Quick answer
The same 24 everyday groceries cost $145.93 in Ontario and $160.11 in Newfoundland and Labrador in August 2026, a gap of $14.18 (10%). Quebec ($149.24) is the other cheap province; British Columbia ($159.97) and the Atlantic provinces are the most expensive. The national average for the basket is $149.55.
The gap is real but small next to housing: for most households it is tens of dollars a month, while rent differs by hundreds. See average rent by city, and salaries by province for the other side of the budget.
The same grocery basket in every province
One of each of 24 common items (milk, eggs, bread, butter, cheese, yogurt, chicken, ground beef, bacon, fruit, vegetables, rice, pasta, peanut butter, coffee, oil, cereal, orange juice, canned tuna) at Statistics Canada's August 2026 average prices. Index: Canada = 100.
| Province | Basket cost | Index | vs Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $145.93 | 98 | −$3.62 |
| Quebec | $149.24 | 100 | −$0.31 |
| Manitoba | $152.38 | 102 | +$2.83 |
| Saskatchewan | $152.67 | 102 | +$3.12 |
| New Brunswick | $156.20 | 104 | +$6.65 |
| Prince Edward Island | $156.71 | 105 | +$7.16 |
| Nova Scotia | $157.18 | 105 | +$7.63 |
| Alberta | $157.53 | 105 | +$7.98 |
| British Columbia | $159.97 | 107 | +$10.42 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $160.11 | 107 | +$10.56 |
| Canada average | $149.55 | 100 | — |
Average prices across all grocery retailers in each province, before any tax (basic groceries are not taxed). Your store and city can differ by more than the provinces differ from each other.
Cheapest and most expensive province for each item
| Item | Canada avg | Cheapest province | Most expensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk, 2 L | $5.49 | Prince Edward Island $4.73 | Ontario $5.92 |
| Eggs, 1 dozen | $4.83 | Quebec $4.16 | British Columbia $5.71 |
| White bread, 675 g | $3.63 | Ontario $3.27 | Newfoundland and Labrador $4.19 |
| Butter, 454 g | $5.68 | Quebec $5.46 | British Columbia $5.84 |
| Block cheese, 500 g | $7.05 | Quebec $6.88 | British Columbia $7.44 |
| Yogurt, 500 g | $3.94 | Saskatchewan $3.80 | Newfoundland and Labrador $4.14 |
| Chicken breasts, per kg | $14.41 | Ontario $13.94 | British Columbia $16.65 |
| Ground beef, per kg | $16.75 | Prince Edward Island $15.75 | British Columbia $18.53 |
| Bacon, 500 g | $6.58 | Manitoba $6.15 | Quebec $7.68 |
| Bananas, per kg | $1.89 | Ontario $1.71 | Newfoundland and Labrador $2.76 |
| Apples, per kg | $6.47 | Quebec $6.25 | Newfoundland and Labrador $7.71 |
| Potatoes, 4.54 kg | $4.87 | Quebec $4.28 | Alberta $7.68 |
| Carrots, 1.36 kg | $3.89 | Quebec $3.27 | Alberta $5.01 |
| Onions, 1.36 kg | $4.58 | Quebec $3.59 | British Columbia $5.29 |
| Tomatoes, per kg | $4.80 | Ontario $4.41 | Newfoundland and Labrador $6.20 |
| Romaine lettuce, unit | $3.17 | Quebec $2.31 | Saskatchewan $4.03 |
| White rice, 2 kg | $9.73 | Manitoba $8.56 | Quebec $11.01 |
| Pasta, 500 g | $3.37 | Quebec $3.22 | Prince Edward Island $3.73 |
| Peanut butter, 1 kg | $5.95 | Saskatchewan $5.83 | British Columbia $6.18 |
| Ground coffee, 340 g | $9.46 | Saskatchewan $8.60 | Nova Scotia $10.12 |
| Canola oil, 3 L | $10.92 | Ontario $10.17 | Nova Scotia $13.24 |
| Cereal, 400 g | $4.17 | Manitoba $4.09 | New Brunswick $4.32 |
| Orange juice, 2 L | $6.22 | Ontario $6.10 | Alberta $6.41 |
| Canned tuna, 170 g | $1.70 | Quebec $1.45 | Prince Edward Island $2.00 |
A few patterns stand out:
- Quebec is cheapest for eggs, butter, cheese, apples, potatoes, carrots, onions, lettuce and pasta, but the most expensive for bacon and rice.
