higher per-person costs than Canadians who split these expenses, the survey found.

The average single-person household spends approximately $102 per week on groceries, compared to $80 per person in a shared household, the survey found.

Canadians living alone struggle to find ingredients portioned for one, with 32 per cent saying food often goes to waste before they can use it.

Interac found that as prices rise, Canadians are adjusting what goes in the cart.

Here’s what Canadians are doing to save money:

• Nearly half (48 per cent) of Canadians have reduced or stopped buying premium cuts of meat, with prepared meals and premium deli items also declining.
• Nearly four in 10 (38 per cent) have switched to store or no-name brands in the past six months.
• Canadians are drawing a line at small indulgences: half (50 per cent) still buy snacks like chips and chocolate as a personal treat, and nearly one in four (23 per cent) still reach for artisanal bread or pastries.

Interac commissioned Burson to survey 1,500 adult residents across Canada between May 8 and 12, 2026.

Lead photo: Mike Jones