- Ontario is cheapest for bread, chicken breasts, bananas, tomatoes, canola oil and orange juice, but has the priciest 2-litre milk.
- The Prairies and British Columbia pay far more for the 10-pound (4.54 kg) bag of potatoes: about $7.68 in Manitoba against $4.28 in Quebec.
- British Columbia is the most expensive for meat: chicken breasts $16.65/kg and ground beef $18.53/kg.
Eggs and milk by province
A dozen eggs averaged $4.83 across Canada in August 2026, from $4.16 in Quebec to $5.71 in British Columbia. Two litres of milk ranged from $4.73 in Prince Edward Island to $5.92 in Ontario.
| Province | Eggs, 1 dozen | Milk, 2 L | Bread, 675 g | Chicken breasts, per kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $5.71 | $5.62 | $4.04 | $16.65 |
| Alberta | $5.19 | $5.58 | $3.61 | $15.55 |
| Saskatchewan | $4.80 | $5.26 | $3.62 | $14.95 |
| Manitoba | $4.80 | $4.82 | $3.55 | $15.10 |
| Ontario | $5.00 | $5.92 | $3.27 | $13.94 |
| Quebec | $4.16 | $5.36 | $3.97 | $14.01 |
| New Brunswick | $5.18 | $5.16 | $3.80 | $14.30 |
| Nova Scotia | $5.30 | $5.04 | $3.68 | $14.58 |
| Prince Edward Island | $5.32 | $4.73 | $3.79 | $14.75 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $5.55 | $5.09 | $4.19 | $15.53 |
All 24 prices by province, August 2026
Scroll sideways on a phone. Provinces from west to east.
| Item | BC | AB | SK | MB | ON | QC | NB | NS | PE | NL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk, 2 L | $5.62 | $5.58 | $5.26 | $4.82 | $5.92 | $5.36 | $5.16 | $5.04 | $4.73 | $5.09 |
| Eggs, 1 dozen | $5.71 | $5.19 | $4.80 | $4.80 | $5.00 | $4.16 | $5.18 | $5.30 | $5.32 | $5.55 |
| White bread, 675 g | $4.04 | $3.61 | $3.62 | $3.55 | $3.27 | $3.97 | $3.80 | $3.68 | $3.79 | $4.19 |
| Butter, 454 g | $5.84 | $5.83 | $5.67 | $5.73 | $5.75 | $5.46 | $5.72 | $5.61 | $5.48 | $5.78 |
| Block cheese, 500 g | $7.44 | $7.35 | $7.14 | $7.18 | $6.98 | $6.88 | $7.24 | $7.18 | $7.31 | $7.16 |
| Yogurt, 500 g | $3.97 | $3.94 | $3.80 | $3.86 | $3.81 | $4.10 | $4.13 | $4.05 | $4.13 | $4.14 |
| Chicken breasts, per kg | $16.65 | $15.55 | $14.95 | $15.10 | $13.94 | $14.01 | $14.30 | $14.58 | $14.75 | $15.53 |
| Ground beef, per kg | $18.53 | $18.19 | $17.38 | $17.38 | $16.09 | $16.77 | $16.23 | $16.25 | $15.75 | $16.15 |
| Bacon, 500 g | $6.18 | $6.25 | $6.20 | $6.15 | $6.33 | $7.68 | $6.66 | $6.59 | $6.83 | $6.37 |
| Bananas, per kg | $1.84 | $2.08 | $2.05 | $2.06 | $1.71 | $2.00 | $2.19 | $2.16 | $2.17 | $2.76 |
| Apples, per kg | $6.68 | $6.74 | $6.71 | $6.64 | $6.35 | $6.25 | $7.26 | $7.24 | $7.19 | $7.71 |
| Potatoes, 4.54 kg | $7.63 | $7.68 | $7.62 | $7.68 | $4.34 | $4.28 | $5.85 | $5.66 | $5.75 | $5.76 |
| Carrots, 1.36 kg | $4.85 | $5.01 | $4.77 | $4.99 | $3.89 | $3.27 | $4.06 | $3.96 | $3.97 | $4.52 |
| Onions, 1.36 kg | $5.29 | $5.15 | $4.90 | $4.87 | $4.78 | $3.59 | $4.64 | $4.78 | $5.03 | $5.06 |
| Tomatoes, per kg | $4.67 | $4.73 | $4.62 | $4.57 | $4.41 | $5.47 | $5.79 | $5.56 | $5.76 | $6.20 |
| Romaine lettuce, unit | $3.17 | $3.64 | $4.03 | $3.57 | $3.20 | $2.31 | $3.49 | $3.52 | $3.59 | $3.81 |
| White rice, 2 kg | $9.05 | $9.06 | $8.71 | $8.56 | $9.29 | $11.01 | $10.17 | $10.44 | $10.54 | $10.30 |
| Pasta, 500 g | $3.65 | $3.57 | $3.49 | $3.49 | $3.32 | $3.22 | $3.42 | $3.71 | $3.73 | $3.65 |
| Peanut butter, 1 kg | $6.18 | $5.97 | $5.83 | $5.88 | $5.98 | $5.85 | $6.12 | $6.07 | $6.04 | $6.01 |
| Ground coffee, 340 g | $9.53 | $9.21 | $8.60 | $8.84 | $9.38 | $9.70 | $9.63 | $10.12 | $9.92 | $9.74 |
| Canola oil, 3 L | $11.11 | $10.83 | $10.44 | $10.59 | $10.17 | $12.04 | $12.66 | $13.24 | $12.35 | $12.42 |
| Cereal, 400 g | $4.18 | $4.19 | $4.15 | $4.09 | $4.14 | $4.15 | $4.32 | $4.27 | $4.31 | $4.27 |
| Orange juice, 2 L | $6.38 | $6.41 | $6.27 | $6.30 | $6.10 | $6.26 | $6.27 | $6.28 | $6.27 | $6.21 |
| Canned tuna, 170 g | $1.78 | $1.77 | $1.66 | $1.68 | $1.78 | $1.45 | $1.91 | $1.89 | $2.00 | $1.73 |
What changed in the last year
The same 24 items cost $147.34 on average in August 2025 and $149.55 in August 2026, up 1.5%. Biggest movers (Canada average):
- Romaine lettuce, unit: $2.77 → $3.17 (+14%)
- Bananas, per kg: $1.68 → $1.89 (+12%)
- Ground beef, per kg: $15.06 → $16.75 (+11%)
- Yogurt, 500 g: $3.69 → $3.94 (+7%)
- Peanut butter, 1 kg: $5.58 → $5.95 (+7%)
- Bacon, 500 g: $7.66 → $6.58 (-14%)
- Potatoes, 4.54 kg: $5.07 → $4.87 (-4%)
- Chicken breasts, per kg: $14.97 → $14.41 (-4%)
- White rice, 2 kg: $10.06 → $9.73 (-3%)
Statistics Canada cautions that these averages are not a pure measure of price change, because the mix of products in each category shifts over time. For official food inflation, use the Consumer Price Index.
Sales tax on groceries
Basic groceries are zero-rated: no GST, HST or provincial sales tax is charged on milk, bread, eggs, meat, fruit and vegetables in any province. Sales tax does apply to snack foods, candy, soft drinks, prepared meals and household products, so a receipt with detergent or chips will show tax at your province's rate (for example 13% HST in Ontario, 14% in Nova Scotia, 5% GST in Alberta).
What this means if you are moving
- For a household that spends C$800 a month on groceries, a 10% price gap is under C$80 a month. Rent and income tax move your budget far more; compare take-home pay by province first.
- Moving west or east from Ontario or Quebec, expect to pay more for groceries, not less, even where housing is cheaper.
- Prices in smaller and northern communities run higher than these provincial averages.